orgot his toil, the merchant his business; old and young,
little and big thronged the streets, women raised their little ones in
their arms and cried, "See, the Colonel comes!" We listened with rapt
attention to his superior eloquence, and no man was more deeply rooted
in the affections of his people. We esteemed him too high to be low, too
lofty in thought and aspiration to do a mean thing. Republican aspirants
to Congress in those days were easily turned down by the Colonel who
represented that district for three or more terms at the National
Capitol. But there came a time when the Colonel's influence began to
wane; whisperings were current that he was indulging too freely in the
Southern gentleman's besetting sin--poker and mint julips, and that the
business of the people whose interests he had been sent to look after
was being neglected. Still Wilmingtonians' confidence in the Colonel did
not slacken, and when the time for Congressional nominations came, we
went to Fayetteville with bands playing and banners flying, and we
cheered ourselves hoarse in order to quicken slumbering interest in the
Colonel, but failed. Cumberland, Bladen, Mecklinburg and other counties
came down unanimously in favor of one Shackleford, of the upper section,
a name almost unknown to us, and New Hanover, which stood alone for the
Colonel, was defeated. After the expiration of his term in Congress the
Colonel went to his home in Wilmington, and resumed the practice of law.
The last time that I visited the old city, the Colonel was solicitor in
the Criminal Court. He had also moved out of his palatial dwelling on
Third street, and sought cheaper quarters. Twenty years ago he would
have scorned the thought of doing this deed which he was now
contemplating as he strode down the street on this sultry August
morning.

"I will carry this election or choke the river with their carcasses," he
said slowly to himself. But why this ghastly sentence from the mouth of
a representative Wilmingtonian? What had plunged the Colonel into such a
desperate state of mind? Poverty! lost honor, unsatisfied ambition. The
Negro and the "low white" are prospering, holding positions in the city
government that rightfully belong to first families who are better
qualified to hold said positions and more entitled to the remunerations;
but the changing of this order of things cannot be brought about by
honest methods, so like the hungry wolf, the Colonel is preparing to