Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-04-05
Old Witty and Gen. Taylor.

n. Il. Willis, of the Home journal, write
from Washington, as follows:
"We were standing at the corner of Prcs-
dent Square, i'll Washington, the other day
literally brought to stand-still by the heaNe en-
ly beauty of the weathcr-when loose horse
trottcd leisurcly by us in the open street, and
we found ourselves expanding towards him, in
sympathetic recognition of the similarity Of oul
respective happiness There are two of us out
of harness to-day we mentally said God
bless you, old brother worky, and may you en-
JOY, as do, this delicious sunshine and its heav-
enly nothings to do" On he trotted towards
the Presidents gate, and, haulting little before
the entrance, he seemed hesitating between
perfect liberty to go in or stay out-when it
suddenly occurred to us that our fellow idler
might not be, after all, the private individual
for whom we had fancied our sympathy to be
rather condesC ension than otherwise What II
it should be "Old Witty" reposing on his lau-
rels?
A moments look, up and down the pave in
front of the Presidents mansion, corroborated
the conjecture. There were perhaps, twenty
persons in sight. and among them, we recog-
nized one of the Cabinet secretaries venera-
bic Auditor the Austrian Charge, and two of
those unanxious and yet responsible looking
persons whom you know to be "Members" and
not office-seekers-and-(c (curious to see)Eall
eyes are fxed not upon the distinguished for
eigner not on the honorable officials, not on the
honorable members, not on an embarrassed and
loose editor of the Home Journdl-but, on the
embarrassed and loose white horse!
We felt the smoke of Buena Vista and Re-
SEGA de la Palma, of Palo Alto and Monterey,
pushing us towards the old cannon-proof char
ger. He went smelling about the edges of the
sidewalk--wondering, probably at such warm
weather and 10 grassland we crossed over to
have nearer look at him, With feeling that
the glory was not all taken from his back with
the saddle and holsters. 'Old Witty is a COM
pact hardy, well proportioned animal, less of
battle-steed in appearance, than of the style
usually defined by the phrase family horse
slightly knock-kneed, and with tale Il after
wards learned) very much thnned by the nume-
rous application for 'hair of him for memory
He had evidently been long untouched with
curry-comb, and like other celebrities for wan,
of an occasional rubbing DOWN there was a lit
tie too much of himsefin lis extcripr--the name
of 'Old Witty indeed hardly describing with
fidelity coat so matted and yellow. But, re-
Hemberng the beatings Of the great heart he
had bourne upon his baCk--the anXieties. the
energies, the defiances of danger, the iron inn
pulses to duty, the thrills of chivalrc triumphs
and the sad turnings of the rein to see brothers
IN arms laid In the grave ofthc battle -tield--rc-
membering all that has been tho ght and felt in
the saddle which that horse was wont to wear
it was impossible to look upon him without
throb in the throat-one of those unbldden and
unreasonng tear-throbs, that seem to delight in
paying tribute, out of time and uneXacted, to tri-
tles that have belongings of glory. We saw
Gen. Taylor himself. for the first time the next
day--with more thought and reverence, fcourc,
tba, boJ hoop b,, lo,l.ir,r b,l
horse-but not with half the emotion.
The hero-Prcsidcut has been more truth |
fully described than any nan VIC ever read
much Of before seeing. One who had not
learned how extreme touch, in manners-thc
most courtly polish and the most absolute sim
pcity- ght be surprised, only, with that |
complete putting Of every one in his presence
at ease, which is looked upon in Engand as the
result of high breeding and which Gen. Tay-
lor's manners effect, without the slightest
thought given TO the matter apparently, and /
with the fullest preservation of dignity. Rough .
and Ready-in this way-an English Duk? .
would be, as well; and, by the way, his rcaii |
ness is ofsmplcty and genuinencss W ch t is .
wonderful indeed to find so high on the ladder |
Of preerment There were but six or eight .
persons in the room, when the party we accom-
panied were presented TO the President and |
the conversation, for the ten minutes we were
there, was entirely unstudied, and between |
himself and the ladies' only. But We should .
have been anywhere struck with the instant
directness, obvlousness, and prompt and cioSe
hitting immeiidieReSS with which he invariably |
replied to what was said. Let 1t be over 50
mere triile, the return thought was from the .
next link Of association.
Most great men, diplomatis,s, and politicians
particularly, 90 about the BUSH little for
reply to a remark, omittrg the more obvious
and simpler answer it might suggest, for the
sake, perhaps, of an appearance of seeing more
scope in the bearing of the matter. But Tay-
lor-(we thought we could make certain, even
from these few brief moments of observation)--
has no dread of your seeing his mind exactly |
as it works and has no care, whatever, ex-
cept to think and speak truthfully what comes
first regardless of any policy, or management
of its impression on the listener. The KEY of |
his voice, at the same time, is that of thorough
frankness, good humor and unconsciousnegs Of
observation while his smile is easy and hab- |
tua. The grace with which these out-of-door
characteristics accompany mouth of such in
domitable resolution, and an eye of such search
ing and inevitable keenness, explain, perhaps.
the secret of the affection that is so well known
to have been mingled with the conGding devo-
ton felt for him throughout the army. Iti
possible to look upon the old hero, we should