Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-09-08
COLONEL GIRARDEAU.

Ia Aloisumeu, y NJ, there lived sew
sral years ago al old gentleman named
Clay BeRtoa Guardian, who hailed
from Missouri As IS well known. IL
WAS considered GngeEtlemanly IN the
early days IA Arizona, New Mexico and
Texas q ask man his real name We
accepted the names that were given.
Albltumen was a town before the
railroad got there, before the United
States acquired the territory What |
am about TO relate happened in the new
town. the one built around the railroad
station.
l Wa oc my way from san Francisco
n Washington IA the early eighties. and
owing - a snow blockade ia the noun
tlins % the east Of Albitumen | was
detained In that town for several DAYS.
On the morning Of my arrival | met a
man whom l knew. and was introduced
BY hhn 10 nearly every human beng III
the place who WAS at all introducable.
Among Others | was introduced 20 Col
onel Clay Benton Girardeau, lawyer
Of che place. "Old Clay" be was called
behind his back: Kernel or Kernel
Clay" or Kernel Geradoo" 20 his face
he was both politician and lawyer. and
got his living by either or both, but was
more given 10 talking in barrooms than
10 talking for his clients in courts.
Unlike most men who went west in
those days, Colonel Guardian carried
no pistOl--said that he did not believe in
carrying one, that he had too little
money 20 fight d highwayman for. and
as 20 fighting others, there was always
the code duello for that.
IL you have ever been 20 Albitumen
you doubtless remember the Star of the
West saloon. near the station, where
one can get drink, food or game at
any hour Of the day or night.
Everything Is open. said the colonel
TO Us IN describing the place; every
thing Is done in view OF all, and no one
thinks the less Of a man for taking a
cocktail before breakfast any more than
be does for taking breakfast, nor does
one lose caste by playing At faro or any
game II chance. Money is earned 10 be
spent in a jolly. generous fashion. and
the way a gentleman wants 70 spend his
money Is the way gentleman ought TO
spend II. | was born, gentlemen, In ST..
Louis ffsy-eight years ago. II was a
town then. Now it's Ike Philadelphia
unfit, gentlemen, for a man Of spirit 10
live n.
When ST. Louis began 20 put on a
silk hat on Sunday left the place, the
home Of nay birth, and went 20 Kansas
Then Kansas began TO improve, as the
preachers say, and | quit. I've been
coming west SINCE then. and now I've
been IN Albitumen two years, and it's
what this saloon Ia. gentlemen. It's the
Star Of The West. Y0u can drink and
gamble every day Ia The month and no
one says word. Yes. gentlemen. this
town = ths healtidest. happiest town in
the world. Il has only one blot They
don't believe In the code duellO. They
believe tn the shoot on sight princi. le
It's wrong. gentlemen-wrong. The
duel permits Of a gentleman making his
viii or declining an invitation to dinner
OF paying his bin
After luncheon / met the colonel
again. Somehow | spoke about the code
duello.
by thu way" said the colonel. II
have an a1sair on haad tomorrow.
''Whasy' said !. greatly astonished.
yes be- answered .Some fellows
tnsuited me last night. and this morn
Ing l sent challenge - all three and
We fight tomorrow as dag Or Y
viii be our surgeon. Won't You attend
"a a witness or - an assistant
As an outsider I replied. still
greatly surprised. "but net "a an a.
sistant or a. a witness. I am due IA
Washington on The 18th"
The habit Il Tins country, continued
the colonel. ''is che bsrbarous one q
shooting on sight. or telling your adyer-
sary % ~ bel himself and then begin
shooting when you see each other.
cell everybody that / believe IN toe code
dueIl0. and IN that only for revenging
wrongs and insults. l must now 20 70
my Office ~ arrange some papers. III /
do rot SO you again before then, BE- AZ
the railroad station. where your Pull
man -. Httle before davbrcax. where
my second and 1 will pick you up and
take you g. the ground But wait. let
a have another arms before we part
I must cell here what all not know
81 subsequently For some ame tte
colonel bad been s1ures of much
laughter to the freqesu-e~s ~ ths ss-
los1s en- account - his inuaceat pec1
nsritiss. and especially on accorrt g