Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1895-10-09
1irainia free 2rrss.
". Is. B. GALLABER. Editor.
eoriesto'o~. Jefferson County. West Va.
Tsrm~--se 90 Per A""''m in Advance.
October o 1876.
When Wales ,Cas Here.

"Gov. Stewart" said Representative
Hatch one day toward the close Of last
session to a Star writer, was, when | was
u boy, one Of the great characters Of Mis-
souri,. He was the brightest and best Of
the political alkers of the day, and on the
stump nobody was match for Stewart
He was governor of the State when the
Prince Of Wales, as a boy, visited this
country, and there is a story often told OF
how Stewart, at the reception in ST. Louis
rendered the Prince Of Wales, became ex-
uberantly happy.
"In those days everybody drank, and
so far from being any exception, Gov.
Stewart rather emphasized the rule
They had gotten up grand ball in ST.
Louis in honor of the prince, and Gov.
Stewart attended to add grace and glory
10 the OCCASION. The opening Of the fes-
Iviies found Stewart and The prince on
a raised platform at one side of the hall.
while the valor and beauty of ST Louis
and the regions round about swept by the
brilliant procession.
Both Stewart and the prince had not
forgotten to take an occasional drink, aud
both were feeling good-lhe governor es-
pecially so. At one crisis Stewards adj
mira,iun of the scene, as well as his en-
tire satisfaction with his own position as
governor of the State. was evidenced by
his suddenly bestowing upon the prince Il
resouuding slap upon his royal back,
which almost knocked him off the plat
form into the midst of the festivities.
prince, remarked Stewart hilarious
ly, don't you wish you were governor Of
Missouri?
The prince said he did, and it in no
wise amazed Stewart, considering how he
felt himself, To find man who would will
lingly resign the crown of England to rule
AT jefferson City as the governor of so
great commpnweallh as Old Missouri
"As | have remarked, continued Rep
reseutalive Hatch, "men did a great deal
of drinking in the days of Gov. Stewart
During one Of Stewards campaigns be
had entered upon series of joint debates
with his opponent, aud being much bet
ter debaler, aud more brilliant orator
than the enemy, he was getting away with
him. was boy in Hannibal at the
time. | recolect very well how the
Stewart opposition of my town put up a
job on Stewart, which they thought would
save their candidate from aunihlation at
has hands, when they met in Hannibal.
They picked out three of the best
drinkers in town, all of whom were ac
quaintances of Stewart. Their mission
was to be at the hotel by seven in the
morning, and meet Stewart as soon as be
got in. OF course, they would drink
They were TO keep on drinking, and as
Stewart was never known TO decline ii.
baton, nor set a glass down which wasn't
empty, they argued that by o'clock, the
hour set for the joint debate between
Stewart and his opponent to begin, the
dangerous Stewart would be drowned in
drink. Well, the Hannibal drinking
committee met Stewart all right, aud they
drank increasingly.
"Rut, unfortunately Tor the plans of
Stewards opposition, when it fell y 80,
two of the committee we're helpless, in a
back room of the hotel, while the speclay
Gle was presented OF Stewart tenderly as
sisiug The third to his own room, where
be was TO be safe until Stewart returned
from the NEE ilg. This gentleman was
an especial Fl. nd Of Stewart. al least so
b Stewart said, aud he wanted TO continue
his visit with him when be got through
talking. Stewards opponent bad the first
hour The meeting, and talked from l
O'Clock until 2. Stewart sat there OH the
platform as rigid aud decorous as judge.
When it came his turn at 2 o'clock, be
was never in better shape 10 make a
speech in his life. and he simply tore he
opposition to pieces. The plot tailed, AID
Stewart was triumphanlly elected.