eed a truthful and a brilliant record. Paul Jones was accused of
being a pirate. The charge was a long time dying, but it is to-day
generally disavowed. When recently his bones were returned to American
shores, may we not believe that from some valhalla of the heroes, where
the mighty men of the past mingle in peace and amity, he saw and took
pride in the great if tardy outpouring of our fellow citizens to greet
this first sea-king of our flag?

Now, this story of the magnificent career of John Paul Jones, so
briefly summarized, has been often told, and its details are familiar
to every schoolboy. There is one mystery connected with his life,
however, which has not yet been solved. I purpose to make here an
original contribution toward its solution. No one knows positively--it
is probable that no one ever will know, why John Paul assumed the name
of Jones. Of course the question is not vital to Jones's fame, for
from whatever reason he assumed the name by which he is remembered, he
certainly honored it most signally; but the reason for the assumption
is nevertheless of deep interest to all lovers of history. There have
been two explanations of this action.

VI. Why Did He Take the Name of Jones?

Five years ago two biographies of Jones appeared simultaneously. One I
had the honor of writing myself. The other was from the pen of that
gifted {290} and able author, the late Colonel Augustus C. Buell. Our
accounts were in singular agreement, save in one or two points, and our
conclusions as to the character of Jones in absolute harmony. In
Colonel Buell's book he put forth the theory--which, so far as I know,
had not before been formulated--that John Paul assumed the name of
Jones in testamentary succession to his brother William Paul, who had
preceded him to America; and that William Paul had himself taken the
name in testamentary succession to one William Jones, a childless old
planter of Middlesex County, Virginia, who bequeathed to the said
William Paul an extensive plantation on the Rappahannock, some nine
miles below Urbana, at a place called Jones's Wharf, on condition that
he call himself Jones. In 1805 this Jones property was owned by
members of the Taliaferro family, who had received it from Archibald
Frazier, who claimed to have received it from John Paul Jones, although
there are no records of transfer extant.

My theory, which Colonel Buell facetiously characterized--doubtless in
all good hum