The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1850-10-31

Here, also, is the chosen rendezvous ot
rouges, drunkards, whiskered gamblers
horse Jockeys and all office hunters and
demagogues. 1t is for reasons such as these
that the docket of frontier court is never
cleared of its cases for every old one adju.
dicated, at least two new ones are added tc
the list and thus the accumulation goes on
increasing from year to year. This makes
it the elysium of lawyers. There is sad
drawback, however, on their felicity. The
litigante, Witnesses and spectators arc most
ly loaded down with deadly weapons, and
are equally ready TO use them on the slight
est show of insult Hence none but fear.
less fighters need hope for success at the
bar. Under such state of circumstances,
is ii easy 10 conceive the scenes of wild
strife, confusion and outrage exhibited in n
frontier forum, where the Judge is forced by
necessity TO be either tyrant or slave, and
the counsel are always bulles.
1t was therefore, the anticipation of vic
lent exeitements in the shape Of actual trag-
odies that drew such eager and hurrying
ihrongs TO the court house in the village OF
Van Buren on the occasion first alluded to.
The human panorama presented view ami.
mated and busy in the highest degrce.--Ou,
of a hundred houses, forty-three were gro
ceries, with every door and window wide
open, and so densely crowded that it required
half-a.dozen clerks in each establishment to
supply their thirsty customers.
Beside the counter might be seen group
of well dressed gamblers, ringing together
their full wine glasses before the sparkling
chamgaigne disappeared meath their boards.
In the centre of the room stood mountain
hunter, with his rifle in one hand and ahuge
quart bottle in the other just raised 10 his
parted lips. One instant more and the nee,
tar fluid fire shall melt on his great red
tongue. But no 1t is stopped in transilu
BY the strong arm of a mongrel Indian, who
snatches the overhowing vessel and flies a.
way through the throng. Click bang
What sound was that The deafening roar
Of the hunters rifle, followed by a death
yell of fearful agony as the Indian falls a
corpse !
Yonder, under those beautiful shade trees
of georgeous evergreen, where the sunlight
trembles through like ten thousand diamonds
be7ies of bright eyed women are seated on
carpets OF grass-the daughters smiling at
the accomplishments OF their beaux, and
the mothers smiling 10 hear the pratte OF
,reir children.
Al nine clock, a group Of lawyers, doc
tors, and politicians-eolonels all-were en-.
gagged in earnest conversation around the
bar, undlsturbed b. the drunken shouts and
din of the multitude reverberating without,
far and near, over the village.
"lt is the hour for calling court" remark.
Ell Keub Reynolds, Esq, "and yet our new
Judge has not arrived"
III he's smart, he won't arrive al all,'
said Gen. Smoot, cutting figures in tho air
with snowy sword cane which he applied
u ef armis to the shoulders of a new Judge
lately resigned. Gen. Smoot was the "My
Lord Coke" of Arkaisas--He had amassed
handsome fortune in the briefspace of five
years and by universal consent, ranked at
the head of his profession 1t is true he
had not worked his way Eup to this proud
elevation by learned and laborous research,
nor had he scared there on the pinions of
impassioned and peerless eloquence, nor
had intellect, or Imagination, or purity of
feeling aided IN his ascen:; he had simply
hewed his way through all obstacles with
the sharp edge of an immense bowie knife
which few except himself had sufficien,
strength TO weilde. Wo TO the uckless wit.
ness that gave him cross answer-Wo 10
his opposing counsel that did not cover be-.
fore his thunder! And deeper wo to the
presumptuous Judge who dare 10 check his
brow beaten iuso!ence, or who assumed the
right TO determine one point against him
When therefore, the BY ISLANDERS heard the
duell'ng general utter his oracular lacoaism
in rsiere nee to the new Judge, every body
compreheIded the implied threat, and burs,
into hearty laugh.
"What is The name Of his expected hon.
or p inquired Col. Reub Reynolds, ESQ.,, as
he gave his perfnmed moustache an extra
twirl
"a Yell from Tennessee y replied Col.
McBall, "and he has come to Arkansas with
the commission Of territorial Judge in his
pocket, for the purpose of makinga capital
TO be the first governor of the new state
when organized"
Col McBall was himself an aspirant for
that hign office of which he then spoke. He
did not obtain it, but he did obtain the post
of cashier of the Fayetteville bank, and five
years afterwards robbed it ard ran away
with one hundred thousand dollars
Chow do you call his name" interroga.
ted Gen. Smoot, elevating his sword cane
"a, YELL" repeated Col. McBalI.
"l'll change his name 10 A, Howl" re-
i,ined Smoot, perpetrating metaphorical
pun, while the sword cane descended with
q most beligerent flourish. A boisterous
shout from the group testified their. general
approval Of the menace.
ais any one acquainted with this Yell ~
asked Col. Waliacs, who was also candi--
r. n L Il