The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-14

his us reasonable.
Soon after this removal Of Major Glib
bon, Mr.. Jefferson was on one Of his an
+ nua visits to Popular Forest bat his old
friend. James Stept6e, who was usually
the first to welcome the illustrious ylsi-5
tor to his summer home, neither went
in person nor sent a message OF saluta-
ton to hts lifelong friend. Days length
encd into weeks, and still he made no
sight and ut last Mr. JEFFERSON, on q
bright summer morning, rode over to
Mr.. Steptoe's, and disnounted from his
Z horse at the gate and on entering the
yard found Mr.. steptoe walking to and
from on tis portico, apparently ll,ictn-3
scjous OF his guests arrival. Mr.. Jcffer-l
son advanced with outstrctched hand and
cordial smile, but Mr.. Steptoe gazed cold
and stern upon his visitor, returning no
( look or word Of Kindness for the offered
greeting OF the President who thus adj
dressed him: Why, James Steptoe, how.
Is this? I have been for weeks almost in
a stones throw OF you, and though YOU
Z have usually been the first to A;elcome
me home. your face is now turned from
me. and YOU give me no welcome to your
5 house To this Mr.. Steptoe coolly repleu:
MIR. Jefferson have been disappointed
In you. sir; you are not the man [ took
that Major James Gibbon was a brave
and mertorIous officer OF the revolution.
airy army: that he served under Aaron
Burr, who was also a gallant soldier, and
{ his officers were greatly alta ched to him..
Now when. Colonel Burr has been brought
to Richmond for trial, committed to
prison and every indignity heaped on
4 him. just because Major Gibbon has sup
piled his old commander with some ne
scassaries and comforts you. from hatred
OF Burr. have wreaked your vengeance
on Gibbon. and deprived a faithful old
soldier OF an office which was his only
means OF support Why, Mr.. 6teptoe, Is
that all?' said Mr.. Jefferson. I ssurel
you the matter had not been SO present
ed to me before. But the Same hand
that removed Major, Gibbon can. replace,
him, and Justice shall be done HIN at
once Then you are, indeed. my friend.
and welcome as ever to my home and
heart . cried James Steptoe, and the two
friends were quickly folded & in each
others embrace. Mr.. Steptoe's land and
silver are gone: his bones have turned
= to dust: his resting place is hidden with
weeds and briars; his name will ere long
j be forgotten in the earth. but let us
& honor the man who would refuse the
preferred hand OF the President Of the
United States when that hand was stain
ed by n unworthy act. Would that there
were more yirgtnians OF such metal In
our day. .5si5 sl5
No biography of James Steptoes would
be complete without some reference to: an
event which has made his name somewhat
historic. William Writ. In his Life OF
Patrick Henry gives the following ac-S
count, as showing the wonderful effect
produced on hose who heard Mr., Henry
when indulgings in his highest style OF I'M
passloned declamat ion. Unjust have been
just overpowering. 1t was certainly so
to the old clerk OF Bedford on the occa-
sion referred to. which is thus related:
John Hook was man OF wealth and
not supposed to be over friendly to the
American cause. During the distrcsses
of the American army. consequent on the
joint Invasion Of CORVALLIS and Phillips,
In 1881. a Mr.. Venable, an army commits.
sary, had taken two OF Hook $ steers for
the use OF the troops. & The act had not
been strictly legal, and on the establish
5ment OF peace, Hook, on the advice OF Mr..
Cowan, a gentleman OF some distinction
In the law, thought proper to bring an
action Of trespass against Mr.. Venable. In
the District Court, held at New London.
Mr.. Henry appeared for the defendant.
and is said to have deported himself IN
this cause to the great delight and enjoy
ment OF his Hearers. the unfortunate
became animated In the cause he ap-5
peared to have complete control over tho
passions OF his audience, at one time
exciting their Indignation against Hook,
when venge ance was Visible in every coun-
tenance; again, when he chose to relax
and ridicule him, the whole audience was
IN roar OF laughter. He painted the
distresses OF the American army-ex-
posed almost naked. to the rigors OF a
lwintry sky, and marking the frozen
ground over which they marched with
the blood OF their ,unshod feet. Where
was the man, he asked, who had an
American heart In his bosom. who would
not have thrown open his fields. his barns
his cellars. the doors OF his house. the
portals OF his breast, toirecelve with open
arms the meanest soldier In that little.
band Of famished patriots? He carried
the jury, by the powers Of his imaginn-
ton, to tho plai4s around Yorktown. the
surrender OF Which had followed shortly
after the act complained Of by Hook.
He depicted the surrender In the most
glowing colors OF his eloquence; the ALL
dience saw befere their eyes the humlia-
ton and detection OF the British as they
marched out OF their trenches; they saw
tho triumph that lighted up every patriotic
IACe anu IlCuIu ollVuAa N'StoAS
the cry OF washington and lberty'-as
1t rung and eeNoed through the American
ranks, and was reverberated from the
hills and shores OF the ncghboring riv-
ers But bark! What notes OF discord
are those that disturb the general JOY
and silence the ncclamations of victory?
They are the notes Of John Hook. hoarst-
sly bawling through the American camp,
Beef! Beef! Beef The whole audience
40 oopytlcad 4naoutnr ipo will
give a better idea OF the effect than any
general description. The clerk OF the
court, unable to command himself and
unwilling to commit any breach Of S-sco-
rum In his place. rushed out of the court
house and threw himself on the grass,
where he was. rolling In the' most violent
sparoxysm OF laughter. when John Hook,
with very different feelings, came out for
relief into the va I'd, and addressing Inc
clerk, said; Jenny steptoe. what nils
you, mon?' Mr., steptoe could only say
he could not help u. ever mind said
Hook, wait till Billy Cowan gets up, and
he'll show him the la Bill Cowan did
make an effort to get up, but was so