The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-18
BLACK "lAT.n
History Of an Early Masterson OF the vir-
Enia school.

Einia school.
To THT EDTToR OF TIE SON Sir. Reading
about Col Masterson Of Kentucky in Sun
days sUN, recall that In my boyhood there
was a Bartholomew or -Bat"-Masterson in
Lexington, Mo. His parents were OF Afri-
can birth, owned In Virginia by a Mfr. Bar
tholomew Masterson when BAT" was born.
When death, with equal foot called on Mr..
Mssterson, and his chattelS we're sold. Bat
fell 20 . man who took him 10 Lexington. the
chattel bearing with him the frank and hne
manners, tho easy and polite address Of q
Richmond gentleman OF the Golden Age.
And he took, also, q dignity OF manner which.
like the shoes given 70 Christian in the House
Beautiful, would not wear out Black a.
NoI plus Erebus. hve feet high, and eight
feet at his eQuinootial colure. he was still at
traotive: neat precise. clean shaven. wearing
a swallowtan blue broRdoloth coat. with
braas buttons, bun vest and silk hat, no sun
upon an Easter day was half 50 hne a sight. ,
These charms covered him all over. like q
garment. and made his life q grand, sweet
song.
By common consent the freedom Of the
city and command Of his own time were his.
His mission was 70 cry auctions. attend
funerals as chief mourner. mind horses, act
the part OF q DAvus IN young Horsoes, and
fetch and carry notes and other Light freig ht,
At intervals he was sold by auction. bringing
from rs oents 10 s7,5O. and was very much
mortified II he failed 70 bring the larger sum.
He took these Affairs seriously. They were
70 him a. ooronals are 70 poets grateful 20
him a. book beer 20 the raging citizen when
spring. delaying long. 81 last dips down
After due obeisance 70 his new owner, the
latter would bid him maintain the Status quo
j do not know a. to your New York Bat /"
but our Bat was never Known 70 smile,
As the deities Of Helloop sent birds 70 whisper
the MUSES., so night winds had told the infant
bat" that sorrow 10 written over all the
strange that one who walked down LIES
highway turnpike road, as be did. clothed az
u were with the sun. should have REGARDED
And as much a. he was attached 20 the whites
Of LeIngton he peysT SGSidd Sd son them n ,S %
In spite Of his gentieness he could be a
brutHs when ppeeeSNsS5y Nh ZEN ne ne te6erA
before Price took them Bat sternly recon-
mended that they be ordered out Of town;
SSq oSSd The nI Sa O 3REs SAo have
although his merits were TO him as breast
plate, whereby he was able 70 Quenoh fiery
darts OF wicked thinRs.. there was one un-
guenohAble- the love o. sleep. That same
as N durd oatsnd, causing him 20 lose his
ron on the way up the Hin Of Difnculty: that
sinful sleep which .masteTed, Joe, the fGt boy,
Papefs-; and which, on the high and Fiddy
mast seals up the ship boys eyes,
Whether reeubdns SUB fs0H1ine. or IN chair,
sleep would come upon Bat until At last
be Sttained unto Nirv&ns As The poet says
many good men Tu frpAfrd pius heul
in vain they asked the gods for his return;
be came no more.
Although many OF our townspeople, TO
avoid the carnage and the Lycian troops"
went 10 Europe. Canada TeIas, New York.
and 10 the Far West, fulfilling various fates
All earnestly remembered Bat, a. did both
those who went into Northern and Southern
armies.
We hope that Bat Masterson, now Of New
York may Worthlly wear the name which
Bat Masterson Of Virginia and Of LeIing-
doubt with all his former pride in TIE name
far out beyond the void"
DENVER April "a PosKY 8. WILSON.