The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-04-13
Driftwood.

laient ana even genius IS hereditary IN
some families. 1t used to be said in
Virginia that no man bearing the name OF
Marshall could be found who was not
above the ordinary in ability. The credit
with which the Adams family has sus-
tanned itself from generation to genera
ton is source OF pride to New England.
In no family, however, were hereditary
traits and talents more clearly marked
for long time than in the Sheridan
family, of which, OF course Richard
Brinsley Sheridan, actor, wit. dramatist
and orator was the greatest ornament.
Yet his second cousin, j. Sheridan,
Knowles in some respects surpassed him
as playwright and almost equaled him
as a wit. Here are two instances Of the
readiness of each:
After the death OF Brinsley Sheridan 8
first wife he dined one day at Lord
Erkine's, the great British advocate, as
Sheridan was quite gay widower, it was
remarked by some one while at table that
so fascinating man would not long re-
main single, Don't, Sherry, DON'T" said
Erskine, For tell you that to lawyer
like myself or to man in public life like
YOU wife is tin-canister tied to ones
tail, constantly in the way and keeping
him on the run" Lady Erskine showed
much embarrassment at his lordship's
coarse speech. But Sheridan set the
table in roar and extinguished Erskine
by reading almost instantly from the back
his menu card these lines:
Lord Erskine at woman presuming to rail-
Says wife's tin-cauister tied to ones tail.
And fair Lady Anne seems hurt while he carries
on
At his lordshits degrading com psr-i-son;
But wherefor degrading? Considered Alright
A canister's useful. and polished, and bright,
And If dirt its original purity hide,
That's the fault of the puppy to whom it is tied "
Knowles was at an entertainment
where the hostess prided herself on her
Guickness in the use of bright, sharp,
speeches. Some one banterinyly eau
toned her not to measure swords with
Knowles unless she wished TO be worsted.
But, using slang expression Of the day,
she replied derisively, loud enough for
Knowles to hear, that she Didn't care
The skip OF louise for him." As every.
body present was somebody, the fail
hostess, toward the close of the evening
produced her autograph album, request
ing the signature of each OF the company
with sentiment, Knowles wrote, turned
the page and bid all goodnight. Every
one was anxious to know what he haC
written, and this is what they read:
"A lady hath said within her own house,
That she cared not for me the skip OF a louise;
I forgive the fair lady for what she lath said
For a lady must talk Of what runs in her head.
William b. Bate, the present junior U
S. senator from Tennessee, is an excessiv,
"dry" smoker. Before the war, however
no man watched the smoke Of fragrant
Havana curl above his head with mort
satisfaction than he. But he has no
cared for that pleasure since. Tie sena
tor was brigadier-general in the con
federate army and received what was
at that time thought mortal wound al
the battle of Shiloh. His young brothe
Humphrey Bate, who commanded a regi
ment in his brigade, reached the genera
soon after he fell and in his attempt t.
relieve the intense suffering offered hin
a cigar, hoping that smoke would t.
some extent divert his mind and ease hi
pain. Neither had a match, so Humphre,
started on search for one. The battle
was still raging and they were near thu
hottest place ON the field. Young Bat,
had gone only q few steps, when HI
dropped dead pierced by mimic ball
From that time to this, out of love for hi
brother and in memory OF his sad fate
the general has not wished to light ,
cigar. ]. r. B.