The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-12-04
STORIES OF SENATOR PETTUS.
Romance of His Love for Neighbor's
Daughter-Other Incidents.

Many interesting anecdotes are
told of Senator Pettus. He told this
one Of himself:
when I was a boy down in Ala
bama the hunting and f1abing were
still prime and I was very fond of my
rod, my dog and my gun-much fond
er Of them than of my, books. didn't
like going to school and played hook
ey frequently to go fishing or hunt
ing. When I was about II fell deep
ly in love with the daughter Of a
neighbor. One day I went to her
house and found her on the gallery wa
tering violets. Her sunbonnet was
hanging by its strings down her back,
the sunlight fell on her pretty face
and shining hair and she looked very
lovely. I stood and looked up at her
and just couldn't help Pumping
right out the question, Mary said,
| will you marry me?'
"'You go long she answered,
Who'd marry anyone as ignorant as
you are? You won't go to school, but
spend all your time hunting and fish,
ing
! II was ashamed and heartbroken,"
the senator continued, land I answer
ed not a word. knew Mary was
right. didn't miss another day from
school that term and the next fall I
went away to Clinton college, up in
Tennessee, where spent four years.
All this time I kept away from my
sweetheart. But when I returned
from college knew a little Greek and
Latin and other things and this en-
couraged me to 60 to see Mary again.
found her again on the gallery and
stood as I stood before looking up
at her from the ground. Mary
said, I've been to school and I'm not
as ignorant as used to be- Well,
Mary didn't just say she would marry
me, but knew it was AM right. We
were married the next year."
They lived together in the greatest
affection and happiness until the
death Of Mrs. Pettus less than a year
aeo.
r. '-ASter the war he and another young
lawyer settled down to practice law at
Selma They were miserably poor and
fee Of 800 seemed like a fortune.
But somehow Pettus' partner got hold
Of a very important claim for
northern concern and won it. They
received the tremendous fees of $16,-
900. When Pettus got his share of it
he looked at the immense sum of
money obviously, and remarked to his
| partner. "Well. this will certainly
keep us out of the poor house. but
what about the penitentiary?" He
couldn't make himself feel it was
| honest to make so much money in so
short a time.
He was very fond of a quiet game
Of poker. A few years ago he spent
the summer at Tate Springs. Tenn.
| One. day a friend met him walking
away from the hotel and asked him
where he was going.
"Pm going to that little white
building among the trees over there"
the senator answered. pointing to the
only gambling place in town.
But, general" said his friend, "you
know that place is run by two Of the
worst card sharps in Memphis"
eyes, I know" grumbled the sena-
tor, "but there is no place else to
play" He would rather take the
chance Of being cheated than forego
his little game.
AS indicating the friendship be-
tween Morgan and Pettus, habitues of
the Capitol recall some remarks Mr.
Pettus made in the senate on
January %, this year, when the
subject Of the proposed increase in
congressional salaries was under dis
cussion. Mr.. Morgan was absent,
and, referring to him Mr.. Pettus
said:
HE began his education at the old
field school, He has always been
student from boyhood. 1 knew him
when he first became a lawyer, and I
have known him ever since. I have
Ijived in the same villige with him for
| about so years. He commenced life
without anything. You all see how
hard he works here. He has worked
that way all his life. When he came
to the senate his income was some-
thing IN the neighborhood of $4,000
year. He has been here now for 80
years. Had he worked at the pro-