TEXAS: The Unquenchable Legend

By the time old Walter Williams passed away at a self-reckoned 117 years, just about every official in Texas knew that he had spun a tall tale about his days as foragemaster of Hood's Texas Brigade in the War Between the States. But for a long time they had believed him and showered him with Confederate honors; then, when a too-enterprising reporter proved in the records that Williams could have been only five years old when Hood was marching, they decided to go right on believing just the same. Last week flags on U.S. Government buildings, ships and embassies...