The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-01
ORIGINAL :. COL sELLERs.
Was the Late Thomas A Harris, of
Kentucky.

One hears. almost annually. of some
person who was Mark Twain's in
spfration'' for the famous character Of
Colonel Mulberry SeIlers-that wonder
ful optImisr who has delighted TWO
generations, taught the lesson of human
kindness and loving charity as it was
never taught by mortal man. and given
mingled happiness and merriment TO
untold thousands Of Cur time j sI how
many persons have received this en-
v1aDle distinction, we shall not under
take to say They are innumerabIe by
this time. and we shrink from the task
OF asserting and classifying Them with
anything like care Indeed. we are re-
hsEed OF that iaboriol1s and futile IN
dertakIug by the sure knowledge that
Mark Twain had originally in mind the
late Thomas A. Harris OF Pewee valley,
Ky. some fifteen or twenty miles to the
north Of Louisville
General Harris was a Missourian-a
man of travel. education vide expert
ence, IndoLnitabl5 courage, and engag
ing manners and appearance Gifted
Tar beyond ordinary men IN brains. ad-
dress, and noble instincts, he was be-
loved IN private, successful in affairs,
admired respected, and CDn1ded III By
all who knew him. He made millions
like q genius. and spent them like a
prince he was & soldier. a poet, an
orator. d bold and shEeWd specuIatCr-
No one ever lost a dollar through trust
nents touched himself alone Mark
Twain knew him well in the old days
before the civil war thrilled responsive
to his sublime conceptions and the al
Turing eIocuence with which he gave
them shape and substance. recognized
his fine character, his noble purpose, his
chiValric soul: felt the full charm Of his
anna ziuz personality. And Mark Twain.
in painting Colonel Mulberry Sellers
merely utilized the pa&h0s and the hu-
NOR and the splendid and beautiful
benevolence OF the mans unique and
brilliant nature.
Senator Vest remembers dear old
Tom Harris It was he who in the fall
Of 1851 when Price was besiezinE Lex
ingrOn, Mo, and when all efforts failed
to dislocge Mulligan and his immortal
Chicago Brigade conceived the ex-
pedient Of the hemp bales and put the
Confederate army behind them. rolling
the movable bEeaStworks up the hill
and over the Union Qualifications to
victory. But for Harris genius. Lex
lngLDu would never nave been taken
Thrice the force that Price had at his
command could not have successfully
stormed that formidable height a
year or 50 later. Harris was in Rich
mond seeking a command While there
he fell out Of fourth-story window,
allghtinz. face downward. on pile Of
bricks. Vest said Of 1t afterwar1. Tt
would have killed snow-bird- IN
Harris case there vas only a nose
which everybody thought had been
made by sabsr in some desperate
hand-to-hand conflict with hated
foe
Harris was always the kind and cour-
teous and clAan-hauded gentleman He
loved his felIoW-nau. He vas ready to
share his last dollar with any one who
seemed TO be in stress or sorrow
Great thoughts issued from his fruitful
mind. rodigious schemes and enter
prises were the children Of his intellect
Untold millions. in which he had no
share. have been the creatures Of his
light suavs suggestion He never
wronEed man or woman. He was in
capable Of deceit or pretense. But
when he talked. all men listened Out
OF the crumbs Of his opuient sugses-
ton others gathered fame and fortune
And he died pCCrl He Rad made many
men rich. He had distributed succor-
hope, encouragement as the sewer
filings his seed But he always saw the
bead upon the water and ha never lost
his faith in man He was Marx
Tvain's Sellers.-FVa s1ingtou Post.