Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-02-25
STORIES OF the DAY.
Probably He would sucI. an Egg.


Every man, woman and child In the
State OF Delaware knews or has heard of
Sam Townsend, the great democratic
War Hoss" of Appoquinimink. he
lived at Townsend. from which
that place derived it's name BE
was a man OF limited eduea-
ton, but one who had a strong mind
and distinct personality. He was an
uncompromising Democrat and a power
In the councils Of the party. He had A
heart as big as that OF au OK, though he
could swear blue streak for half an
hour without half trying He was kind
to the poor and unfortunate and no man
In the county had more
friends. he was beloved BY the
negroes whe could always depend that
while Sam Townsend had a crust not one
of them would be allowed to 20 hungry
during hard winter. One Of his last re-
quests was that no negro should be al
lowed 10 attend his funeral. He was dy-
ing when be made it But so great was
their love for him that when he was
buried more than One-half OF those who
followed the casket of this great dia-
mond In the rough to It's last resting
place we're negroes whom he had cursed
Ia his best style one minute and fed the
next
Amy man who remembers the Demo
cratic county conventions that used to be
held In the old Court House at New Gas
tie will rscollect Sam To Hnsend. He had
a self-assumed right to the court crier's
chair and woe. betide the unfortu.
nate individual who tried to usurp this
post Of honor. There Townsend would
sit and direct his forces with the true
instinct Of a general. BE was born
leader among men and Republicans loved
him even while they feared him.
AS the Wilmington conference is about
TO meet here, perhaps IL would be well to
relate an anecdote Of this great man.
The Wilmington Conference was being
held at MiddletOwn. Townsend's wife.
Mary Ann, was a greet Methodist. When
the question Of entertaining the minis
ters arose Mrs Townsend volunteered
to entertain four at her house In Town.
send, few miles distant. She &C.
quainted Sam with her intention. he
promptly acquiesced for there was not a
more hospitable man in the county.
Conference came; so did the preachers.
Mrs Townsend had prepared a splendid
dinner-turkey, chicken, duck, boiled
ham, and everything that the stomach
could crave In the way Of vegetables.
The four frock-coated and white
cravated divines sat down with Sam end
his wife. Sam did the carving, after be
had squirmed through a long wlnded
blessing
Turning to one of the preachers he
asked
"Mr Jones, will you have piece Of
turkeYY'
NO thank you" said a still, small
voice
"Will YOU have piece Of chicken2"
"No thank you.
Sam elevated his eyebrows and thought
It very strange conduct for a minister to
pass chicken with turkey for left bower
and duck and boiled ham for ace and
/ king
Let me give you little duck.
ooh no thank you
"Well here is some ham. Il is good.
home cured ham. I cured it myself"
mo, thank you"
This broke the camel's back Turning
to his wife, with despair written on every
line Of his face, he said
MARY Ann, perhaps the id fool
will suck an egg
The minister did not suck an egg. The
silence that followed the remark could
have been cut with knife. It is need
less to say that turkey was trump during
the rest Of the carving, and when San
called Turkey, nobody passed or wanted
/ to suck an egg