The Jones County news., 1915-09-16
OUR BIC-BUC FRIENDS.
The Probable King of Poland
and Lord John Gordon Old
Chums of the Jones Coun-
ty News Editor.


morrow, or visa versa.
Russia pledged itself, in the
event of conquest by the al
lies, to e-establish the Kingdom
OF Poland, under Slav influence; /;
but now that the Teutons are vic
torious and have overrun and
hold Poland, the Kaiser has de-
clared his intention to permit the
Poles to once more unite their
conquered and divided country,
and recall to the throne the direct
and legitimate heir OF the former
Kings. This is Poniatowski, and
who is now in Europe, ready to
ascend the throne.
The Editor of the Jones Coun-
ty News not only we'll but inti-
mately knows this Polish King,
who has often been a guest at our
home when we lived in Athens,
Ca, to which city he came from
Philadelphia, Pa, where he resi-
ded for some time after landing
in America. This was some twen-
tysodd years ago.
Poniatowski at that time was q
young man apparently some %
or % years of age and indeed a
magnificent specimen of man.
hood. He was fully six feet tall,
with regular and remarkably
handsome features. He was a
linRuist and highly educated, with
polished and oourtly manners.
He was all but penniless and
came South to superintend a large
Jersey cattle farm belonging to
Hunnicutt and Yancey. 1t seems
that Poniatowski had a mania
for fine cattle, and adopted that
line Of business for livelihood.
| trequentlyivisited Poniatowski
st the stock farm, where he dom
ned overalls and helped to milk
and tend the cattle. His manner
Was genial and sffable. He new
scoka of Ills lindage, and it was
5Aly by1 idsnt that I discover
ia his regal birth. The Eastern
1Dapers were at that time filled
with stories about the rightful
heir to the throne OF Poland be-
r4ng in America, with hIs descip-
tion and picture, which we read
lily recognized as Poniatowski-
We show cd these papers to .he
young Pole, who acknowledge 1
bis identity, but he stated thai
bis kingdom had been dismem-
bersd and divided between three
great European powers and his
house being penniless, had aban-
doned all hope OF restoration.
We repr oducad those stories in |
our paper, and young Poniatows-
XII was received and entertained |
by the best people OF Athens.
An Austrian Prince, we see,
will be temporarily placed on the
Polish throne, but during our re-
cent trip to Georgia we learned |
that Ponlatowski had returned to |
Europe, and the news wasAthat
he would be restored to the throne |
u Poland as soon as settled |
government was established.
Wa remember another story OF
the vicissitude of fortune. After
the war when a youth living in
Augusta, Ca, among our inti-
mate associates were two boys
named John and George Gordon.
The family was very poor and
Shese boys helped support their
other and young sisters by day
sSoor. TheylIwers both manly. |
plendid youths.
One day a letter was adverti-
lad directed to "Sir John Gordon,
Augusta, Ga, U. s.. A." with the
name Of lowyer in Scotland on
envelope. | was with John Cor
don when hcread the notice, and
he spoke up and said, THAT let
tor il evidently for me, as my IA
thor, before he died, told me that
Lxas in direct line of heritage
to title and fortune in Scotland,
a uncle being in control" But
when John Gordon, in the 1arb
Of working boy, applied for the
letter. the postmaster
refused to deliver it, and he had
some trouble in getting It.
The letter stated that the heir +
10 tho title and estate had died,
md the American youth being
aDxt in line he was urged 10 come
% and take possession. A check
IQx : considerable sum was en-.
sloaod. The Gordon family at
pnoe left for Scotland and / lost
loak of them for several years.
One summer l boarded . train
Is 6evannah, Ga, to which two
inc private cars were AttaQAod.
3t9nd ling on the platform Of one
Rag my old friend John Gordon, |,
~ ~ changed except in gasb. u