The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-03-21

civil war. and eighteen years in the Senate
 Laagh on general Hooker.
 Here Is a characteristic story of tho distinguished Alabamian. One day hs was sitting with friend. in Q noted public resort down town. Former Congressman Hooker of Mississippi came into the place Mir. Pugh for some years before his death could not see very well at distance. but he re- other friend: Isn't that old Hookes over therer'
 Being informed that 1t was, Mfr. Pugh said: Call him quick" for [ dearly love old Hooker. We'll ali tak& just one together, but mark my pre- diction, hell hardly talk about a thin9 this side of tS4e. That's the way with these old fellows who get to be ups wards of 70 years of age, and they should study to break themselves oz the habit"
 We'll, General Hooker made up the trio, and no confidence is violated in saying that all three had a drink ox the ardent together.
 When the dram had been swallowed General Hooker said: "Pugh, your suc- cessor, General Pettus, crossed tha plains on horseback, believe, in 184e. in search of gold in Californian
 Just then MT. Pugh gave the young man of the trio Q vigorous kick on the leg as if to say. Did not tell you SO"
 Continuing. General Hooker said: Were you '49erT
 NO, exclaimed Senator Pugh, T was not, and I'm d--d glad wasn't By the way, Hooker, you ought to break yourself of the habit of dwelling on the past. When get out with a crowd I like to talk of what is going on at present talk politics, like to hear the latest interesting stories of things now happening, and if hard pressed I'll talk horse-racing or anything that is up to date. keep young by going with young fellows, and while I hope to live to be hundred, I'm glad I have kept up my spirits to be as old as am by letting the dead past take care of itself"
 It is almost useless to add that Gen. eral Hooker had ease of dry grina and the conversation was quickly shift ed.
 This occurrence has often been re- lated here and in other cities by al. derly men to illustrate the fact that if all the venerable people would take life as did MT. Pugh, they would have more sunshine in their lives.
 Young as His Feelings.
 Mir. Pugh always contended that a man could keep young in his feelings if he would make up his mind to it. or course, he admitted that this was pos- sib1e only as long as an elderly man was in the enjoyment of reasonably good health. He had everything to live for, but he maintained steadily that if his faculties left him and he was care to his family, he wanted to go, and go in a hurry. He posi- lively had no fear of dying. He felt that he had done his part in this world by his family. his country and his friends, and he knew he had the respect and confidence Of all who knew him. His was a peculiarly happy life. The lovely woman who became his partner in life as long ago as 1S46, survives him, and 1t will be satis- faction to the friends of Mrs. Pugh throughout the South to know that she Is in the enjoyment Of good health. One of the sweetest satisfactions Mir. Pugh up to the time of his death had, was that his children were all prosper ing, and he used to assert that aI- though he had four living sons, there's no black sheep in my flock He was proud of his "boys," as he lovingly called them, and they were justly proud of him.
 Perhaps the closest friend MT. Pugh had in the Senate was the late Senator George Graham Vest of Missouri. This was natural for the reason that while members of the Confederate Congress at Richmond, they were room-mates and slept in the same bed.
 Little, then, in such troublesome times did they think they ever would in the far bey ond become members of the United States Senate and serve there for so many years together. While in Richmond, Mfr. Vest heard from what then seemed far off Missouri that a son had been born to him. He promptly sent word that the boy should be named George Pugh Vest. He did not wish to have him a junior" but desired to have the name of his dear friend and room mate linked with his. George Pugh Vest died before the pass ing away of his distinguished father.
 Alfred J. Stofer.