Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-15


other way, Mr. Stevenson was ionu .,
the social circle. had pleasant anu
pleasing address and appearance. couN
~, sa,len, az beau. tell a good story.
or mix well with any tTong. ana Wa
one Of the most popular OF all the young
men who attended Centre college. anu
aftcrward became noted as Ministers
lawyers. and statesmen. IL was wnhe
he was a student at Centre that -dr- S,.-
yenson met the young lady VINO ar
terward became his wife. She was a
daughter OF DIR. Lewis Warner Green,
who succeeded the brilliant John Y.
Young as president Of the COLLEGE
senator BLACKBURN was unique anu
Interesting figure at college. just as ne
has since been In State and national poll
tics. He graduated In 1857. in a large
class Of forty-1eycn. Joe was never
known TO kill himself porting over DIS
books, but he had a way OF becoming
master Of most any situation with aeA-
ferrous skill and In an incredible SNORT
time, and how he always came OUT Oh
his examinations with flying coiors wa
\ mystery that his classmates couid no.
solse. The future senator and vice-p.e,-
Dental possibility was handsome you'A'
gay dresser, fond OF ladies', chitaii Ous;
and gallant He was fun Of nght, anu
and i'm style 20 suit the opposiuoh'
promptly as any man.
There are vague stories OF number
OF duels. In which Joe was either princi-
pal or second. and OF one In particular
In which the comm : free-silver champion
took the ground 10 explain the rules ana
regulations Of the code duello, and talked
until the sun went down. and II was TOO
dark TOO shoot. Joe was then, as now,
ready talker, and on gala days, where
there was to he a grand parade and food
OF oratory to be turned loose. Joe was
put up to m the air with rosy-hued al
iectives and sky-scraping periods. NO.
thing ever daunted him. Before an I'M
mense audience Of staid matrons, solemn
faced professors. and pretty girls he was
as cool as self-possessed. and as oeDoh-
/ nair az he Is to-day in any OF his faVorite
haunts.
II was during his college DAYS that Sena-
tor Blackburn met and loved the young
I lady who vas 10 become his wife. she was
a daughter OF DR.. Christopher Columbus
Graham. the ccntenaTian. and one OF Tie
/ most extraordinary men of his day. Joe
returned 10 Danville the year following
! his graduation. and before removing 10
! Chicago to practice Law. 10 be married.
/ Several amusing Incidents are 10 be re-
7 membered in connection with his courtsnip
/ and marriage one was the accidental
/ shooting OF the lover; another was the mis-
| fortune which overlook the wedding sup
per Some months before the marriage
/ Jos came over from Lexington on the old
| stage coach to see his sweetheart. He was,
/ as usual dressed in the height or fashion,
and wore a long-tail coat In the tan
! rocket Of the coat was pistol, and as
/ Joe was passing through the gate leading
| TO the residence Of the young lady the
| coat-tail Topped around and struck post
/ the revolver was discharged, and joe was
| shot in the foot. Quickly did the ~ $
! that Joe Blackburn was shot pass through
| the quiet little town. and there was great
! excitement until the fun extent and Pr
ticulars Of the tragedy become known
| Joe recovered in due season, the court
ship was resumed, and the date or the
wedding settled. The wedding was 10 be
a grand affair. and 10 take place In the
/ old church, where Joe and many other
proud seniors before and after him ce-
! iiyered their farewell Orations. Following
| the ceremony there was to be a magnin-
! cent supper 10 which all OF the society
folk Of Danville and its vicinity. and
/ many from Fayette and Woodtoid ana
| other counties, had been invited. Every
| thing at the church went off smoothly, and
the throng proceeded thence TO the era
I ham mansion. where gallons upon gallons
and delicacies were supposed to be IN
| waiting. but others had preceded the we'd
ding guests and the feast had disappeared.
| students from old Centre had invaded the
/ kitchen and pantry, bound and gagged the
cooks and walters, ard then carried away
/ everything tOothsome, leaving not so
much as a biscuit for the bride. There was
a storm of denunciation from the family
an1 intimate friends. but Joe remained
serene. Obvious TO all Ills and indifferent
10 fate.
Governor Matthews, of Indiana, was IN
the class Of 1851 which contained just thii
teen members, the war having made serl-
Gus inrcads upon the attendance at the
college. Young Matthew was studeh'
OF average standing in his class. but very
popular. lie was fastidious in his dress
fond of society, and ladies' man from
the start. No social affair was complete
without him. He had weakness 100
for girls older than himself, and asso
ciated with a set beyond his years. one
OF the important events in his college ca
reer was his election as "twenty-seconS
sneaker" In those days at Centre thi'
was q highly-coveted honor. and no
easily won 1t waited not only upon grea
personal popularity, but also upon skill a
a college politician.