The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-08

+.
Stephen Ball. and George Webster can
be recalled All but the two former are
dead, and they are scattered, and are
old men Of course. The natures icanings.
as Wei as social tendencies OF these
three young men seem to have been rath-
or different Although as Mr. Bradley
says, they were all good boys and indus
trious, too, Aleck Brown did not seem TO
think himself cut cut for cabinet max
ing, ana Jack seems TO have sometimes
got that tired feeling.
They didn't always agree, nor were they
at most times like two doves in the same
nest. "Aleck and Jack used 10 have it
up and down and out ard out" says
Mr.. williams, "Aleck was very religious,
while Jack seemed 10 care little about re-
ligiOn. but always declared he was hon
est, end that even if he did sometimes
curse and swear. he was not such very
bad man af.cr all. Then, too. Jack was "A
downtown or Tunneltown youth. Cross,
the famous circus man, declared Alex
andria possessed the worst boys on the
face. of Gods green earth, and the credit
OF the hardest OF them al has been ever
held by hose living In the neighborhooG
of Mr.. Heath's old hone.
Mr.. Williams was very quiet at all
times. He sawed wood but had open
eSrs and his countenance almost contin-
ually expressed grin that might be
likened to either the rising or setting
sun
The countenance Of the other two. it
WOUlt rainier ne INFERRED as nlIeltut-
not 10 say the reverse. Mr.. neath's is
simply stole, and Mr.. Williams says Jack
got that fl ON Aleck more than fifty years
ago.
DIR. BROWN AS A BOY.
Although Or. Prcwn is now one Of the
most popular cultured. able. and beloved
ciVinCs in Virginia, neither Mr.. Heath nor
Mr. Williams recall his parents, or any
thing of his life before their association
as apprentices. Young Brown then at
tended the late Henry Whittingtons
night school, while still an apprentice
and often spent his leisure reading books
Stories. he would tell, many Of them
with morals, that were doubtless intend
ell for Jack ana lead him into paths that
be straight, not crooked, as TO them
seems have ever since been
When old NJ. Williams stood before a
big bon fire not far from his home and
not many weeks ago h saw the flames
lick around and finally devOur some thou
sands Of dollars worth Of fine cabinet
work that he knew old Jack Heath had
either made the plans of or had made
under his direction. and this old boyhood
friend and good Methodist OF these days
could not help but smile as ne recalled
OLD days, Aleck and Jack and the Scrip
tural Injunction, The way of the trans
gressor Is hard and his smile was a not
soon to- be- forgotten-srnile; il was doubt
less at his best for Jack Heath's gam
bling paraphernales was being devoured.
and old white-hairSd Capt Billy Bartlett
was there with his stick seeing that not
so much as charred piece of II remained.
JACK HEATH.
Mr. Heath was born here sixty seven
or siXty-eieHt years ago. His parents died
when he was very young, and he WAS
adopted by old Captain John Kelley,
whose home was On south Fairfax street
not far from the First Presbyterian
church.
ships of Lambert and Mckenzie. and
kcnzie are OF the opinion that he must
have lent Jack Heath any help asked OF
him. and Coubtless had him enrolled as a
scholar in the old First Church Sabbath
School. The Times man asked Mr.. Heath
II this were not true, and while he did
not give a direct answer, his stole ex-
press ion changed for once at least and
he took the reporters hand. and said. II
am sorry. my young friend, l cannot help
you at an
when the trio ported about 1855. they
agreed to be ever good friends. and Mr.
Bradley parted with both Heath and
Bradley firm went out OF business soon
q afterwards, or so decreafed their force as
TO make the dropping out OF these hard
ly felt.
Jack, though he had probably attended
the Wa NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. school for
a time, had little OF what could really be
called schooling He was rather a rough
boy outside of the reach OF master; he
chewcd tobacco and smoked. went with
the tougher set Of boys. played. STATED.
and probably went after frogs, calamus