The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-06-12
STILL MORE CHESTNUTS
GATHERED IN THE WILDERNESS
And Freshly Roasted to Suit the Timcs-The
Death Of Gen. Roger a. HaDson-Major
Rudd and the Falling stars

my mlnl ana memory III lupfc-siOh NIlcu
can never DO eGaced Let me introduce it by
saying that General Roger A. Hanson. Of Ken
lucky. who had represented what will always
DO called Mr.. Clay's old district in the Con.
gress Of the United States, was my fellow.
prisoner for several weeks IN the classmates OF
Fort Delaware. Brave, genial, gentle. yet
with a good deal Of Western brusqueness. he
was typical Kentuckian, one OF those mag.
netic personalities that men admire and
women love. General John G. Breckenridge
gave me this account Of his death. Said he
Riding over the hard-won field OF Chicka-
/ manga | came upon group OF oihcers and
men gathered around General Hanson who.
/ supported bv the arm Of a friend and seated
/ Oh the ground. Was lesnlpg against a tree
| Dismounting. | kneeled beside him. aud
taking his Outstretched hand expressed the
hope that 10 WAS not seriously wounded.
| Looking me straight IN the eye with the pal
/ Tor OF death upon his brow. but no tremOr IN
his voice. he replied 'Breckinrldge. am
! dying In this supreme hour something tells
/ me that You will get back 10 Kentucky. Com
fort their wives aGd mothers by telling them
! how brayely my Kentucky boys fought. and
/ how giorously they died to-day. Tell them
| died MS / desired on the field OF victory;
that cheerfully and proudly / gave my life
for liberty and country. aud ms only regret
altar" And with those. words upon his lips,
those eyes closed in death. and that loving,
Loyal heart ceased o. beat forever
Here, IN the calm and secluslOn OF retire
ment, Ear from the madding crowd Of
ignODle strife. whore one OF my chief pleas
ures IS 10 gather together the memories
grave aud gay. Of not uneyenttul or un-
happy life. 70 string together as a cherished
and sacred rosary these Old ohestnuts which.
% some. may seem wOrln-eaten and nouldy.
yet 10 me. at times, cleaning and flashing
with the reflected radiance OF cherished
and glorious past, like diamond necklace
glow and burn with q light never seen on sea
or land But those only who can recall with
the y.vidness OF present reality the scenes
and actors of that far-dlstent past. only the Sc
lect 20 whom has been gwen the VISION and
tho faculty divine. can hope 10 catch even
CLEAN Of THAT far brought glory whose mel
lowed golden radiance gilds with "A halo OF
romance our practical. prosaic lie aud gives
sOttening, consecratng glow % the garlsh
light Of common day.
Who has not found out by sad experience
that lest books OF the Joe Miller type are very
melancholy reading, If you want a hard
task sit down and ATTEMPT to transfer to the
written page one of Your best stories ~
which so often when the dinner had been
god and sparkling and bright in liquid
light the wine our goblets cleaned IA"
this st nv had been called for and applauded
20 the echo Now. when carefully written out,
II s read without "a smile, and sadly commit
ted 10 the flames. A story depends tor its
interest and success upon its surroundings
Its adaptation 90 time, place aud company /
but above all. t. the voice eye and gesture Of |
the raclnteur. Therefore before ] attempt |
90 breathe the breath OF life into the skeleton /
of fam US 81 Jry that 10 many lirginian /
viii DO indeed an old chestnut. permit me 10 /
70 back near third of % century, and tell /
ftl VuI uu hV
whom told. II was IN the most delightful /
house whose hospitality | ever enjoyed. kept /
IN common by Senators Hunter and Mason |
of Virginia, Musco Russell Garnett Of Viz
ginia and POrcher Miles of South Carolina,
members Of the lower House Oh Con-
wants aud everything in Southern
style, all for comfort not a cont for
show they dispensed generous hospitality
during the sessions Of Congress, but by some
strange felicity OF selection l never met
practical or pDt-hOuse politician. or regular
bore at their table though the above types OF
Washington hangers-on were only legion then.
not as now the great majority. Mr.. Mason |
alwav~ sat az the head of the table. IA per
feet a specimen OF tho stately yet courteous
Virginia gentleman as the Ola Mother ever
produced. His ringing. sympathetic, unctuOus
ton with which be pressed the bashful
stranger TO hls food. and took q glass of wine
with everybody are the things best remember
Mr. Hunter was generally silent. never bril-
liant but always genial and appreciative.
with the rare faculty OF drawing out the best
from every one When ! think OF that great
and good man who greatly honored me with
his friendship and regard would like to lay
IN humble wreath upon his grave which will
long be kept green by the tears Of those who
revere and cherish his memory as that Of HI
ucOrTuptlble patriot. wise statesman. IN pub
be lie. iliustrous and consummate. IN
noble and sincere
! cannot speak If Garnett and Mills or OF
the frequent guests Conrad. Tucker Bar-
bour. Jack Seldom old Fred Coleman. Wash
ugtOn and a host of Others-iOr if / did
should never get TO my story; OF. more ac-
,urtteiy. the story of Hon. John Randolph |
Tucker.
Major Rudd was an old aud well-kuown res
dent of LynchDurg. He was ludicrOusly |
strabismic Tor. a. common folks say. cock
syedJ. and stammered dreadfuly. He was
IN old bachelor, fond Of the society of young
men, bur even more devoted TO oysters. mint
uleps and draw poker On q memorable
night in 1898 a select company IN his hospita-
Die rooms were engaged as usual in the wee
ma hours agent the twal. The drinking
lad been deeper and the play higher than
Usual, whom hearing some unusual disturb
Ince IN the street several Of the young men
aid down their hands aud went ont thrOueha
oug dark passage TO the street 20 see what
vas the matter. As soon az they opened tie
utter door, they found the heavens all ablale
With that wonderful meteoric display which
viii make that time ever memorable as the
hight OF the falling stars The young men. ,
With nerves strung 20 the highest tension by
rink and play and from "a darkened room
uddenly confronted by this binding glow
we're all filed with awful terror believing
hat the day of wrath and doom had come.
staggering back 10 the ROOM half dead with
ear. they were quoted by the old major.
gho still held the fort. and, As he thought. "A
winning hard. with an invitation b take their 2
eats and 90 for the biggest jackpot of the !
light lie was surprised when John tine l
sader of the partly. pale and trembling re- c
lied Major kudd. Tor God lake put down
he cards: the judgment has come the star, q
10 all falling and the world Is I'M blaze When
he old Major replied with an oath of >
ncreduhty John threw open a shutter /
eveallng the lurid glare OF the blazing skv
nd the wild shrieks of the terrified psople 3
anne borne 70 their ears. Rudds abiect fear c
nj despalrng agony was AWFUL % SEQ. n. I
My teeOy stenmered Good Lord. have =
lercy | might have knowed Iyncnbprg \
would 90 up first John cried Major Kudd
on are the oldest man. you have been onr
sader III vice and evil. now lead u ia prayer q,
nj beseech Almighty God 10 spare us and =
ur guilty world. or If the day Of wrath and :
Dom has come 10 save our sinful souls for .