The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1896-08-19
A RED RIVER PLANTER.
He is Supposed to be the Original
of Legrec.
Mrs. STOVES CHARACTER
Princely Estates iu Great and Fertile
yalIey---A Man About Whom
Stories Are Told.

Gen. VIM. Hugh Robarts IS one
of the best known of Washiugton':;
citizens not in Office, and as cult
waited and courtly gentleman as
one can meet in the politest cir
cles Of the national capital
He was a gallant confederate Off
Ger, who earned his rank by con.
spicuous ability and courage,
throwing himself into the South
ern cause when a mere youth with
the natural ardor of one OF the old
families,qf New Orleans, i'll whose
veins ran the hood of one of the
most ancient and noble families Of
France. Ii Gen. Robarts were not
an American citizen he would be
of legal and hereditary right the
Compile de ST. Dennis.
Few men have met and assoclat.
ed with so many extraordinary
people as Gen. Robarts has in his
eventful life in America and
abroad, and he is wonderfully rich
in his memories Of them, having
treasured the best they had to
give. Among his lnnumerable ab.
sorbing "reminiscences is one Of a
peculiar meeting with Mrs. Harri-
ct Beecher Stove, and nothing
that has been printed in connec:
ticn with the death of that nOta-
BILE woman is so deeply interesting
as a revelation which she made to
Gen. kobarts during that chance
and brief acquaintance.
The story is gwen here as came
to the writer from the lips Of Gen.
Rolarts, and the fact the General
tells it is sufficient assurance Of
its absolute truth.
"Of all the leading characters in
'CncIe Toms Cabin,'" said Gen.
RObarts, "but one remained uni
Identified at The time of the death
of Mrs. Stove. That one was LIE
gree, the Red River planter, Uncle
TOMS last owner. 1t happened
to me to hear from Mrs. Stowe
herself the Identification Of the
original of her Legree. When it
is remembered that Of all the char
acterS in Mrs. Stoves greatest
novel, the one that fired the north.
ern heart most tierceIy was that Of
the Red river slave ownel, the
identity Of the character, some.
hing of the RESEMBLANCE of the
man in The story, the individual
from whom the character was
adapte'', must be Of the highest
interest.
sin October, 1878, enjoyed a
charming visit of a few days in
Boston as the gnest of Hon. A. IL.
Rice, then governor of Massachus-
etts. He lived at the Brunswick.
One morning as we sat at break
fast | noted an elderly lady seated
at neighboripg table, who was
observing the governor with some
interest. Finally she canght his
eye aud bowed tn him. He ilnme.
diately excused himself for a mo.
ment and went to greet bis ac'
quaiDtance. Upon his return he
said:
"'Do you know Mrs. Stoweq'
"'No,' replied, 'and no ottense
10 you, don't care to BECOME, ac-
quainted with her.
| "'That is uufortunste,, he oh.
served, for she wants;lHe to pre-.
sent You,-
| "'Why, when did you see Mrs
Stowe?' | inquired.
"'l have just been speaking
with her. he answered. Il told
her J. had a Louisianian Staying
with me, one who belonged to the
last generation that saw the insti
tuition of slavery i'll its prime. She
urged me to bring him into the
morning room after breakfast, bu1
AS you seem not to wish it, l vii
make some excuse.'
"'No,' [ answered, after mo
ment's retle ction, pray present me
spoke without thought just now
not knowing she was in the vi
entity.
$50 after a small cigar in tn,
governors study, the latter sen
his card to the lady and a momen
later Was making my bow to til,
author OF the most famous auti
slavery novel ever written.
"Pr indicrd as | was against Mrs
Stowe because of political tenets
yet found her most interesting
=" 'Yoa wrote "Uncle TOMS Cab
IN" without any real, yractica
knowledge Of slavery; lid you uot1
| yel,tured.
eyes, she said, Il had to writ
it that way or not at all. | wa
living in tue west and had Ito op
portunity to see anything of slav
cry as 1t existed then in the Sonth
Yet | think NY Legree is one u
the best drawn characters iii til
work.
"' May I ask | interrupted, q