The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-12
A MISSOURI BARON.
Henry Clay Dean May Have Been the
Original OF Col, Sellers.

. SheF ~
Original OF Col, Sellers.
KuKsyuIR. Mo. MAY 1I.-aAmong the
several resourceful men OF Missouri VINO
nave been mentioned as Mark Iwains
model for Col. Sellers. the best guess 70 my
mind, was the late Henry Clay Dean the
Baron Of Rebel Cove In Putnam county
remarked "A. D. Risdon, q veteran attorney
OF this town. 'Dean was everlastlngly
optimistic and enthusiastic under all Cir
oumstanoes. II Mark Twain didn't hear
OF this incident he certainly deserves credit
for an invention in The Gilded Age DO true
to life.
when In Keokuk, Burlington or st. Louis
Dean always talked in a lordly way OF ms
Putnam county estate, and his friends
naturally gathered the idea that he was
living in a sort Of baronial castle in the
heart OF the finest hunting pr eserves in the
State. Dean was constantly importuning
them to come up and enjoy the shooting.
and TO make his mansion their home just
as long as they pleased, promising them
they should live like princes while his guests;
that deer. wild fowl and squirrels abounded
in his forests.
sOne day three gentlemen OF Burlington
concluded TO accept the invitation OF the
great orator, andI unheralded they invaded
the Dean premises and began shooting.
The country was wild and there were few
evidences that the feet OF man had ever
trod those parts. In fact. the party didn't
know they we're on Deans place until that
gentleman burst through a thioket and ex-
tended the glad hand. -.
$50 glad to see you, gentlemen, he said.
beaminR around on them. Sorry didn't
know you were coming, though, 30 could
have had the carriage down TO the train.
Let's 20 right up TO the hall now and have q
bite to eat, and a smoke, and h Ill show
you where the big game is.'
sThe visitors felt the hypnotizing infiu-
enoe OF the gepial host the moment he met
them, and started In his wake through the
brush to the hall, which they mentally con-
jectured was some great establishment on
an imposing elevation. Even when their eyes
| corrected that impression they felt a sort OF
reverence for the rambling frame structure
under Deans eloquent description:
%'There's my home, gentlemen! he said,
with q diRnihed wave Of the hand. Built
according to my own plans from the ground
up. Lots Of rooms and light, wide corridors,
run on system for health and comfort
But the dinner was all that wa repre-
sented, and there was more than enough OF
good country cooking, including Johnny
cake, sausage, cabbage, salads, (elhes, pre-
| serves, pickles and good hot coffee and real
cream. III wager not a man on that ex-
petition forgot that meal to bis dying day,
After dinner they sat and smoked while
Dean painted marvellous pictures on the
clouds issuing from their pipes. 1t was a
hazy evening and the scent OF the woods
crept In the windows and hoated around the
beautiful dream castles OF the master OF
wordcraft. Visions of Oriental luxury,
shadow draped hours with gems flashing
through tawny strands and stern stone
faces looking across the eternal seas OF sand
were brought before the hunters as the twi-
light hours drifted into datk and night shut
down on the castle in the woodland.
sSuddenly MIR. Dean came back TO earth
and called for lights. His wife responded
wooilen rag-the usual illumination Of the
Missouri pioneer. but a bit incongruous In
the domicile Of a baron.
@Mr. Dean explained to his wondering
friends that be had renowned coal oil lamps,
Gas and other modern methods Of lighting
Because Of their Offensive odor, and then
he had barrels Of lard which he could. put
To no other use thar to eliminate the dark
ness. All agreed with their host that 1t
was the only proper light under the sir.
oumstances, and insisted that they wouldn't
enjoy any other kind half 90 well,
$50 the great talker went on and all forgot
the hyinR hours, but the primitive lamp,
which after doing its stunt fiared up as q
good night signal and went out. The lard
was gone. Mr.. Dean arose and again
summoned bis wife to the rescue.
a'Some more oil. dear he said, holding
out the saucer, We're quite in the dark
1.-THE good m hesitated, and then
whispered. ttmidly:
Henry. there Isn't another drop In the
housed
Though she didn't intend TO make the
announcement public. the guests heard Il,
and were intensely embarrassed. But Mr.,
Dean wasn't.
well, boys he said. oheerily. what's
the odds2 Itls bedtime anyway, and we'll
have our talk out to.mcrrGv: Take ny
boys left In the corT1dor-o1ow me and
ri conduct you TO your sleeping apart
sNeIt morning as they were leaving
Mr.. Dean followed them out TO the road
side. talking grandly OF hs estates and con-
templated improvements.
''Now, gentlemen he said. you know
the way, and remember Ill expect you
again. The latchstring Is always hanging
out to my friends. Good day and a pleasant
journey
There was one thing about Mr.. Deans
home which he did not overdraw. He
had one OF the finest general libraries In
son wide shelves, piled In double, ascend
ing from floor TO ceiling on all four Sides
was the most elaborate collection Of books
you ever heard Of, and they seemed to en-
literary treasures seemed thrown on the
shelves by a catapult without regard to
series or topic, yet Mr.. Dear could select
anything he wanted from the mess with
out the slightest hesitation. I have seen
him do 1t time and again. Since the passing
of the philosopher OF Rebel Cove the West
has developed no character that has meas
ured up to his eloquent standard"