"A DIPLOMAT IN PIGSKIN" 



Early in the summer of 1868, J. H. Wallace, author 

 of Wallace's "American Stud Book" and editor of 

 Wallace's Monthly, paid his first visit to Middle Tennes- 

 see. For him was in store the usual number of pleasant 

 surprises that mark the coming of all visitors to this fa- 

 vored section for the first time. The first surprise that 

 greeted Wallace was a few hours after his arrival in Nash- 

 ville. 



"While seated in a hotel dining-room," he wrote, "I observed 

 a large and remarkably fine looking gentleman enter the room 

 and cast his eyes over the guests as if looking for some one. 

 He whispered a word to the head waiter near the door, and 

 then started directly towards where I was seated! He was a 

 very large man, of very commanding presence and his whole 

 appearance at once indicated a man of distinction and mark, 

 even among the great men of the day. His face was large 

 and smoothly shaven, with kindliness and good feeling beaming all 

 over it, while there was a merry twinkle playing about under his 

 great shaggy and snow-white eyebrows that told unmistakably of 

 his fondness for a good, hearty laugh. The whole appearance, and 

 especially the face, impressed me as that of a remarkable man; but 

 I had not time for further observation till he was at my table and 

 inquired if I was Mr. Wallace? Upon receiving an affirmative an- 

 swer, he gave his hand, and also his name, Balie Peyton. This was 

 a most agreeable surprise, for, of all the distinguished Tennesseans 

 then living, there was no one I was so anxious to meet as the Hon. 

 Balie Peyton. When a boy I had read of him as a politician and 

 statesman in the days of Jackson, and as a leader to the opposition 

 of his administration in the counsels of the nation. At a later period 

 I had read of him as one of the great breeders and race horse men of 

 his generation. It appeared hardly possible that the man who had 

 filled so large a place in public affairs, thirty or forty years before, 



