Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-09-17
JOHN TAYLOR,
The Tipon Of the Backwoods Bar and Pulp
BY CHARLES suMMERFIELD.


can never forget my first vision of John
Taylor 1t was in the Court House at Lewis
burg, Canway county, Arkansas, in the sum-
mer;of 1888.
The occasion itself possessed terrible inter
est vast concourse of spectators had as
sembled to witness the trial of young and
beautiful girl, on an indictment for murder
The Judge waited,at the moment for the Sher-
iff to bring in his prisoner, and the eyes of the
impatient multitude all centered on the door;
when suddenly a stranger entered, whose ap-
pearance riveted universal attention.
Here is his portrait-a figure tall, lean, sin
ewy and straight as an arrow; face sallow !;
bilious, and twitching necessarily with ner-
vous irritability brow broad, soaring, mas
sive, scanned with wrinkles, but not from age
for he was scarcely forty, eyes reddish yell
low. like the wrathful eagle as bright and pier
sing; and finally, mouth with lips of cast
iron, thin, curled, cold and sneering, the in
tense expression of which looked the living
embodiment of an unbreathed curse. He was
habited in suit of new buck-skin, ornamen-
ted after the fashion of Indian costume, with
,hues of every color of the rainbow.
Elbowing his way slowly through the crowd,
and apparently unconscious that he was regar-
ded as a phenomenon, needing explanation,
this singular being advanced, and, with the
naughty air of king ascending the throne,
seated himself within the bar, thronged as it
VA, with the disciples of Coke and Blackstone,
several of whom, it was known, esteemed
themselves as far superior to those old and ia
nous masters.
The contrast between the outlandish gart
and disdainful countenance of the stranger,ex
cited, especially, the risibillity of the lawyers
ond the junior members began suppressed
litter, which grew louder, and soon swept a
rDund the circle.
They doubtless supposed the intruder to be
some wild hunter of the mountains, who hat
never before seen the interior of hall OF jus
tice. Instantly the cause and object of th'
laughter perceived it, turned his head gradu
ally, so as to give each laugher look, his lip
curled with a killing smile of infinite scorn
his tongue protruding through his teeth, lite
rally writhed like serpent, and calculated it
sap-like poison in single word.
"Savages!''
N o pen can QeScrlDe tne uelaHt lorCe NHiCi
ne threw into that term no pencil can pain
che internal furore of his utterance, although
II hardly exceeded a whisper. But he accent
ed every letter as if it were seperate ennis
sion of fire that scorched his quivering lips
laying horrible emphasis on both at the be
ginning and end of the word
"SavageS!''
1t the growl of red Tiger in the his
OF Rattle-snake.
s:Sauages 20
The general gaze, however, was immediate
-ly diverted by the advent of the fair prisone
who then came in surrounded by her guard
The apparition was enough to drive sair
mad. For hers was style of beauty to b'
wilder the tamest Imagination, and melt tn
coolest heart, leaving in both imagination an
heart cleaning picture, enameiied IN III
ond fixed in a frame of gold from the stars
TWAS the spell of an enchantment to be fe
as well as seen. You might leei II III 'io ii'a
Of her ceuntenance, clear as sunoeem' ori
liant as the iris; in the contour oil her le'
tures. symmetrical as if cut by the chisei
nm artist in her hair of rich auburn rIngie
flowing without a braid, softer thal siih' n"'
than gossamer; in the eyes, blue as tie he'
en- of southern summer, large, liquid, Deaill
in her motions, graceful, swimming IKE u
gentle waftures of 4 birds wing IN the SUM
air: in the figure, slight, ETHEREAL, syipn,s Oh
seraph's and more than all, in the everlaS
ing smile of the rosy lips, so arched. 50 :,
rene, SO like starlight, and yet possessing |, '
power Of magic or Of magnetism to thrill L
beholder's heart.