Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-15
LOUISA LEAFLEIS'
Pleased with TyIer-Person"i roin'''
An Old Piano.

covernor OF Virginia. They believe Iyier
TO be a sincere man, worthy VI 49,
confidence. Well, lev that parse ne
bovs of Louisa say they'll eject iiose
Tyler or "bust biler. III.
Mrs. ID. ]. Alcutt, who mas pesH SIN
for some weeks, continues IN cri''cai
condition. .
Mrs. Sommerville, OF Texas, was on
visit to Judge sims's family this week
Colonel William 4. winston, OF Apple
Grove this county, has returheS At tnd
the mountain resorts, Whilhei N'
been for his health. c,,.. ,-otbing Of
Monday was County Court NollIns VI
sneciaI interest occurred. Pie-yenders'
melons .iuicy and red cider, etc. pre-
vailed throughout the day. Inc CIuei
made me feel like / was once more pouI
ing out a glass Of the GEAR, cledI, nc ,,5
lucent opacous James-riyer water, anu
/ was so deliriously happy-happy 10 Hnu
out IL wasn't. But ii is very WrohS 10
saw aught against the JameS-rlver water,
when we remember its cher ingredlSht
is mud. And we all know now hedlln'
Mir. Charles b. Alcutt son OF G.. G:
Alcutt, Esq, OF this county, mas settleu
in the land of crocodiles ana oranges
that is, Florida. We understand that ne
has been very successful down there and
quite pleased. Well, fellow ought to be
happy where oranges, flowers, and cuban
girls abound 1t is said that many OF the
fair sex from Cuba can be seen In tlorl-
da, and that their dark Creole eyes are
simply bewitching especially so TO Ameri-
cans. Our own lamented Gottschalk, the
great pianist, must have felt the charm
Of the Cuban girls, for he used 10 COM
pose Cuban dances and call them creole
Eyes" etc.
And. right here let me say how few or
our own people seem TO know that Gott-
schalk, one Of the very greatest pianlsts
who has ever lived, was born In the
South, on the borders OF Lake Pontchart-
rain, close by the city OF New orleans.
A monument should be built TO his memo
~. In his day he was fayorite the
world over and the North and Europe
have paid him homage in many ways, but
right here in the South, where he was
born, we have failed, so far, to pay that
tribute which the greatness OF the poet
OF the piano" deserved.
Living in Louisa are descendants OF
Peter Francisco. whose almost fabulous
strength and unlimited courage has been
mentioned in Virginia histories. His son.
the late DR.. Francisco, lived few miles
from here. And several Of DR.. Fran
cisco's children live here now-Calhoun
and Ben Francisco living. we believe, on
the old Francisco estate. Many are the
stories told about Peter Franclsco's mar
vellous strength. Most of the stories are
well known. but some of them viii bear
repeating. Once, 1t is said, that a rough
Kentucky man, having heard OF Peter
tranciscos siren nth, rode all the way
to Virginia TO fight him-iust to see II he
could whip him. The Kentuckian rode
up TO Franchises house, tied his horse
In the yard, and knocked at the door.
Upon going In he made known to Peter
the object Of his visit. Peter told him
very well. but before fighting 10 go down
in the cellar and have a drink OF whis-
key. The Kentucklan asked for a glass.
Peter told him II he wanted a drink he
n In l.
would take his. The Kentuckian stood
aghast when Francisco took up the big
barrel Of whiskey, and, holding IL up.
deliberately drank out OF the bung-holei
On going out into the yard Francisco took
the big kentuclian up, and pitched him
over the fence. well; I'll 20 away salts
fed now If you will put my horse over"
SAID the stranger. Francisco put his
arms around the horses body and put
the nag over the fence. And the stranger
rode off. thinking doubtless that while
Kentucklans might beat Virginians drink
ing whiskey, 1t would not be wise TO try
prize-fght with Virginians Of the
strength Of Peter Francisco. II Is stated
upon unimpeachable authority that Fran
cisco could take two men, each Weighing
l6O pounds, and, holding one up in his
right hand and the other in his left.
dance over the floor with them Talk
about your prize-hghters OF to-day. why
Peter Francisco could have taken all
your Jim Corbetts, Bob Fitzsimmonses.
and John Sullivans and whipped them alf
at one timei / don't know whether anv
or Peter Francisco's descendants have
inherited any OF his marvellous strength
but his grandson, Ben Francisco. seems
20 have some strength. for / have heard
that the other day he was driving q
carriage up a steep hill. when the horse
began TO back down the hill. much to the
horror OF the gentleman. who was riding
with him. Don't be alarmed" said Mr.
Francisco. and. reaching out his hand.
he caught hold OF the wheel and held
the carriage perfectly still.
The editor Of the Louisa News is being
urged 10 run for the Legislature. Ii IS
said that the Old cObbler who Is az work
on the boots to be worn by the success
ful candidate for the Legislature is build
ing an article whose No. corresponds TO
the size or shoe worn by the editor OF
The News. Well, Editor Bib Is capable
of filing the boots. and when he does
get them on and gets astride OF the old
Democratic nag he is going TO ride her
right into the paths OF victory! Ii is al
ways pleasure to compliment our friends
of tho quill, and 70 use an ALTERATION L
shall call the editor OF the News LOU
isa's Lofty Lombardy." He IS sound on
the money QuestiOn-that is, he is for
silver. All over the county he seems
Popular-spelled with capital p. The
people Of the county want hustling rep
resentative In the legislature, and IN this
respect Editor Bib Will fill the bill.
gentleman gave me the following de-
scription Of an old piano owned by Mr.
Constantine Perkins OF near Whining
ton. Fluvanna county, Va: This piano
was made i'm 1901. Grand. three strings to
each key, and has five and half octaYes
II has two pedals-one on each 'front.' leg
Of the piano. 1t would amuse a person
TO see the performer use the pedals. 10
use one pedal you lean to the right or
left, and to use both at once you must
stretch your feet as far as possible 10
reach the legs and pedals. 1 heard from
Mr. Perkins that the former owner Miss
Ross afterwards Mrs Payne, played on
this piano and sang for General Lafay-
cite when he spent the night at Whining
ton in 1924. The action of this piano was
good and tone superior 10 some or the
pianos made now"
My goodness. what a figure Paderewsk
would cut at this piano. With less
stretched out like a pair OF wide-open
scissors in order TO reach these far-apart
pedals. and mis- fodder-stack OF red halr
bent over the ivory keys as he dashed on
one of those bravura rhapsodies OF LlsZt,
surely the great Paderewski would look
perfectly lovely, as the ladies would say
GRILLOB.