Evening star., 1897-01-16

mighty yell that would put blush TO the
war whoop of an Apache Indian. Ii would
have awakened the Seven Sleepers and 1t
brought everybody I'm the house TO the room
I'm a moment. And then when the youngster
saw his mother he realized that his long
vigil had gone for naught and that despite
his unselfish desire, he had walked her from
her restful sleep.
There is no more delicious drink in sum-
nter time than the mint julep,'" said Col.
Burt G. Clark, who plays the part of the
breezy old Kentucky colonel in 'In Old
Kentucky. Col. Clark is a southerner,
and has a great fondness for the mint julep.
I he colonel, by the way. earned his title on
the field of battle. He served I'm the con-
federate army. and he served under that
famous guerrilla Quantrell. Col Clark is
mild-mannered. hearty. whole-souled fel-
low. and there is nothing in his kindly eye
to Indicate any of that blood thirstiness
which Quantrells guerrilas were supposed
TO possess The colonel does not TO
talk about his war experiences. but on the
mint juleps, for instance, he is volubiity
itself.
The author has put a good deal into my
part about mint juleps. said he, ''and i'm
one scene 1 am compelled to drink three
of them. / am lover of a well-made julep.
but, unfortunately for me. the property
man makes these. and / regret to say that
they are made of plain water put into
green colored tumblers. with a bit of mint
stuck on the top. 1t is a positive humiia-
ton, sab. to be compelled to drink such
poisonous concoction for the most glorious
beverage that ever was invented. Ii Is, in
deed, sab, but the management seems 10
think that 1t meets all the requirements"
Col Clark believes that the julep is
panacea for all ills. and he says a real good
one can only be obtained in Richmond. Va.
from one John Dabney, an old colored gen
tleman, whose reputation is known from
one end of the south to the other.
John Dabney is an institution. sah, he
continued. Yes. sab. he is much a
credit to the south the Washington and
Lee University. Richmond idealizes him.
Virginia is proud of him. The south honors
him. No. sab. there never will be another
Dabney, and when he passes away We will
have no more mint juleps-and that will be
a calamity sab; yes. sab. a calamity"
And the colonel's voice ouivered bit. Pres
emily he grew reminiscent. Il first met
Dabney I'm 1887 at Major Thomas Doswelrs
field day at Bluefield. the place where
Planet, Nina, Fannie Washington. Eolus
and many of the best horses of Virginia
were foaled and trained. Dabney, sab, fur
nished the edibles and mixed his famous
juleps. At these field days when the trial
races were over and dinner eaten, II
the majors custom and pleasure to
semble his guests in his parlor. and there
the day was appropriately wound up in
singing the old-time southern songs.
Thomas Nelson Page. Virginias dialect
writer, was always there, sab. Upon each
occasion he was called upon to recite Little
Jack a poem written by, him and dedicated
to John Dabney. commemorating his praise
worthy conduct. The poem is one of beauty
and pathos. sab. depicting the leading incl
dent of Dabney's life.
THE julep 4 la Dabney is work OF art.
bestowed upon personages whom he holds
in high esteem. sab. They are prepared In
sterling silver goblet, fourteen inches
high. and imbibed through straws OF solid
silver. The cap, of a quart capacity. was
made for Dabney, and bears upon its bowl
the legend: John Dabney, presented by the
gentlemen of Richmond, champion julep.
IAN adequate idea OF this julep cannot be
had without 0eScrintiOQ thereof. They
are not only delicious and exhilarating. but
a work of art as unique as it is beautiful,
sab. 1t is a thing of beauty and joy for
all who sit around connected with its hid
den charms by the silver straws. The urn
is almost entirely hidden by the crushed
ice figures frozen to the bowl The top is
a pyramid of crystal snow ice. Sticking to
the ice, in artistic designs, are fruits and
flowers, grapes, sliced peaches, bananas,
Strawberries raspberries. blackberries and
raisins, roses, carnations and violets. Moth
ing of the inside is seen That is taken on
faith. The ice on top does not melt. hence
the julep is not weakened. Each year. sab,
Dabney. at special times. constructs one of
his marvels- and visitors from all the
points see them and wonder.
THE Prince OF Wales is unquestionably
a connoisseur OF fine beverages. Upon a
visit to Richmond years ago. Dabney pre-
pared for him a julep the like OF which the
heir to England's throne had never dreamed
of in his moments of happiness and his
encomiums thereupon were OF the highest.
His enthusiasm, expressed, was great
that he wanted to import to Sandringham
the recipe for the making OF Dabney's royal
drink.
John Dabney is old man, but well
preserved. He is one OF the last of his
kind His generation has passed, yet he
fingers. the last connecting link with a class
of colored men and women to whom the
south (as a southerner I say iD owes an
eternal debt of gratitude. sab. II was his
kind who. during the war. stayed at home
and faithfully cared for and protected the
han hx
fighting at the front.
e "Eh? Thank you, sab: shall be pleased
to. Give me a little toddy."