The age-herald., 1898-11-18
THINGS DONE,
 HEARD AND SEEN

diuSuil was DOl ldu1SQ dS dI enter
 on the stage or the lecture platform, but
 wherever he chanced to find himself he
 was always the host, and a royal one, if in
 a cross roads grog shop.
 At his palatial St. Charles street home in
 New Orleans he was a prince. His house
 parties held during Mardi Gras in New Orleans were talked of in the largest cities
 on both sides of the Mississippi Under his
 roof were gathered during the Mardi Gras
 festivities the most noted beauties of New York, Philadelphia, St. Louis and other cities. He was once king of the carnival,
 and later was Proteus when the lamented Daughter of the Confederacy, Miss Win
 nie Davis, was queen. At his home he always kept a stable of
 blooded horses and bears the distinction of first having introduced the use of the tally-ho in the south. He had his fads in social way and some of his social func-
 lions were astounding and gave him much
 notoriety in the papers. One of the most widely known of these functions was a birthday party. He called it dance in the barn, and several hundred of his friends received invitations written in a crude hand common yellow wrapping paper. He actually had the affair ar ranged in barn on his St. Charles street premises. The guests were invited to at tend, to stay until they were kicked out
 and to crowd much fun possible in that space of time He had a programme ar-
 ranged, which was nothing if not unique.
 This entertainer grande of the Crescent City had a startling revelation in the way of H.
 swellest society folk of the country
 big iron caldron boiling over with burning
 brandy was placed in the center of the
 circle around which the cake walk re-
 volved. In the bottom of this miniature Vesuvius was a veritable mine of jewels. They were the prizes and as the fair belles came by the kettle their slender arms were
 thrust in and the one going deepest secured
 the richest prize. The bottom of the ket-
 tie was lined with opals rubies, diamonds
 and other gems set in rings brooches and
 earrings.
 Another of Mir Richardson's fads which attracted attention everywhere was a coaching party which visited all the points on interest through Virginia. In several fine coaches, drawn by the sleekest of horses, were twelve ladies and gentlemen, travelling in true d-time English grandeur small army of servants was sent ahead, and at every point of interest they prepar- ed for the visitors. It was a rule to spend but one night at a place, and on the mor- row the party resumed it's delightfully."- picturesque journey through the mountains to some other famed resort. For weeks the party pursued it's way in this royal fashion.
 MT. Richardson was well travelled. and at one time gave a coaching party in Eng land when he entertained the leading so- ciety people of that country and of Ameri- ca.
 Few could resist MT. Richardsons per- sonal magnetism. He was big hearted and ponderous in matter of physique. He weighed 235 pounds, and greatly resembled his father, who died some years ago in Jackson, Miss. I remember on one occa- sion when his powers of drawing people to him was well Illustrated. He and his brother Charlie, desired to get a piece of special legislation through the Mississippi legislature. These men, worth millions, mingled with the most iliterate of the law makers, and Mississippi at that time had legislators who handled kings English like an elephant would a rose, and could scarce ly read and write. The Richardsons made these men, as well as the more cultured ones, their friends. I have seen them go walking down the street arm in arm to the hotel where the Richardsons were stopping, and champagne would be popped for hours The legislators would doubtless rather have been treated to drink of "corn or frye" from bottle, and to many of them this was their first experience with '.Mumm's Extra Dry.'
 The Richardsons got their legislation through purely as personal favor to them.
 With all MT Richardson's social fads, he
 was welded to his cotton farms, the most
 favored being the Dahomey plantation In
 Mississippi, just above Vicksburg. This
 plantation contains 16,0OO acres, and is con-
 sidered the largest in the world. He had
 other plantations in Mississippi and Louis iana, but the Dahomey place was the most valuable. On all his farms he had prob- ably 24000 acres in cotton, which produced upwards of 0,000 bales annually. The great est system and the most modern farming implements characterized his extensive op- erations. He was the oldest son of Edward Richardson, the greatest cotton planter in the world. Besides James, there were three sons and one daughter. Messrs. Charles and w. P. Richardson are still living, while John T. died several years ago. Mrs. w. w. Gordon, the only daughter, resides in New Orleans.
 To those who knew him James Richard son was one of the best fellows in the world. He found no greater happiness than l furnishing enjoyment to others. He always enjoyed himself; his house ana himself were at the disposal of his friends. Yet he was foremost in his contributions to charitable l institutions and public enterprise. He never married, but was fond of the society of la- dies.
 James Richardson was a man of the | world, as many say, of two worlds. With | this few men of the cloth and few philan- thropists have died more beloved. He had l his way of scattering sunshine. They had l theirs. SYDNEY YOUNG. |