Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-03-03
THE LAST OF HIS LINE

There are some quaint old houses In
West Washington, rs the ancient city
OF Georgetown is now called, aud some
queer old characters 1.-Two in them; the
residue the relics and tho descendants
OF the slave. holding aristocracy who
were kings and queens In society in
the days OF President jackson. and
continued to reign till overwhelmed
by the tide OF northern people that
came IN with the Lincoln administra-
ton and tho war
! went tho other day with an artist
friend on a curious orrand, which took
us into one OF tho quaintest Of these
old mansions. 10 see one OF the queer
est characters that inhabit them. The
house was mature when he corner
stone OF the capital was laid, and the
man was born soon after A proud
and aristocatlo family tracing their
lineage 10 the time Of the TUdors, ro-
sided there for n century and half.
roof, tho historic actors In co ony times
and tho heroes OF tho Revolution.
They were conspicuous in society in
politics and In commerce for n hum
bred years or more, hut arc all golo
now-all except one lingering relic
the last leaf OF tho tree gray, with.
cred and saploss.
| had often seen him In tho rotundn
OF Wizards hotel and at the Metro
politan. whore southern politicians
mostly congrogdte talking politics.
lamcnung tho decay Of craftsmanship
in this modern age, and awaiting AN
invitation 10 Join some more prosper
Gus citizen at tho bar. His wan face,
furrowed with wrinkles like the veins
upon leaf. and tanned with tobacco
smoke till IL Is tho tint Of well-curcd
/ ham, Is exaggerated In its thlnness by
overhanging, moppy eyebrows OF
coarse hair and restless little gray
eyes peep out from under them rs II
acknowledge. His grizzly board is
neatly trimmed, but his coat is thread
baro and covered with the results OF
inaccurate expectoratiOn. lilo has
STOPPING shoulders. bad case Of rheu-
matism, and n thirst for drink which
his means will not permit him u
crafty. The loafers around the hotel
know him make sport Of him and call
him Judge" when they ask him Ia
'irrigate." Being by no means II bad
talker he Is often entertaining. and h
an authority on political cents during
the last half century. having had little
else 10 remember. But there Is ono
story which his fellow loafers will nc
longer tolerate. Whom he commence,
TO tell about duel he once fought
with an attacho Of the French legation
during tho adm nistraton OF John
Quincy Adams all his listeners leave.
had no idea whore or how no lived.
had learned In some way that he
was the oldest inhabitant OF Washing
ton, and that he was descendant OF
the i. i. VS. but there are plenty OF
such characters about the lObbics oI
the hotels and the corridors Of tho
capitol, too numerous 10 attract attcn-
ton, and when they pass through tho
doors towards the close OF the evening
DO one cares enough about them IA
ask what sort OF u home they 60 TO oI
In what quarter they live. II wns with
surprise, therefore that found hin
to DO tho sole occupant OF an nrlsto-
cratic old mansion, whose massive
pillars aud dilapidation were always
the source OF curiosity.
II Is scarcely true to say that he wa
the sole occupant Of tho place, for NJ
ter we had raped with the rusty ole
knocker, rheumatic old negro VIII,
looked century old or more, ndmittec
us to large and dismal hail damp
chilly and mustS with no carpet OF
the floor. He gave us u deiorentla
greeting. and conducted u3 to still
more damp and dismal parlor wher'
an aged Negroes in solcd and tat
tered gown, with brilliant hucd tur
ban upon her head, was trying Il
stimulate a languid fire with an aprol
full OF kindling wood. Those two OLE
servants, formerly the slaves Of tn,
family still remained, sharing tn
shelter OF the mansion with the owner
and the scanty food he bought with
few dollars sent him from time u
timo by distant relative. The oil,
gentleman still practiced an innocen
deception upon himself and tried L
impose II upon his acquaintances, b.
abiding freely TO Elijah, the age,
negro. as his Butler" and TO tn
withered crone as my late wife
maid" lie grumbled and growle
when he came into the parlor 10 gree
us first because the room was cold
and then because the wine and biscuit
were not on the table.
ii really must get housekeeper
he remarked. as soberly MS II he di,
not know perfectly well that we un
derstood his situation. Il really mus
get housekeeper My old butlor Is
faithful fellow. but Is getting forge,
full while his wife, who was my lat
wife's maid, who looks after the draw
ing-room is entirely worthless, Sin
entirely worthless shall retire bot
OF them on a pension soon, and 81
new help" And so no continued. tall
ing away 10 us, until my friend n
quired the purport OF the summon
which brought us there.
"Oh, yes, the old gentleman n
piled, Il INTENDED TO speak Of 1t, an
was waiting for the wine and biscui
but there Is no use In dc gaining yO
here longer gentlemen. | will hav
the refreshments taken TO the /
brary.n
, Up a fine old stairway he led US
| what must have once been u MOI
, charming and comfortable apartment
a long room. with four large window
toward the east and south. S-n u