Arizona republican., 1892-02-07

more as ms own reading OF them eX-
tended. After his daily labor was ended
he would repair to his room and by the
light of lamp pore over the well worn
volume OF Shakespeare's plays which he
had found in the green room of the Adel-
phi, and he frequently discarded attend
ance at church TO scan the pages of that
author. This early study of Shakespeare
was continued by Mr.. Crisp in his ma
ture years, and it is doubtful if there are
a half dozen men now in public life who
are better Shakespearean scholars than
he. OF history, too, he was particularly
fond, and eagerly read every volume he
could find.
This monotonous life was kept up I'M
til 1859, when a great misfortune befell
the Crisps. The fathers eyesight almost
completely failed him as the result of a
cataract which deiied treatment. Then,
too, his theatrical ventures went amiss.
He had overshot the mark in providing
stars too expensive for the period. Life
was very dark to the family at this time.
Their means Of support We're gone; the
father was broken in health and spirits;
they were too proud to trespass ON the
kindness of friends and too poor TO re-
main where they were.
A single incident which occurred
while matters were in this predicament
well illustrates the keen sense of honor Of
the parents of the speaker. Mr.. Crisp
had, as u last resort TO stem the tide of
losses, engaged star from the east for
an engagement at 1915 night, which he
hoped would refill his empty Golfers, but
the experiment was IA sore disappoint-
ment The star failed to draw, but she
demanded her money. Crisp did not
have as many dollars as she wanted hun
dreds. In this extremity Davis stepped
forward and footed all the bills.
The next morning Mrs. Crisp appeared
at his counting room, closely followed
by a negro who bore heavy trunk,
which, at the lady's order, he deposited
at the feet of the merchant. She quickly
removed his wonder at the scene by ex-
planning that the trunk contained all the
which she and her husband
owned, and that they desired to leave it
with him IA n guarantee, at least in part,
that as soon as they were able they
would repay every dollar OF his loan.
Some of the silver was in the shape of
testimonials 10 Mr.. Crisp from
theatrical friends; the others had either
been brought from England or purchased
in flush days in this country. 1t is need
less ~ say that the warm hearted friend
of the family saw to it that the Crisps
did not lose their silverware but, it is
proper TO add, they repaid after awhile
every cent of the debt. For aught TO
the contrary, some of this very silver
ware that the parents Of the speaker
offered nearly forty years ago as a
pledge for debt Of honor is now at his
home in Americas, Ga.
When Mr.. and Mrs. Crisp decided in
their extremity 20 leave Nashville they
resolved 10 make their home in Georgia.
Tho question arose Us to what disposition
should be made of Charles. His en-
ployer had promoted him by degrees, was
personally attached 10 him and would
take pride in advancing his fortunes in
pursuits. Would it be well,
under these circumstances, his parents
to carry him to another state
where the outlook for themselves was
dark! The lad quickly and with char
lcteristic frmness solved the problem.
De expressed TO Mr.. Davis his grateful
Of the kindnesses done and
fayors assured, but announced that no
would never desert his father in his sick
ness or mother in trouble, that he would
cleave 10 his parents and cast his lot
with theirs in Georgia whether for veal
Or woe. That settled it, aud Charles
was one Of the family group that left
Nashville in the fall Of 1850 to make a
new home in Americas.
Little did he and they dream that this
act of flial devotion marked an era in his
life; perhaps changed its whole current
and opened the avenue TO fame. Had
he remained here, he would in all proba-
bility have become staid merchant
and trod in the paths of his patron. As
Il was the civil war was scarcely over
and his record in it written, while he
was still beardless youth, before an OPP
presented itself for him to
study law.
Thenceforward fortune continuously
smiled upon him. By quick stages he
became solicitor general, circuit Judge,
and now speaker. the third.
officer in point of dignity in the greatest
government in the world.
And James Davis, the friend of his
youth, what Of him? Slaves and prop
,rty vanished during the conflict of 1851
J, and today merely the wreck of his
'nce princely fortune is left But he
IT'LL renders obeisance to Thespis, and is
'ond as ever of dwelling on the glories
IF the Adelphi when the speakers father
vas in his prime.
Where that famous resort stood the
jrand opera house now rears its head
n the heart of "a city of $4,000 popula-
ion, and the name of the lad who forty
'ears ago swept his store clean by the
linn light of dawn is now heralded even
lcroes the ocean. 1t Is needless to say
hat no letter of congratulation which
Mr. Crisp has received was warmer or
ruer than that which gray haired James
Davis sent from Nashville the day after
lis early protege was nominated for
peaker by the Democratic caucus.
GEORGE III. ARMIsTEAD.
The largest animal known to exist in
he world at the present time is the