The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-09-01
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A beautiful story of the brave Lieut.
Gen. VIM. J. Hardee, has found its way
OILY very recently for the first time. into
public print. This episode gives an in
sight into the heart of the distinguished
soldier, and adds to his already i'm
perishable fame After Gen. Hardee
pointed one of a commission to go to Eu-'
rope to investigate THE workings of the
principal military establishment of the
foreign powers. While abroad young
Hardee was member of pleasure par
ty which travelled in various parts Of
Europe In crossing the Alps one day
DE was Mortified to see carriage, oc-
cupted by ladies. about to be dashed over
a terrible precipice by a pair of frighten-
ed, unmanageable horses. As quick as
thought, young Hardee leaped from his
horsa and with superhuman streng h
caught the paunging horses, guided them,
and rescued the ladies. One of these
proved ito be Mrs. VIM. II. Seward, wife
of thu celebrated statesman. Mrs. Sc
ward was profuse in the expression of
her gratitude. and Immediately wrote her
husband of her narrow escape from an
awful death, and gave the name of the
dashing young American officer to whom
she was indebted for safety. MIR. Sc
ward wrote promptly to Lieut.. Hardee;
told him of his profound gratitude and
added, that II at any time he could be
of service to him in any way, that he
stood ready to cancel the great debt he
owed him.
Years passed; the south began to hear
the distant runsbllng of an approach ng
storm Closer and darker the clouds
came, until the noise OF the guns al Fort
Sumter aroused the milton from Maine to
Texas arlf inaugura!ted the greatest civil
war OF the century.
THE brave, ambitious Hardee went step
by step UP the ladder of military fame,
until at the end of The war he had at
1t; ined THE elevated rank of lieutenant
general. When that fateful April day
at Appcmattox brought the unequaled
rs.ired to his plantation, which had gone
sadly to wreck during the four years
fighting. Then came ITO the helpless south
rumors Of the ind.gnities being heaped
upon President Davis at Fortress Mon
noe, and of his lack OF all the comforts
and necessities of life. Gen. Hardee, who
had been est'anged from President Davis,
at once determined TO contribute his
share towards relieving his suffering, nc--
withdrawing the enmity which had ex-
listed between them. He Immediately had
his crop sold at Selma, Ala, and the
money received for it was forwarded an
enormously to President Davis by friend
Of Gen. Hardee lHe then wro.e to Mr..
Seward, who was at The time secretary of
state, a man of smiless power and in
I ffnance, end tenlinded him of the Eu-
ropeaa incidc.t. and of his promise made
long ago to do whatever was in h!5
Power at any time, for Gen. Hardee,
because os his saving the Nfe of Mrs.
Sev ard in crossing Il e Alps. He plead
with him for President Davis release;
infportuned him to make his sentence
lighter, and did all that magnanGmous
man could do fer suffering fellow crea-
tuge, and yet they had been opponents
and enemies when President Davis d.
rected the affairs of the Southern Confed-
erac,. Such ia of self-forgetfulnesis
and divir,e Forgiveness s:ould be known
wherever hearts and souls count for amy
thing These irlcie ents in til. ite Cf Cen.
Hardee have just been given to the pub
lie by friends who heiyle known Them for
yeals.
DR.. Thomas w. Evans, the celebrated
American dentist, who has resided in
Paris, France, for forty years, returned
to New York a few days ago, bringing
with him the body of his wifeswho died
the 18th of last June, which will be in
tered at Philadelphia. DR.. Evans has
amassed an immense fortune in his pro-
fession, and is said to be worth $S5000,-
900, all of which has come to him since
he went to Europe and became the dent
list for nearly all the crown heads. DIR.
Evans was especially intimate with Ma
poleon and Eugene, and assisted in the
escape of the latter from Paris after the
battle Of sedan.
DR.. Evans is now Is years of age but
is robust and erec.. He will remain n
short while in America. The services
over the remains of his wife will be held
today at 4 o'clock at st. Mary's P. E.
church, Philadelphia. BALL.