Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-01-17
SPOILED HIS DINNER
WHY GENERAL CLARK ONCE REFUSED
TO EAT WITH VEST.
Sad Plight of the Old Missouri Fight
err Under the SkiIIfuI and MerciIess
Mating of the ArtSuI aud TantaEik-
ing Senator.

! fnS senator.
Among the most prominent story tell.
Srs in Missouri annals were General
John E. Clark of Wilson creek fame
and the matchess George Graham
Vest. The writer remembers story
Senator Nesi used 10 tell about General
Clark that is worth while.
YES, and Clark were seated at ia
bic i'll - popular restaurant in Wash.
ington chatting about Missouri and
AlissoucianS while the waiter was out
preparing their order for dinner. On
this particular occasion Vest was
doing most OF the listening. while
General Clark in his peculiar scrapy.
piping voice was discoursing upon the
merits AMI Gemerits, principally de-
merits. OF Missouri political leaders.
Those vino knew General Clark well
during his lifetime undoubtedly re-
member with what extravaganza the
general could pause and iaUd those he
had liking for at the moment aud
viii what grim humor he could satir-
iZc ami ridicule the foibics and weak
ncsscs or those he happened to dislike.
1t was these dispositions ON The part OF
Tie general that caused him 10 get into
trouble IL Ills time.
Although Vest was listening atien.
lively and rcspec; fully 10 the generals
conversation, assisting him on with his
story with Il grant OF approval now
anu then, even Offering suggestions as
occasion would permit. yet all the
While Tile senator WAS casting his eyes
10 III" daily paper spread out upon the
table Hear him. The general, encour-
aged by Vests Srunts and suggestions,
was working himself up 10 striking
climax i'll q ludicrous story about Il
Missouri politician whom the general
for the moment had concluded he didn't
like. when he WAS abruptly interrupted
by Senator Ncst's speaking as if lie
had JUST discovered something in the
pan1r he had been giancing at.
BY The way, general" said Vest, do
You know one Captain - - I'VE
will call him Captain John Smith" for
The purpose Of This story, down In
Missouri"
"ice," snapped the general, showing
some Irritation ut having his story in
tcrrupted right IN the very flower of its
growth, certainly | know him, and Il
dirticr coward never walked the face
or The earth than this same Captain
John Smith,"
This little fling at Captain Smith was
u Inf htn Gu
ripping his tClark'sl story, as Vest had
planned and expected It would be.
However, the general showed IL dispo-
sition TO let it all go at this and at
tempted 10 resume his fractured story
about the Missouri politician.
AS | was saying
Well" Vest interrupted again, not
pretending TO notice that the general
had attempted 70 resume his story, II
doD't know anything about Tie fellow
being coward. In fact know moth
ing about him. But knew you did,
and thought would get you TO tell
me something about him
ri course know him. Vest" the
general responded. pitchin. lis scrapy
voice in little higher key. land have
already said enough about him to cause
any genuine A1issOurian to lose interest
in him. There is nothing To him, / tell
you. except IL yellow streak from the
crown OF his head 10 the sole OF his
feci. Il iorkcd streak. Know him! Why,
| know him like Il book He's IL cow
arc. tell you. and that's enough for
any Missourian to know about any
body. Why. tell you that fellow is
afraid TO go out III the cornncld where
they are gathering corn because the
popping OF The breaking cornstalks
sounds so much like gunshot thar il
frightens him nearly To death Don't
tail; TO me, Vest. about Captain John
Smith. I know him
81 didn't know him, general" Vest in
nocently responded, but since You
have given such IL graphic description
OF his character l feel that know him
better. Nevertheless, general, The fell
low seems To write a right good arti-
Gle"
'IIumph"' snortcd tho general in dis
gust. I'D like 10 know what that fell
low could he writing about Nobody
would bel!cv" word he could say.
Hes coward, tell you. know, for
I've had him in command under me.
and I've seen Jim flicker time and
again. Nobody will ever believe Il word
n coward will say, but what Is the fel-
low trying TO write about. Vcsti"
The Battle of Wilson Creek" the
senator replied as he picked up the
paper and prepared to read the story
70 the general. The senator knew he
had the general M the verge of the
prccipice and that il was time to top
pie him over, and right well did he do
it.
The battle Of Wilson creek was Cen
oral Clark's theme on any and all no.