Like all boys of my day, I looked upon men and women above 20 or 30 as old. They were old only in the sense that they had grown out of their youthful ways. Mothers of 20 or 30 years "dressed old" - forsook the charming costumes of younger and unmarried women and dressed in "older" style. The men of 21 and beyond wore either mustaches or beards, or both, and we thought them old. This was not the case, of course, but hairy faces and "oldish" raiment were responsible. There were only two in Monticello at that time who habitually shaved their faces clean. These were the McCain brothers, William S. and Charles L. So it was the facial adornments of the period that prevented boys from becoming more closely acquainted with Col. Whittington, Col. Barrow, Judge Sorrells, (of Warren) Capt. Jackson, Judge Billy Wells, Col. Brooks, Dr. Cole, Col. Belser, John Hussey, (sic) Col. Slemmons, Major Anderson and others of the more prominent grown-ups. The older women, too, "dressed the part" - wore their hair in a way that made them look older than they actually were. Pantalettes had not gone completely out of fashion, and I remember three ladies who wore hoop skirts on "full-dress occasions." These were Mrs. Marie Mengershausen, Mrs. Fisher, who married Patricia (Pat) Raymond, mother of Tom and Mrs. Smith, who lived two or three doors north of the Howell (afterwards the John McCloy) home on North Main street. This (the Smith) home, I believe, was later purchased by Sam McCloy. Like many other boys, I looked upon Col. Whittington and the fellow beard and moustache-wearers as people of a different sphere from our own, and never dreamed that one day I might be accepted or at least tolerated by these older citizens, although far younger in years and lacking in knowledge of things that were of interest to them. They had all been through the Civil War, a few had fought the Mexicans, and at least one (Joseph Johns) had helped to quell the Florida Seminoles. Mr. Johns was lame, and I always understood that he was one of three American soldiers who captured the Seminole chief Osceola (Billy Bowlegs). But the time came when I enjoyed the high privilege of "listening in" while these older citizens were conversing with each other, and some times I was permitted to ask questions. They were characteristically reticent concerning their own part in the wars in which they fought, but occasionally a bit of information would be let drop to register instantly in my memory. These men occasionally talked about the war deed of some one else but I never heard one of speak of his own soldierly performances. Colonel Whittington was not only a very fountain of information about many things, but he had the rare gift of putting his thoughts into beautiful English. His conversation was delightful, and his statements were alive with action. For this reason, and because of his unquestioned learning, those who listened to him were never lacking in attention. He was a most interesting raconteur, and I shall never forget his account of a journey he once made to Napoleon, long since destroyed by Mississippi and Arkansas river inroads upon the ground on which it stood, but then not only the largest city in Arkansas but also one of the wickedest in the Valley. It was the American Port Said. Charley Harding, once a familiar practitioner before the Drew county circuit and chancery courts, was born at Napoleon, and has told of its gradual destruction, but from Col. Whittington I heard first of its bloody history, which seemed to be in keeping with that of the whole swamp country of that day. It was the Colonel who planted barren mulberry trees on the south side of Court Square before the boys of my day were born, and these trees furnished ample shade when clothed with summer foliage. They grew at the edge of the sidewalk, which was made of oaken planks two inches thick, and in the hot months there were always cane or stool-bottomed chairs to attract occupants. These trees long ago perished under the weight of years, but when I was a boy they were in their prime and on almost any fine day in summer Col. Whittington could be found sitting under one of them looking coll and comfortable. He wore a wide-brimmed straw hat of a weave that I have forgotten, unbleached linen trousers, soft white shirt, and loose fitting black alpaca coat. He sat straight in his chair with his slippered feet in front of him, and his cane resting between his knees. The costume, barring the loose carpet slippers (a concession to his rheumatism), was not unique. Many of the elderly men of Monticello wer similarly garbed in in those days because they believed in coolness and comfort. Seersucker mohair, and Palm Beach clothing had not come into being, but unbleached linen (mostly made into shirts and suits at home and alpaca were common enough among the men), while the ladies wore calico about their homes and black silk when up town, at church, or attending social functions. They also wore black silk slippers and shoes, the latter being often tied on the inside. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Photos - Share your holiday photos online! http://photos.yahoo.com/