The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-07

Colonel Shep Williams. distinct type
OF the Texan and one Of the best-known
as well one Of the richest men in the
Lone Star State, was at the Planters last
week
Colonel Williams departed for his home
in Lamar County last Friday night. He had
with him three boys. One who didn't know
Shep Williams might have thought that the
boys were his sons. but such was not the
case.
The boys were found by Colonel VIII
liams at the Fair Grounds race track.
Thinking that they needed some fresh air
and something good to eat he decided to
take them home with him for two or three
weeks
his habits.
Shep Williams lives near Paris and he is
known for miles around.
He has reputation as a philantropist
No man ever went to shep Williams with
to it and If there was merit in the mans
CO Sc he got what he wished.
1t Is said that Williams owns most all
of Lamar County. Certain 1t Is that the
greater part of the richest land in the coun-
~ is his and he is lord and master of the
domain.
All the year around no less than a dozen
families are directly dependent upon Shep
Williams for support. while at certain times
in the year-the hay season particularly-he
furnishes employment to no less than 500
men.
At his palatial mansion there are plenty
of negro servants and mint juleps and those
other delicacies. such as please the inner
ent taste of a son of Kentucky, are always
on tap
The negro servants swear by "Massa
Shep'' and it is probable that all the money
in the world couldn't induce them TO leave
him.
ADVERTISEMENT FOR HIS STATE.
Shep Williams is an advertisement for
the State of Texas. His friends say SO. any
way. He is marvellous specimen of physi-
cal manhood. He is tall. broad-shouldered
and powerful. His jaws are firm, his eyes
are piercing and his general countenance
denotes a spirit of determination.
On his head there Is good growth OF
hair sprinkled just little with gray. and
his large. paIm-calloused hands Indicate that
In his day he has done his share OF hard
work, even If he is a college graduate.
He wears a broad -brmmed black hat,
suit of black and boots. and he looks like a
Texan. That is the way "Colonef' VIII
liams wants to look. He wants every one
he meets to know that he is loyal citi-
zen of the Lone Star State-the best COM
munity, he says, on Gods green footstooi
He is good business man, shrewd spec
ulator. generous and happy always. He
figures that life, as long as 1t may be. -
too short, and. with the ample means that
he has at his command, he is trying to en-
joy the fruits of the earth while they are
at his disposal.
The home OF the Colonel in Lamar
County is veritable palace OF the plains.
The house is equipped with electric lights.
water and all those modern conveniences
that are generally confined to city folk.
Colonel" Williams has his own water
pumps his own electric light plant and at
any time 1t is discovered that there Is any
thing lacking relative to convenience In the
Williams mansion he writes check and
supplies the deficiency. no matter what the
cost.
LIKES MINT JULEPS.
The Kentucky spirit is strong in VIII
liams He likes his mint Juleps in the
summer time, and as safeguard against
possible stringencies in the mint market,
he has planted every year a mint bed COW
ering over an acre on the farm.
This mint bed Is the envy of every resi-
dent of Lamar County. as well as those
from a distance. who visit him.
The mint bed this year was situated on
a piece of ground that was proving OF not
sufficient fertility. He decided to move the
mint. He took up the plants and trans
planted them on an adjoining tract OF rich,
black soil.
A few days after the transplanting one
of the old negroes on the Williams planta-
ton called on his employer and gave as
his opinion that the mint crop was going
to be failure.
Isn't the soil all right!' asked the
Colonel.
Yes, massa. the soil am all right" an
;wered the old darkey
Well isn't the mint all right?'' he asked |
Yes. massa. the mint am all right
We'll, them calculated the Colonel"
what in biazes is the matter with that !
mint CROP"
We'll, 1t am just this" said the negro |
"the soil is all right and the mint am all !!
right, but de chickens Is gettin' Into dat |
mint and de crop Is gwine to be ruined"
THE chickens. is 1t? Well. Sambo pro- |
ceed at once and kill the chickens. The
mint crop Is . necessity