Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1906-01-10
WAY GENERAL CLARK ONCE REFUSED
TO EAT WITH VEST.
sad Plight OF the OLD Missouri Plight
er Under the skiilfuI and MercfIe-.
Hating of the Artfsi ana TuntsIi.-
Ina senator

Sch1tOi vest USED I'D tell about General
Clark that is worth while
Vest and Clark were seated az a tn
bic In popular restaurant In Wash
ington chatting about Missouri and
Missourians 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 discourslng upon the
merits aud dement's. principally de
merits. of Missouri political leaders.
Those who knew General Clark well
during his lifetime undoubtedly re-
member with what extravaganza the
general could praise and laud those be
had liking for at the moment and
with what grim humor lee could satir
lie and ridicule the fOibes and weak
neSses OF those he happened 20 dislike.
1t was these dispositions Oh the part OF
the general that caused him TO get into
trouble at this time.
Although Vest was listening ntten.
lively and respectfully to the generals
conversation. assisting him on with his
story with grunt of approval now
and then. even Offering suggestions as
occasion would permit. yet all the
while the senator was casting his eyes
TO the daily paper spread out upon the
table near him. no general. cncour-
aged by Vests grunts and suggestions.
was working himself up to a striking
climax IN ludicrous story about a
Missouri politician whom the general
Tor the moment had concluded he didn't
IKE. when he was abruptly interrupted
10y Senator Vests speaking as II he
had just discovered something in the
paper he had been CHANGING at.
BY the way. general said Vest. do
you know one Captain - -'' 1--WE
will call him Captain John Smith" for
the purpose Of this story. down In
Missouri
Yes" snapped the general. showing
some irritation at having his story in
terrupted right in the very flower OF its
growth. certainly | know him. and a
dirtier coward never walked the face
OF the earth than this same Captain
John smith"
This little fling Sat Captain Smith was
n left handed stroke at Vest for inter
rupting his Clark, story. as Vest had
planned and expected Il would be.
However, the general showed a dispo-
sition 10 let it all 70 at this and at
tempted TO resume his fractured story
about the Missouri politician
AS l was saying
We'll" Vest interrupted again. not
pretending TO notice that the general
had attempted 20 resume his story. Il
don't know anything about the fellow
being coward. In fact. know moth
ing about him. But / knew YOU did.
and thought l would get you to tell
me something about him"
"of course | know him. Vest" the
general responded. pitching his scrapy
voice in little higher key. and have
already said enough about him TO cause
any genuine MissourIan TO lose interest
In him. There Is nothing TO him. / tell
you. except n yellow streak from the
crown Of his head 10 the sole Of his
feet. forlIed streak. Know him! Why.
l know him like book. He's a cow
ard, l tell YOU. and that's enough for
any MissOurian 10 know about any
body. Why. ! tell you that fellow Is
afraid 10 60 out In the corn1eld where
they are gathering corn because the
popping Of the breaking cornstalks
sounds 50 much like a gunshot that it
frightens him nearly 10 death. Don't
talk 10 me, Vest. about Captain John
Smith. l know him
Il didn't know him. general" Vest in
nocently responded. but since YOU
have given such graphic description
OF his character / feel that / know him
better. Nevertheless. general. the fell
low seems 10 write a right good arti-
Gle"
"Humph"' snOrted the general in dis
gust. I'd like TO know what that fell
low could Ice writing about. Nobody
would believe word he could say.
He's coward, tell you. l know. for
I've had him In command under me-
and I've seen him flicker time and
again. Nobody Will ever believe n word
a coward will say. but what is the fel-
low trying 10 write about, NeSt?"
THE Battle Of Wilson Creek" the
senator replied as he picked up the
paper and prepared 10 read the story
10 the general The senator knew he
had the general at the verge Of the
precipice and that IT was time to top
pie him over. and right well did he do
IT,
The battle Of Wilson creek was Gen
eral Clark's theme on any and all oc-
casions. and as soon as Senator Vest
Smiths subject the general was all at
tention in n moment
The senator began the story at the
beginning and read II clean through
for the generals benefit occasionally
glancing over the edge Of the paper out
Of the corner Of his eye 10 observe the
effect il was having on the general.
The senator was soon rewarded. for the
general soon began TO twist and wrig-
gle uneasily In his seat In other
words. the general was over the preci-
pice. RE knew II and was working his
brain for all IL was worth for hold TO
recover
The senator chuckled quietly to him
self as he read on. Presently he came
to the climax Of the story, that read
about as follows:
IL was a desperate and sanguinary bait
tie. The men in our line were falling like
withered leaves in a November gale, and
blood was running in little rivulets from
pool TO pool that had gathered In the de-
pressions all over the battle-ground. Our
men were mostly raw recruits, unaccus-