The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-09-08
PRIVATE JNO. ALLEN TALKS
DON'T TAKE OFFICE IF YOU CAN
EARN A LIVING, HE SAYS.
Real Story of How He Got His Title
and Some Other Stories About
Life in Mississippi.

ries in the house, and did the Gin
cinnatus act, is at the Waldorf for a
few days and the lobby of the no.
tel has been crowded with Southern
ers and others ever since ne arrlV-
ed. It was hard matter to come
I'D with the ex-congressman yester-
day, for there were so many friends
that wanted: to see him and ask
about that story about the trans
fers'' which Mr.. Allen got off in St.
Louis several months ago, or some
of the others equally good, for as a
story teller and wit Private Allen is
still in the ring.
A bunch of men from Alabam and
Mississippi were gathered about him
yesterday afternoon, and one was
telling a story about having some
Zip proof" with the ex-congressman
upon one occasion.
81 never carry guage about with
me-" he remarked, '"but you fellows
will give a wrong impression about
me here in New York.
do you know for years the bright
est newspaper paragrapher in Wash
ington was a close friend of mine?
1 used to live at the old Chamberlain
in those days, and every night
promptly at midnight that fellow used
to come around as regularly as
clock work and sit and take some
thing until half past three. l calcu-
lated that he took up just year of
my time by actual measurements.
Well, he died. His example made a
great impression upon me and | have
profted by it. No, thanks; but I'll
go watch you boys.
There has been some misunder-
standing as to how I was dubbed
"Priyate,' the owner of the title
went on in answer to question.
"Some people think that it was be-
cause I was the only Confederate SOL
dier who after the war did not call
himself a general, colonel, or at
: least major The fact is the title
was the result of a political speech I
once made. My opponent was a
brigader-general, a real one, and he
made a speech telling how the coun-
try thereabouts recalled famous bat
tie that had taken place there and
how the night before he had slept
in his tent On that field. When l
got up to speak l emphasized what
he had said about the battlefield and
went on to recall how it was ter
ribly cold and sleety night, and how
the poor pickets strobe back and
forth on duty all night.
"'And I am sure, gentlemen, I
continued, that those of you who
were there will vote for Private John
Allen, who was on picket duty there
that night and helped to keep the
Yankees from getting you and the
general who was sleeping in his
tent
"Our country" said Mr.. Allen, COM
ing back to the present, "is the best
in Mississippi. and we raise cotton.
It was pretty floody there from the
middle of June until the middle of
July. and it looked like ruin for the
crop, but during the last three or
four weeks the cotton has come out
all right and we shall make more
cotton than last year.
esLaId is higher in our county than
in anv other in the State, The South
in fact is all looking up very much.
and I tell you that in the South YOU
are going to see more development
in the next ten years than in any
other part of the country. The peo-
pie l used to represent in congress
are much better off now than | ever
hoped to see them in my lifetime.
Why. the South is raising the best
corn crop in many years. For years
it has been spending heap OF money
for corn. A corn crop makes
a good hog crop. AS for wheat Mis-
issippi does not go in for that, out
I saw a statement the other day that
this years wheat crop down there
would be 100000 bushels. Well soon
get back to wheat growing. but the
trouble down there is that there are
no -four mills.
In politics the principal interest
down there now centres in the sena-
torial election which doesn't come
off until next year. However, the
campaign is being anticipated oy
Messrs. Alexander and Percy and by
Ex-Gov. Vardaman. In my opinion
Percy. who is now filling the uneX-
pired term of the late Senator Nc
1.nrin will he elected He is fine