The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1895-07-18

proved to be as faithful in that capacity
as he had been in his more important
position.
Everybody used to know Albert Haw-
kins. He was particularly proud and
conspicuously self-conscious on inaugu-
ration days. When tAe bands were
playing and the troops were marching
from the white house to the capitol for
the Inauguration of a president, and
back again up Pennsylvania avenue in
grand review, Albert Hawkins sat
upon his box and handled the reins,
directing the four handsome horses
which drew the barouche in which the
president and The ex-president were
seated. The thousands of men, women
and children who filed all available
space and made the wellkin ring with
their cheers saw not only the two
great men as they passed by, but they
also saw the big black man who sat so
high and looked SO proud. Albert
knew this, but his eyes never turned to
the right nor to the left. He watched
| his horses, and made them feel the fact
| that careful and skillful driver was
| directing their movements and con-
stantly holding them in check.
AS time passed by Albert Hawkins
became accustomed to pomp, parade
and panoply of war, and the number OF
his friends increased. Grant, Hayes,
Garfield, Arthur, Cleveland, Harrison
| all of them were driven by him in proud
procession to the capitol and to the
white house He was also the driver
for these presidents during their terms
Of office; and many a state secret he
overheard while driving president
and some statesman friend over the
hills and heights surrounding this city
But never q word came from his lips
concerning those things which were In
voluntarily intrusted to him In conf
dence. One evening after the death Q.
Mr.. Blaine, however, In conversation
with a longtime friend, he said: "Mr
Garfield is gone, Mr.. Conkling is gone
and now Mr.. Blaine is gone. drov'
President Garfield and Secretary Blain'
to the soldiers home one Sunday after
noon when the whole story OF the New
York collectorship was talked over
When drew rein at the white hons
that evening knew that Mr.. Robert
, son was to be the collector at New
York; but I never said anything.
, was none of my business. 1t is none Q
/ nv business now, either. I will ne
, tell you what was said. but the convel
! sation was earnest and somewhat e.
! citing. You know that Mr.. Conkling RI
! signed from the senate soon afterward
! Then came an awful row, big men we1
: 1T the white house early and late. Sel
! ators were sending mounted messel
gers, answers were being returne'
everybody was crazy except Mr.. Ga
: field. Congress adjourned, and the
! Mr.. Garfield was shot at the depot. II
= poor wife suffered as he suffered.
: often drove the carriage for her al
q Miss Mollie when they were out Il
!. an hour or two for fresh air. The
e were many tears shed In my preseDc
! Well, then came Mr.. Blaine's time
Il run for the presidency. suppo
4 everybody knows how he was defeate
But the real cause of Mr.. Blaine's q
feat dated from that Sunday afterno
drive, for that was when the awt
row commenced"
+ For four years Albert was quietly
N work In the interior department., /
fe when Mrs. Cleveland came to WashiI
ton in February, 1898, the old m
is called to pay his respects. He inform
Mrs. Cleveland that he was no loni
the white hodae coachman, and '
lifted to the Seventh heaven Of delil
when that gracious and beautiful Il
I. shid: But you shall drive on inau
q ration day, Albert, II you would
= to-" And so it happened that q,
4s. Gevelands second hahgursa