The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-01
BY ALFRED HENRY LEWIS
Copyrighted, 1908, by
A. j. Drexel Biddle.
Entered at StatiOner's
Hall, London.

and gossips in picking my constitu-
tional advisers? Go; print that list
| print it as give it you-go"
The breath of the Generals indig-
nation carried Duff Green into the hall;
and even when the door was closed be-
hind him, I could follow by ear as he
fed towards the stair with a fat shut
lie that told of terror
The man exhausts me-" said the
General, as he reflled his pipe.
It think I'll write to Frank Blair
'Why?" and the General looked up.
I'VE should have him ready to start
a Jackson paper in Washington when
Duff Green Deserts
When l turned out on the next morn
ing 1 found the fogs and msts of the
day before departed and blown aside,
and a bright sky overhead. There was
no frost; but on the contrary a fine
spring promise in the air that smelled
in ones nostrls like the breath of bud
ding trees. The roads, too, We're more
III the way of reform, and here and
there a dry spot showed in profert of
what would be. Altogether it was
quite an April rather than a Febru-
airy morning. ! finished shaving and
dressing and called Jim to brush my
coat. A hostler before he became a
valet, Jim was used to accompany
these brush labors with an aspiration
like unto the escape of Steam a sound
held sovereign by him for giving a
horses coat a gloss, and, therefore,
good for mine. I had gone forth in
an earlier day to break Jim of these
stable tricks, but making no Roadway,
wisely gave it up, and Jim Kissed on
unchecked. There be things your Afri-
can won't learn there be things he
will learn; and effort to suppress in
one direction or excite enterprise in
the other, is thrown away. Aware
n tN.Ar Y L. 4 k,.T-.
fore the bride of restraint off Jim,
and to give him his due he went the
better with his head free.
When brushed to fit Jim's notion of
the spic and span. I settled my chin
in my black stock and went to call
upon the General I would know how
he held himself on the back of his
bleedings and his wraths against Duff
Green.
found him over a bowl of coffee
and with a pipe going; he had been
up and breakfasted an hour before.
Also, he had gotten letters to please
him and was in top spirits.
l recall looking at him as 1 en-
tered his chamber, and thinking, as l
noted his quick. game-cock air, full
of life and resolution, how little he
seemed that invalid who but the even
ing before was opening veins and lying
i'll with old wounds. The difference
would have amazed any save myself,
who had seen too much of him to be
now astonished. The General could
pull himself together like a watch
spring. Moreover, he fed on sensation,
and glow at his hearts roots was
better for him than meal of Vituals.
I've borne witness as he rode into the
wilderness to conquer Weatherford and
his Greeks, with a month-old bullet in
his shoulder and it's fellow in his arm.
He was so feeble and nigh death that
he must be handed to his saddle like
a sack of bran, and each hour the
surgeons must battle him over with
sugar-of-lead water to keep life in his
body. And yet, from the outset, and
on bad food and with the ground for
his bed, he began to mend. The man
lived on sensation, l say, like a babe
on milk. He would walk up and down
line of battle and be as drunk on
rifle smoke as any other on brandy.
When / came into his room / found
the General-pipe and coffee for the
moment in retirement-to his own evil
dent satisfaction, but in rusty raven
voice 1 fear, humming, THE Star
Spangled Banner" His eyes were
closed. He was sitting by the fire, beat
ing out the time of the music with
pipe held like a baton in his claw
like hand, wearing meanwhile much
the air of your critic at an opera. His
notes slipped frequently into quavers,
and there was constant struggle to
keep from lapsing into the savage mi
nor key.
You make grewsome music for a
bright morning General" said J.; 'it
sounds dolefully like a wall"
That's a majestic tune, Major" he
replied, opening his eyes. 1T never
fails to stir me, and would bear COM
parison with "Old Hundred" albeit one
IL.
triotism. After all, what should be the
separation between true patriotism and
true religion?"
Last evening"" 1 retorted, you fell
upon me hip and thigh because / said
you were not politician but a presi-
dent; you would have it that the two
We're synonyms for each other. Also,
you declared that no one might be both
a politician and Christian. Now you
talk of no separation between patriot
ism and religion. General, you go to
bed in one frame and get up in an
other; you are not consistent"
TN not quarrel with you" said he
though to say, as you would seem to-
that a president and a patriot are ever
the same, is begging the question and
a far shot from the truth. I still stick
for it. however, that "The Star Span
gled Banner" comes close to religion
in it's influence; I've heard it given
while the big guns were speaking at
the front, and l may tell you, sir, it
brought water to my eyes"
1 could we'll believe this, for the
General was as soon to shed tears as
a woman; and withal so readily ex-
cited that on least occasion his hand
would shake like a leaf in a ripple of
wind. He said the latter was from
coffee and tobacco and not from nat
ural nervousness. He was half right
and half wrong. This tremble of the
hands was the vibration of that
mighty machinery of the man when
the belts were thrown on for utter ac-
ton. However, this is all aside the
story.
The PRONUNCIATION in Duff Green's
valued imprint of the Generals designs
had made stir, warrant you. The
capital community seized on the list of
coming cabineteers with wondrous
relish. Delighted day by day over the
tattle of office, the local public sat up.
one and all, and chartered of the print
ed names like unto a coop of catbirds.
Particularly. l might add, were the
Eatons tossed from tongue to tongue;
folk took sides, and some assailed while
others defended. and no little heat found
generation. The General admired the
buzz and clash-for his ears were open
and he heard of it--being as fond of
storms as a petrol; and for myself,
was well enough pleased. 1t was prior
to my interview with Peg, you are to
| remember, and / not yet her parti-
san; I half hope those resentful cla-
mors against the Eatons would stay
the General at the eleventh hour.
Its not yet too late" said L "to
have White for the war portfolio and