Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1850-08-17
From the Nsw York Spirit Of the Times.
MEN AND THINGS IN LOUISIANA.
No. I.--"TOM OWEN, THE BEE HUNTER
Written for the New York Spirit Of the Times.


A few days since, left my residence on
the banks of the beautiful and winding Ba-
you Lafourche to attend to n business call
at Baton Rouge, the capitol Of OUR State.
Upon arriving there, | visited in my
moments Of leisure, the lions of the place
and beheld, with due awe, the disting,sisll-
ed functionaries and great inch ofthe State
Knowing that the "Bee Hunter" resided
there, | determined.to visit this distinguish
ed gentleman, and wended my way along
insearch Of Mr.. Thorpe's residence.
AT the extreme end Of "the Boulevard" !"
/ found neat and beautiful white cottage,
shaded by trees Of a rich foliage.
A garden in the rear Of the house.
slightly visible through the open palings,
was filled with flowers Of rare beauty and
delightful odor The .neatness and taste
everywhere displayed, convinced me of
the truth of what had heard of the refn.
ed and accomplished character of Mrs
Thorpe. On inquiring for Mr.. Thorpe, I
was informed he was in town. Retracing
my steps, my attention wus Suddenly ar
rested in the thickly settled portion Of the
town by numerous signs Of distinguished
lawyers, dentists, and dry goods merchants
among which appeared in modest type that
Of 7. B. Thorpe.
My mind was struck with the idea Of
the power Of intellect Here" said /,
soliloquising, "is that attelier of one, whose
name has been waited by Fame through
out the literary world. How little would
the Lifterdteur, who, while seated in some
splendid saion of America or Europe, reads
at his ease the productions of Thorpe's
pen, imagine that the author, whose wit
and humor so deeply interest him. existed
amid such incongruous associations"
The welcome words "come in," res
ponded to my knock. At first Mr.. r. was
not visible----his person being concealed by
large canvass, but turning little to the
right, beheld the "Bear Of Arkansas" 4"
armed with pellet and seve ral brushes
and deeply absorbed in his occupation
Mf. T. In person is rather thick-set, and ap-
pears. in sitting, to be much taller than he
really is. This pecuiarity has been most
amusinely and happily taken advantage of
by Garbeille, formerly Of New Orleans
now of New York, in one of his Last carl.
cature statuettes Mr.. T., was plainly
dressed, and had Discarded his crAvat, as
the weather was intensely warm his col
lar and therefore insensibly assumed a
Byronic air. His face is very remarkable
lin it is noticed striking resemblance
to that of Hogarth; hs has a very intel
lectual blue eye, in which the scintillations
of genius are clearly visible; his forehead
is high and broad, and phrenologically
well developed; his countenance beams
with benevolencc and humor. Separated
then from dull and common place realities,
and surrounded by works Of art, examin-
ed at my leisure, portraits, and sketches of
Southern scenery, productions Of his PEN
Gil.
"Simeon in the Temple" from an en-.
craving after the celebrated picture of
Rembrandt. was most artistically executed
indeed, he appears in his cabinet pic
tures to have followed Rembrandt's school
Of painting. The remarkable character
istic Of his style being the lighting up most
brilliantly important parts Of his pictures,
and subduing the remainder. I was also
highly pleased with a portrait Of Jenny
Lind, copied from IN engraving. Mr. T.
has communicated to it, whether it re-
sembles her or not. all the fire Of musical
genius, and invested it with an dir Of sim.
plicity, loveliness, and intellect, that would
charm every amateur Of the Fine Arts
There is also a very fine painting of the
"First Trial by Jury" taken from the
celebrated Albion engraving. 1t is sup.
posed to represent a scene in the time of
King Alfred ;---here in living colors that
monarch sits in state on his throne--at
his right are two monks, who acted then
as lawyers--in front stands the accused,
held by two officers Of justice-he exhibits
all the physical strength Of those days, and
his face is distorted by brutal ferocity. On
the grounds is the body Of the murdered
man 1.-The hesrtbroken wife is Frustrated
at its side---the witness points to the VIC
tim with one hand, to the prisoner with
the other, whilst he testifies to the twelve
Jurymen, who hear him with calmness,
SIdflly, dAiu ucep ASeliHS.
Two original paintings Of the Wildcat
particularly attracted my attention--one
quietly reposing at the mouth Of hollow
rock, ready to pounce upon wild turkey,
or ready to have 4 frolic with a play-fellow
the other severely wounded, clinging to
the branch Of tree, and its eyes glaring
with the firesof desperation and invincible
hate There is also in his studio what
might be termed rude throne, on which
is large and unusually comfortable arm
chair, surmounted on the top. by silver
plate, on which is impressed this inscrip-
tion-"Joseph Walker, President Of the
Convention Of the State Of Louisiana, A..
D., 1s45." It was presented to Gen.
Walker by the members Of the Conven-
ton, that formed our present Constitution,
and was loaned temporarily to Mr., T., as
the Governor gallantly remarked, "for the
accommodation Of beautiful ladies'" At
times Governor Walker abandons the cares
of State, and whiles away few moments
with r., and without doubt he enjoys him.
self more in this pleasant seat, listening to-,
or relating racy anecdotes, than when en-
throned in the executive chair, dispensing
Offices and receiving honors.
1t may not be unintefesting to your 1,tl.
nerous readers to know something of the
history of Mr.. Z.
His father was clergyman, and though
he died at the eafly age of twenty six
years, left behind him reputation for
superior talent.
The subject Of this sketch resided in
New York City, until he went to Middle
town University, in Connecticut. where