The age-herald., 1898-08-18
QUAINT STORIES
 ABOUT MR. VEST

Eugene Lewis In the New York Journal.
 That statesman of a type fast leaving, George Graham Vest, of Missouri, lies on bed of death at Asbury Park. So the wires tell us. It is doubtless true, as MT. Vest himself passing his conclusions on his physical condition, has of late frequently predicted his early taking off. To say the truth, the nearness of the hearafter in his case did not seem to worry him much. He faces the future with the same determina- tion and courage that has characterized him in his whole personal and political career
 You can always tell when a senator is about to die," said MT. Vest, with gloomy cynicism, one day toward the end of the extra session. He was walking about the senate corridor in his customary style, but stopped briefly to moralize on signs and omens
 Always when man is going to die you will find other senators in his seat. Other senators visitors I never knew 1t to be otherwise, and I regard 1t as singular that you have never remarked it yourself. When poor Walthall was at home awaiting the call his seat was never empty. It was the same when Harris lay dying Some one or other was always In his chair, and'' he added somewhat vigorously, q have been walking around here two hours waiting for that Virginia man, John Daniel, to get away from my desk"
 When he was confined to his house a short time ago Senator Vest looked dubis ously upon his chances for recovery. The second day of his illness Colonel Edwards. one of the senate employees, called to in- quire touching his condition. The Hawaiian annexation resolution was then under con. sideration, and Senator Gallery had the floor. The Louisiana statesman, in accord ance with his custom, was prepared to deal at length with the question under debate. It may be remarked by way of parenthesis, that there are but few frayed threads of information outstanding after Caffrey gets through with a speech. He leaves nothing unsaid, ignorance unlighted. Senator Vest inquired of Edwards the news of the senate and received 1t without comment. "You will be over in a day or two, sen- ator" said Edwards, cheerfully, as he was taking his leave.
 "No, Jim, I don't believe I shall," weak ly replied Vest. Its up to me now, sure. I'm dying man, Jim, and I doubt if Tn ever be back in the senate again."
 "Yes, you will senator. You're just iit- tie down on your luck. You'll outlive it all" said Edwards. Don't talk that way; you make me nervous"
 Edwards, responded the senator, sol- emnly, "I surely losing my grip. I much doubt if l can live until Caffery fn- isheS his speech
 It is pure accident that Vests name is on the Missouri list of statesmen. He broke away from the blue grass district of Ken lucky in 1853 and headed for Utah, with an ultimate view for California. It was over land travel in those days, for the Pacific railways did not come to mortgage the na. tion for upwars of fifteen years. A snow storm and the impossbility of navigating Missouri mud caused Vest to go into win- ter quarters at Georgetown. As a graduate of Center College Ky.-an institution which has produced more lawyers, statesmen and warriors than any other seat of learning in the land-Vest regarded himself as entitled to practice law anywhere on the face of the earth, and why not Georgetown?
 He intended to continue his journey in the spring and aimed to disturb the even flow of Missouri justice but briefly. Among the incidents of his early residence in Georgetown, negro slave stole horse or murdered farmer, did some other aot which under the laws of Missouri entitled him to be hanged The court was hastily organized for his trial and Vest appeared for the defense. The Georgetown public appointed a committee to wait upon the new lawyer and notify him that 1t was considered eminently improper to interpose between negro malefactOr and the hemp which had been twisted to facilitate his removal from earthly criminal temptarlon. Vest told that if he appeared in de- fence of his client he would be surely lynched soon the business of hanging the negro was disposed of and the ends of justice satisfied.
 The peppery man from Kentucky told the committee that he would defend the negro in question, and likewise any other man, white or black, who might re- quire his services in legal way and who was able to make proper representation for such aid.
 He framed himself up with certain seven- pound pistols, which were his heritage from his immediate ancestor. The negro was hanged in due form of law, but Vest was not lynched, nor did he leave Georgetown when the roads settled the following May. He remained in A..ssouri, perpetual de- fiance te the Law and Order Committee.
 Being Kentuckian by birth and Mis- sourian from force of habit, he early lapsed into politics. When the war broke out he was in the Missouri legislature, and pres- ently became a member of the confederate congress. He was close to President Davis, as Vest called the leader of the con- federacy as late as 1876, and at Davis rec quest entered the confederate senate after his term in congress. Vests selection for the senate was contested on the ground that he did not exhibit that heat in war which was expected of southern statesr man. General Joe Shelby, who was at Richmond temporarily. told Vest of the criticisms that were heaped upon him.
 ''They say I won't fight, do they, Joe?" inquired Vest. "When you go home you can settle that doubt. You saw me fight at Lone Jack yourself. You were there ana saw me in 1t with the rest. If they press you, though, Shelby, you can tell them that, although did fight at Lone Jack am not fond of carnage as steady prop osition, and I shall never be seen in battle ront again if I can find the road to the rear.'
 Chase for a Bath