The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-05-22
SOME OLD CHESTNUTS
GsrHERED ~ WE WfLDEHNESs,
r.,,v po.,,cl and saIted TO the Times
Tho Last Confederate
Commission.

T nronoss 20 try and gather together and
,,rosorva verious anecdotes Characteristic of
ora yirouia men and Southern society.
,xhioh ..Tine would else place in his wallet as
aims to oblivion
Now can give vour readers each week an
scdo,es--none of them original with myself
,,'L,cb for more than half q century have
sLnne with mild radiance through the va
nors of asthetic tea or sparkled ana Dlazeu at
the dinner table whom llbatiops were poured
with no nieeard hand TO the sweet amenities
OK our social and the hallowed memories VI
our historic past. ., NIL. a..
nortico which concealed the temple IL was
only designed to adorn. | VIII aoruhty ciOse
and give YOU two anecdotes related 20 me oy
General A X. lavtOn, or Georgia "hi'n "iAi
derive most of their interest. perhaps lroin
the fact that they we're real ihe.u.hso ~ ,.,o
and were uttered by the lips OK that great
statesman and soldier. General John y. brecA-
inrldge. of Kentucky. ,,
From the Stygian horrors Of that badly-con
ceiyed and worse executed fight OF President
Davis and Cabinet from Richmond after its
surrender. General Breckenridge. then Secre,
tary OF War, 10 escape the ineyitaDle enc
took single courier and rode thIo1Sn
the pines and swamps and saYanuaS que
south until he reached Point Females. on the
west coast of Florida. There he hired hsh-
ING boat 10 take him 20 Havana BEFORE
pertino with his faithful courier and compan-
ion he gave him the two horses when had
horne them thus far and offered 10 divide
with him his gold, which was not enough Tor
two. TO his surprise Jones refused 10 TAKE
cent. and insisted upon sharing with him the
peris of the voyage and the certainty OF III
definite eNpatriaton.
The General said 10 him: Jones, you have
a vile and two children In Mississippi that
YOU profess 70 love. 90 back TO them. May
you live long and prosper. Take the horses
and at least enough money to bear your
expenses home. No, General. he replied;
/ have the best woman IN the world and
two fine boys-one named after Presi-
dent Davis and one John {. Breckin-
ridge Jones, after you. For ] voted
for you for President of the United states
agin Bell and Everett; for they didn't even
tell US this man Abe Lincoln was runnln
up North. After much persuasion Jones con-
sented TO take the horses and return. out
wouldn't take a dollar of the profiered gold:
General Breckinridge says as he walked
along the beach waiting for bis boat the
sweet. sad lines OF Wilde. brought 10 his
memory by the locality and all his surround
ings were repeated over and over again Ia
melancholy and halfunconscious refrain;
My life is like tho prints which feet
Have left on lampa's desert strand;
Soon as the rising tide shall beat
All trace viii vanish from tho sand;
Yetas II glievlng to eface
All estige Of the human race
On that lone shore loud means the sea,
But none, alas shall mourn for me.
From this sad reverie he was reused
by his faithful follower. who pointed
TO the white sal. of the coming boat aud
again begged 20 be permitted 10 accompany
him. Touched in that dark hour 10y this un-
selfish devotion the thought flashed upon
Breckenridge gold and silver he will not take,
but may give him something he will value