The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-11-29
IN OLD YlRGINY 70 DE WAH

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T FIRST saw the light Of day in the
famous old Taylor hotel. in Win
chester, Va. famous before the war
rs the stopping place of Daniel Web
ster, Henry Clay and others of the old
regime OF Statesmen. and for being the
best kept tavern in the Shenandoah
valley from HarDers Ferry to Staun-
ton, distance OF 100 miles: famous
during the war as headquarters of Cen
Nrals St0newall Jackson, Early. Sherf-
am, Hancock. Banks. MilrOy and 9TH
rs 10 was also the starting point OF
Iencral Sheridaus famous ride since
then I have but little record of the
Nlace of my birth. but trust that it still
maintains its reputation of ante bellum
days
How well do I remember the rattle OF
The old Concord coach sometimes a
mile away and the pit-a-pat on the
macadam pike Of the horses feet
hose driver would not exchange
places with the president of the United
states. A sharp crack of the whip as
they came numbering down Main
street was a signal TO old Bush Taylor
tLne landlord and his porter. Harry
Nelson. To- be in readiness to grasp
hands, and carpet bags. of thirty or
more tired and dusty passengers. ATT
or he usual handshaking Mr. Taylor
would escort the ladies to the reception
room. while Harry piloted the gem
mon to the bar whether they eX-
pressed a desire for that particular 10
cality or not. lie always took that for
granted. and, ] think. was generally
correct in his diagnosis. He believed
mat little peach and honey. old rye.
on apple jack orom Apple Pie Ridge
was highly essential to remove the
II
apple. He was always allowed to join
~ this inward ablutiou. privilege he
never declined BUshrod Taylor (from
whom the hotel takes il sname) was
the best known hotel man in the valley
or virginia. As caterer ne had no
equal Tn fact. he was everything
ABOUT a hotel. when needs be- from n
toothlack 20 the distinguished position
ne held. lie was as entertaining i'm the
ladies' parlor as he was jolly and good
natured in the poker room. 1T was not
etiquette in those days 10 retire with
out playing the national game Some
on the old players considered IL q
breach to retire AT all When old John
- Walls Tom Tidbau.. Bally Kiger
4 ldvy Waddle and some more CT those
old-time-s whose names ] have forgot
ten warmed mp around a poker table
there was no telling how long a game
would last. one night they were play
= ing, and among them a big Irishman
ca horse buyer). who was stopping over
night at the hotel had been invited 20
Join them. Some time along about the
wee hours of the morning they had all
dropped out Of the game but Walls.
DaVy Waddle (SnOWn as Uncle DaVy)
and the gentleman from Cork Walls
and the Irish gentleman were also
about 10 Quit the game. when Uncle
Davy proposed that they all take an
other drink Of apple jack and play an
hour longer This was agreed to, and
old Harry was awakened and ordered
20 pass the bottle. (Iie was the at
tendant 90 the poker room. and all the
sleep that he got was between drinksN
This seemed to put new life into the
same. and it was not long until each
of them was ready to bet his last dol
lar. The gentleman from the Emerald
Isle had a pat fun to stsrt with Walls
mad three kings and picked up one
emOre I'm the draw. Uncle Davy had
two aces before the draw. finishing
with four after the cards were helped.
Excitement was now at Welding heat,
and the betting commenced in earnest.
Those who had quit the game some
time before and were sitting around
the room. asleep i'm their chairs. were
aroused from their siumbers by the
noise of the 500 gold pieces as they
fell thick and fast I'm the center OF the
table. Even old Harry. who was never
were I'm order. stood towering over the
able. anNiously waiting the result.
Twenty better went the round several
y times, until finally the stranger called,
at the same time spreading out a queen
1ull and commenced to rake i'm thu
Ehekels. confident that he had won.
Mr. Walls reminded him that he was
little hasty. that he had four kings.
Uncle Davy. who had remained quiet
and composed. broke the silence by
saying. Gentlemen, YOU are both
beaten. for / have four aces" Pat rose
slowly from his seat maddened by de-
feat and apple brandy. and. leaning
over The table with clenched fist, asked
Walls IF he really had four kings
Walls laid his hand upon the table and
Eold him TO see for himself Bifi He
took Walls square between the eyes
that sent him to the floor. doubled M
i'm heap. He then turned TO Jnci p
. Davy. saying. And We have fOur
aces?" old Dsvy. seeing that he was
about 90 land on his Uranium. too. I'm
about the same place. threw his hand
10 the deck and said. Sir take the
POT. 7 was only bluffng' Pat was i'm
the act of doing so. when old Harry
Cwh0 had already drawn his razor
shouted at the top of his voice Dat
. SIS Mass Davy's pot. and ne gwine TO-
get it, BY that time old John +. had
regained his equilibrium. and with the
assistance or the DGStdnOerS and 1drr
Tvs glisteninE weapon. Pat was per-
suaded to retire. minus the pot and
without even taking parting drink
This was INDUCED in. however. sew
eral times by the others. Davy pro-
posed three cheers FOR Mr. Nelson,
which were given with whoOp. az
/the same time handing him q $50 gold
Il piece for missionary purposes
These good old souls arc dead and
gone. They have cashed in their
checks. Their game of life is Ger.
their reward I'm the Great Beyond
When L begin 10. recall scenes and in
Cidents Of fifty years ago quite q flood
OF memory opens up that makes me
feel young again.
Though my eyes are growing dim. !
fancy that I can see old Harry Nelson
as though DO was YESTERDAY Six and
a half feet high. a shade lighter than
the ten of spades thin as a North
Caroline razor sack. in his long
epigeontail blue coat with brass but
-f0ns white shirt front that bore an
imitation diamond the size OF a hick-
cry nut high standing collar with car
fdinal uecktie. silk hat that had been
through one or two generations. and
striped pantaioons that left Off just
where his humble. twelves began He
was "a typical southern negro OF more
than the average Intelligence. fun of
anecdotes and jss, extremely kind and
polite. which won for him the admira-
ton OF the travelling public and