The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-31
SOLE AGENTS.

They were gentlemen of the old southern
school, every one Of them. Unable to rid
themselves of hereditary habits, they
were lavish I'm their hospitality to the eX-
tent of their means. They expected pay
for their cotton, and had no thought Tor
the morrow in reckoning the size OF their
purse. They did not know that govern
ment claims, and especially such claims
as theirs, We're likely to drag their slow
length along like a suit in chancery.
While they had IL they spent their money
like the genial gentlemen they were.
AS raconteurs they have rarely had their
equals in this local assemblage of brilliant
and erratic geniuses. In stories Of love
and adventure, of gambling and dueling
and horse racing, of every phase Of life
that fell naturally to a people of leisure
and pleasure, they were inexhaustible.
Their discourses on the virtue and inspi-
ration to be found in a julep or cocktail
sounded like chapters from Charles
Lamb. No philosopher Of the epicureans
could equal them in eloquence when dis
cussing the facts and possibilities of gas
tronomy. "A dinner fit for king was
a meaningless phrase to them. They
transposed it into "a dinner fit for a
southern gentleman" They were the
souls of chivalry and courtesy, but woe
be to the person so dense as to be unap-
preciative of their character, and who dar-
vivid flights of fancy. If the day Of the
pistol was past the day of the walking
stick was not and more than one unwary
person has felt upon his head the weight
Of the typical "cane." the invariable ac-
compartment of these gentlemen when led
by free Indulgence in stimulants to make
sighting or equivocal remarks in regard
to the south or its claimants.
This TRANCE and fascinating genus has
passed away. The places in the national
capital that have known them know them
no more. Apparently they have been re-
duced to a last representative who yet
hopes to get pay for his cotton. Nearly
$500, 900 is due him, as he claims to have
proved, under the law and of that great
sum he has not received a cent UP to the
present moment. Were he not a man of
storing intellect and a true descendant of
the stoics he would have probably sue
cumbed to the stress of demolished hopes
long ago.
Where are your old associates?" was
asked of this last of the race of original
claimants.
"Wen, sir" he answered with an air of
the serenest philosophy I believe they
are all dead, sir Several of them died
here in Washington at the poor house
have had a great struggle to keep out of
that uncOngenial place myself but l may
yet have to go there l assure you upon
attractions for me. Occasionally have
been there to chat with some of my old
friends but 1 did not fall in love with
the plantation. ! am afraid, sir, that the
cook was not bred and educated in Paris,
and the beverage of the institution APP
pears to be water, sir, pom my honor, sir,
water and nothing more. Even at the
most expensive rate of living possible, sir,
l do not believe I could board out the
amount of my claim if I were to live
there a thousand years. 1 have made a
careful calculation of this matter, sir, and
do assure you, sir, feel that my figures
tell the truth"
What is the reason you have not secured
the amount Of your claim, like some of
your friends?'
''Well, sir, it seems to be to some extent
a matter of luck, sir. Some of my friends
whose cases were precisely like my own
got their money almost without trouble or
waiting. But as for me, sir, some damna-
Bile obstacle always seemed to interpose
it's huge bulk in my way. Let me tell you
a little story, sir, which viii illustrate my
COMPOUNDED luck. knew President Gar
field very we'll, very well, indeed, sir. For
several years certain matter brought us
very close together. Well, sir, one morn
ing some time after he assumed the Office
of President l met him, and after a short
conversation he asked me if I had ever
IeCtlNtu pay Aoi iilg NObNOlAf anu VI course,
sir. I could tell him truly that I had not
got a cent.
He said warmly that the delay was an
outrage. and declared that when he re-
turned from a little journey upon which
he was to start the following day he would
look into the matter and see that some
thing was done. Well, sir, felt very good
on account of that little speech. Toasted
on hope that day as l had not done in
years before. Well, sir, the next morning
Mr.. Garfield started on his outing accom-
panied by Mr.. Blaine. and IL was that very
morning that Guiteau met him and shot
him. ! was 80 knocked Of a heap that il
seemed TO me as II the murderOus scoun-
drel. the devilish assassin, must have been
brought into the world for the sole purpose
Of deprivng me OF pay for my cotton.
well sir ] could cite many other in
stances which would 30 10 prove that /
have been "a shining mark FOR The shafts
Of ili-luck. but as there's a go Oh ten mill
ions lying IN the treasury that belongs 10
other claimants am forced 70 believe. SIR
that there are others who have as much