Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1885 — Anecdotes of Known Men. [ARTICLE]

Anecdotes of Known Men.

General Forrest in a Broadway Stage— Commodore Yanderbilt’s Estimate of a Popular Divine—Eccentricities of Patriot Mitchell. New York Star: It is the trivial incidents in the lives of public men that frequently illustrate their character, and there is as much interest manifested in the anecdotes which belong to the sphere of current social gossip as in the more ambitious records of the historian. General N. B. Forrest, the famous Confederate Cavalry leader,

visited New York shortly aft-r the close of the war. One day, while riding down town in a Fifth avenue stage, a dude of the pronounced type entered and took his seat in the corner opposite the General.— While searching his pockets for something, the youth wi hdrew a large envelope from which a number of papers slipped and w«re scattered on the floor. He picked up those within reach, and turning to Forrest, who looked like “a member from the rural districts,” said, in the drawling, consequential and supercilious tone peculiar to his class, “I say, can you reach those papers?” The Gene.a grasped the situation in a moment, and extending his arm until the cuff and shirt sleeve separated, exhibiting a broad expanse of wrist, replied, with well assumed country patois: “Wall, I jis’ kin, stranger, an’ that’s about all.” Then he drew himself up to a sitting posiure (gain and looked innocent, while t e occupants cf the stage roamed, and the embarrassed dude proceeded to help himself and as quickly ns po sible leave the unsympathetic company.

An old gentleman, who, to judge from his shaking sides, heartily enjoyed the seen 3, now changed his seat for one next the General, and remarked to him: “Stranger, excuse me for the question, but where are you from?,’ “Arkansas!” was the rejoinder. “Well,” said the old man, “I’ve always heard that an Arkansian is a sheol of a fellow, and noiv I believe it. Shake hands, stranger!” He was doubly delighted a few moments later, when, on arriving at the New York Hotel, Forrest introduced himself in propria persona, and invited his new-found friend to become his guest at dinner At another time the General had occasion to take his linen to a laundry, but he was informed that a receipt was not necessary. On the day specified for the delivery he called for the articles, but was curtly told by the person in charge that he knew nothing about them. Pulling out his watch, Forrest remarked with his characteristic emphasis—and those who knew the man rarely misunderstood his meaning: “Look here, Mr. Washerman, I’ll give you just ten seconds to get my clothes!”— “And I,” defiantly replied the party addressed, “will give you just fifteen seconds to get out of this place, or I’ll kick you out.” The General’s coat was off in an instant, and the laundryman was suddenly astonished to find himself going headforemost out of a powerful grip over the counter and into a pile of soiled linen. Forrest had his satisfaction, but he lost his clothes.

Commodore Vanderbilt and the members of his family were present when Bishop MacTyeire preached one of his most eloquent sermons, the occasion being the anniversary of the presentation of the Church of the Strangers by the Commodore to Rev. Charles Deems, D. D. Vanderbilt listened with wrapped attention, and when the celebrated divine took his seat, George Osgood, the broker, observed: “That preacher is a gamecock, C mmodore.” “No, sir, he’s a steamboat —a steamboat man!” was the emphatic response. "his was the Commodore’s type of the acme of greatness. During the exile' in this country of John Mitchell, the Irish patriot, he was asked by a lady whether he had seen Niagara Falls from the Canada side. His reply was: “No, madame, respect for me neck restrains me curiosity. I like the wather on this side ‘to the Queen’s taste,’ and I don’t intend to improve upon it by goin’ to the other side.” In traveling south Mitchell met Parson Brownlow, the spiritual mustard-pot of the profession, and being asked how he liked the noted man; answered in his rich brogue: “It forcibly occurred to me mind while he was spaking to me that he w*s a sort of riverind wild baste.” A familiar anecdote in connection with Parson Brownlow is wor-

thy of repetition. When General Gideon S. Pillow, of Tennessee, was raising a regiment of volunteers for the Confederate army he sent an invitation to the divine to act as chaplain. The response was characteristic of the man. He wrote: “W hen I make up my mind to go to , I’ll cut my throat and go direct, and not travel around by way of the Southern Confederacy.” Judge Longstreet,*lhe celebrated humorist, and the author of “Georgia Scenes,” aud the father-in-law of Secretary Lamar, was once traveling in a car from Augusta, Ga., to Columbia, S. C. Seated just behind him were two rural individuals, one in a split bonnet and homespun dress, and the other in bluejean trousers and check shirt. The female in the split bonnet was asleep. Soon after entering the car an old friend of the judge approached,and, calling him byname, received a hearty greeting. A few minutes later, when lie loft, the rustic leaned over and touching the old gentleman on the shoulder, inquired: ‘Mister, be you Jedge Longstie t, the man what writ ‘Georgy Scenes?’” “That’s what folks say,” good naturedly replied the judge. The explosion of (l bomb-shell could scarcely have produced greater excitement than this revelation. Blue jeans individual at once commenced the agitation of the split bonnet. “Wake up, Sal; wake up! Here’s the greatest man the Almighty ever made, the biggest man on airtli.— He writ ‘Georgy Scenes,’ Sal; wake up and see him!” By dint of much shaking the female was aroused, when, taking her by the hand, he said: “Jedge, this is Sai; we were spliced this morning, an’ we’re gwine down the road a piece to-rlog-rollin’, and I wanted her to see yer ’onor as soon as I found ye out.” The Judge, in relating the ineider t, said he had never witnessed anything more ludicrous in his life. When Em ly B. Faithful lectured in Steinway Hall on the subject of “ Women,” among those who occupied seats on the platform were Revs. Dr. Bellows and Parker.— They listened attentively while she threw hot shot into the ranks of the males, and when she had finished, Dr. jjßellows, slapping his friend familiarly on the shoulder, said: “Don’t be disheartened, Brother t arker; pluck up courage even if you are a man.”

Edwin Booth, on returning home after a performanc' one evening, during which his physical and mental strength had been severely taxed, suggested to his wife that he would enjoy a good porterhouse steak and a raw onion. “Impossible, my dear,” said the jealous guardian of his domestic affairs, “your diet, you know, is a lettuce leaf and a glass of water!” At one time during the war it was thought that Jefferson Davis would for some cause remove General Beauregard from command.— Senator Wigfall, of Texas, a bold, outspoken man, happening to be in the presence of Mr. Davis when the subject was referred to, said: “Don’t touch him, Mr. President; it’s dangerous policy. When a man lecomes so popular that his fellow-citizens name their racehorses and steamboats, and the women name their babies after him, let him alone; don’t touch him!” One of the French Prince* who visited the Confederate army'at Manasses, >hile being escorted down a line of troops by Major Skinner, of the First Virginia Regiment, expressed a desire to return by the rear. The Major for a moment was placed in an awkward position, and a blush mantled his cheek, but quickly recovering himself, he replied in French: “Your Royal Highness, we would gladly take you +o the rear, but the truth is the linen of the men is in rather an exposed condition. It being a part of the person we never expect to show to the enemy, our soldiers think rags in that neighborhood of but little consequence.”