The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-12-24

ed copies to be struck off in handbill form; ane
\ that he Mr.. Key believed it to have been ia
vorably received by the Baltimore public
Er Judge Nicholson and Mrs. Key were nearly
connected by marriage Mrs. Key and Mrs, Mich
olson being sisters. The Judge was man o
cultivated taste, and had at one time been dis
tinguished among the leading men in congress
and was at the period of which I am speaking
chief-justice Of Baltimore and one of the Judge:
ofthe court Of appeals, of Maryland Notwith
standing his judicial character, which exemp
ted him from military service, he accepted the
command Of volunteer company Of artillery
And when the enemy approached, and an at
tack on the fort was expected, be and his com
pany offered their services to the governmen
10 assist in its defence. They were accepted
and formed part Of the garrison during the
I bombardment The judge had been relieved
| from duty, and returned to his family only the
night before Mr.. Key had showed him his song
And you may easily imagine the feelings with
which, at such moment, he read it, and gave
it to the public. 1t was, no doubt as Mr.. Key
modestly expressed it, favorably received. In
less than an hour after he had leftit in the hands
of the printer it was all over town, and hailed
with enthusiasm, and took its place at once as
a national song
Ihave made this account of "The Star-spar-
gled Banner" longer than intended, and find
that I have introduced incidents and persons
outside of the subject originally contemp plated
Butt have felt melancholy pleasure in recall
ing events connected in any degree with the life
of one with whom was so long and so close
| ly united in friendship and affection; and whom
| SO much admire for bis brilliant genius, and
for his many virtues. lam sure, however, that
neither you or any of his children or descen-
dants will think the account have given them
! too long. With great regard sir,
YouS friend, truly, R. B. TANEY
AN INCIDENTAL friend who was an old ac-
quaintance of the late honorable SiIas Wright,
related to us an anecdote of that distinguished
man, which he received from his own lips, and
as we have never seen it in print we give it to
our readers:
Mr.. Wright left his home at an early age to
''seek his tortune,' having by way of earthly
possessions pair of saddlebays. small lot OF
clothing, and five hundred dollars in money,
which was in bills, and was deposited in his sad
dlebags He took a westward course, and in
travelling one day he overlook an old man with
a wagon and furniture and a span of old horses,
apparently emigratiny. There was nothing
particularly attractive at first view in the per-
son or his equipage; but upon closer inspection
beautiful young lady, evidently refined and in
telIigent. They journeyed onward toward Ge-
neva, chatting costly together, when suddenly
the old man recolected that he wished to get
his money changed at the Geneva bank; and
to reach that place before the close of bank
hours, he proposed that young Wright should
take his seat beside the beautiful daughter, and
allow him to mount Wrghts horse and hasten
forward. Half-smtten by the charms of the
young lady, Silas gladly accepted the PROPOSE
ton, and leapng from the horse, allowed the
old man to mount and make off with all his
earthly possessions, money inclusive, without a
second thought.
/ "Pnrdl, tla ho,,,, 3 f'r..l~h~ --~-tL7--',
these two young and gifted beings pursued thei
course (qute leisurely it may be surmised) to
wards their journeys destination. On arriving
at Geneva, Mr.. Wright drove to the principa
tavern and left his lady; but then, for the frs
time, shade of anxiety crossed Ylis mind fol
the safety of his fine horse and his money. HI
went to all the public houses, but could hear o
no such man as he described he beat up to the
quarters of the cashier of the bank, and learn
ed TO his additional concern, that such man
had called at the bank, and endeavored to GET
some money changed, which he had declined
doing, as the notes were counterfeit.
Our future statesman then came to the con.
clusion that he had made crooked start in life
,o1l, of II
dilapldated wagon, and a span of worn out horses
for new wardrobe, fine horse and five hundred
dollars. Ay, but then there was pretty daugh
ter; but her he could not keep as personal prop
erty, without her own CONSENT and withou
money he hardly wanted wife. He was a
his wits end, and just concluded to make the
best of a bad bargain, when the old man made
his appearance with horse and money all safe
1t turned out that the money which the cash
ier had thought to be counterfeit was not SO
and the mistake had given the old man the trou
BILE to 60 to some distance to find an acquan
tance who might vouch for his responsibility il
case of trouble and this occasioned his mysterl
Gus absence. In the sequel, the beautiful daugh
ter became the wife of the future governor ane
statesman.
ABus1NEss MANA young man ofthis coun
ty, says the Louisville Courier, of thc1 s}th be
came betrothed to young lady residing in th
city, the only child of a widow who is possess
ed ofsome property. We will suppose the young
! lady was here at school and that the mother wa
much in the country, occasionally visiting he
daughter here. At all events, as report goes
the young fellow addressed note to the widow
desiring an interview in the city if she were soo1
! to be here, otherwise, he would meet her in thu
country, saying he had some important busi
ness to transact with her. As the day for nup
tials had been fixed by the young people with
out obtaining the mothers final consent, sh
supposed very naturally that it was with a view
of gaining her appreciation of the match in du
form that the interview was sought.
The young chap was punctua. In bust
ness-likc manner, and without unnecessary Ger
emony, he made known his business. He COOL
informed the lady that his object in meeting he
was to ask her to make the deeds of her prop
erty over to her daughter before the union witt
her, which had been fixed for the next day, coult
| be consummated. At the same time he mad
some remark to herindcating that he knew wha
! ,,,,artu cba bad Tho ladv desired to knoy