The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-12-15

duct in his cellars, and the tired travel
er, on arriving at whitehall. is always
regaled with a draught of this famous
amber liquor.
| WHITEHALL AND MASTER.
About mile from .he dissilley, on a
commanding eminence, stands Whitehall
one OF the most remarkable residences
in America. Arriving there at ten o
| clock. not human being could see
Silence reigned- Not even a chicken or
a dog was visible The house stood a
| lone in its majesty, with the winter sun
| lighting up its facades and g,inting
| form the French plate windows Virgin
| ia creepers were clinging 60 many OF the
| walls, and the grass, Notwithstanding
! the winter weather, was green in the
| yard. and had overgrown the cellar en-
| brasures and seemed to be trying 20 fas-
| ten itself in every crevice of the stone
| foundation OF the house.
Huge magnolias grew on either side
! OF the fine old portico, and around then.
| to ward off the storms of winter, was
placed corn fodder. These magnolias.
the General afterwsrd told me, were the
special pride of Dora. and for that rea-
son he was trying to save them from
winters rigors.
Repeated ringing OF the door bell
CROUCH. no response. At the end Of fif
teen minutes Jim Litrell, one of the Cen
erals hired men and guards, came from
behind the residence. pulling a buggy
in which the General had driven TO
Richmond the day before. In gruff
voice Litrell asked. What do you
want?"
'I wish to see General Clay" I re-
piled.
porch and knock on the dining room
door. The General is in there eating
his breakfast"
1 followed his directions, and the door
was quickly opened by the General him
self, who cordially invited me in. and,
extending his hand, said
II am glad to see you. No, I am not
feeling very well to-day. l have been
trubled whit insomnia for several weeks
and have slept but little. went TO
Richmond yesterday 10 attend court and
be present at the trial Of Jim ana
Buster Bowling, who have been steal
ter last night than have slept for some
trip did me good, and have slept bet
ter last night than have slept for some
time, and 1 think am better to-day than
was the day before yesterday
WON'T TALK ABOUT DORA.
81 came to It ak to you," 1 said,
"about your wife. Dora Richardson,
leaving you"
why, sir, the newspapers have been
using my misfortunes as catchpenny
affair. have been interviewedthous-
ands of times on national and other
questions. and 1 must say that the in
terviews have quoted me fairly accurate
ly. But in the matter of my domestic
troubles the interviews have been color
ed to suit the ideas of eensationalism
held by the publishers. do not accuse
the reporters with having distorted my
language, for do not believe they did it
bue the newspapers seem 10 desire TO
misrepresent me regarding my private
infelicities. Even the pictures have
been made to lie. They have drawn my
house to represent fort. They have
placed cannon at the second story win
nows, and they have filed the walls and
corners OF the rooms with guns and pis- |
tolls. The idea of placing cannon in the |
the second story of house shows how |
foolish these attempts to libel me are. |
No sane man would put cannon in the |
second story OF a house and try and use
It there for the purpose of defence. !
Whether the artists are sane or silly |
leave for the public to judge. No. sir, |
1 will not talk about my recent froub- |
les.
-Four years ago I thought I would |
live to be hundred years old, but with !
in the last three years my life has been !
so upset that doubt exceedingly IL l |
will survive to be come centenarian. |
Prior TO December. 1894, / made IT rule |
to sleep nine hours out OF every twenty |
four. / followed his practice in this /
particular all my life, and I believe II /
had a great deal to do with my long
evty. Il also prevented my strength
from becoming impaired
The old man was growing garrulous.
He rambled along, shaking his shaggy
head efnpnaticaliy, to emphaZise point
but positively refused to be drawn into
a discussion Of his marital troubles !
remarked upon his robust physique, and
he seemed pleased.
ROBUST AT EIGHTY-SIX.
'Thave always taken great deal OF
outdoor exercise" he said. when was
a young man 1 was counted an expert at
all athletic games and with all kinds OF
arms 1 was an excellent swordsman
with either the snort broadsword or the
long rapier. and with firearme 1 sup
pose I was more expert than the best
of them.
with dueIling pistols / could shoot
aln1os: as accurately as ould with this
rife, and it was on account OF my pro-
with the pistols that 1 declared
that Colonel Mckee, who was my second
IN my duel with Sidney Johnston. his
did not load our pistols with
ball on that occasion. Mckee and John
SION were both brave Kentucky gentle
men. and the thought the quarrel be-
tween Wickliffe and myself did not have
sufficient cause 20 warrant a duel.
Johnston Afterwards became distinguish
"a as one ot the gre3test generals OF the
Confezersncy and Colonel Mckee gave
Ip his life for fls country while fight
ng Sre Mexicans.
81 have kept up my outdoor exercise
Intii within the last few years. Ny
muscles are still hard and frn, and rny
,lood flows quickly through my veins.
rbe cold weather does nOc affect me
Ike il does the average nan OF seventy.
When I Wss in Richmond yesterday
elt perfectly comfortable. and Jet
,aw SORES OF men. many, many years