New Orleans daily crescent., 1860-11-19


/ "What did he do, thatpeople thought him mada'
"Do, sir? Why, he would stand at the very edge
of the cliff where the Flagstaff now is and talk by
the hour-sometmes for Two hours or three hours
together; and so loud would he speak at times that
you might hear him a quarter of q mile off, his
!, right arm moving about above his head, and his
left hand clenebed firmly on his hpn (rhe old
, man stood up and initiated the great orators att
, tnde) z" AT low water he would 40 and stand on
| those black rocks yonder and talk seemingly to
| the waves. When he once began he never stopped
till it was all over, and have seen the perspira.
ton running down his forehead, even in cool
weather. He never kept his hat on while he was
speaking; but as soon as he was done he would
/, put it on, and sometimes laugh heartily. He used
| to talk like man who had something on his mind
which he could not divuge to his tellow-creatures;
aud yet he did not seem to care who heard him
speak. | and several other young men have been
within six or seven yards of him, and, although he
saw us, he took no more notice of us than if we
had been parcel of sticks or stones and went
on talking just the same. He had been down here,
oil and on, for more than two years before ii was
/ known that he was the famous barrister Erskine,
and then it was only by accident that we knew he
| was not mad"
"How? ~ 2.=...= ...t -u.sI
i "0none Saturday afternoon he brought down
4 with him young gentleman Of about twenty years
of age, who walked about the pier while Mr. Frs
kline was making speech out upon the rocks.
One of the men on the pier remarked to this young
gentleman, What pity that such fine man, and
such a pleasant spoken man, when he is calm,
4 should be so nad' Whereupon the young gentle-
man roared with laughter. and then let the cat out
| Of the bag by saying who his friend was. 1t was
afterwards that and several others then here, but
4 now gone to their account came to know him SO
we'll And right merry gentleman he could be,
too. lord bless u.s. sir swift time flies, it seems
! only US yesterday that he would come down here
and say to us as he made his way to the elif with
his hands in his byeeehes pockets, and walking like
q sailor (he had been in the navy, you know, sf):
Come along, my lads, and be the jury | am 60
ing to make another speech And q most beanti-
full thing it was to listen to him. One minute he
/ would make you laugh heartily, and the next
minute he'd bring the water into your eyes, by the
tender wGy in which he'd alude to fading flower
or siekly child. There was one ease in particular,
| remember. It was an action brought against
| Mr.. Somebody or other by lords eldest sou, for
| carrying OFT the wife. ltwas most beantiful--as
we told him when he asked Us how we liked it.
Best if he didn't raaEe out as how the defendant
was the illused party, and not the man as had lost
his wife. Expensive as travelling was in these days,
i've of us went up to London to hear him speak
| that speech in court before the Judges and the
regular sw6rn jury and such crowd as there was
OF lords AMI gentlemen, to be sure! ~
g And did he speak that same speeoh2n ]
asked. eG.@ y.
.. Yes. In parts it was little different, and
some things were added; but was, i'll the main,
der. There was no silly pride about Mr.. Erskine,
sir. AS soon as the case was over, and he was
coming out of court, his quick eye caught sight of
u.s. and up he comes, puts out his hand to each Of
us anu says WlaG! you mere, my ladSE We'll,
/ follow me.p And he walks off to an old public
house near tie court called The Chequers, and
orders two bottles OF port wine for us and, while
we were drinking it, explained to US as how it
not possible for him to win the day; end that all
the effect his speech would have, would be to re-
duce the damages. lie was mighty pleased TO
hear himself praised, and seemed just as proud Of
/ our approval as Of apybady's else. don't think
sir,n continued Tie old men, " that Mr.. Erskine felt
any of the fine things he said ia his speeches. 1t
] vas ai acting with him, and I'LL tell you why
| ttink so. One day lie was Walking along the
| sands, spouting Of poetry out Of q bo0k.-he was
learning of it, for he read it over and over agan-
| and while he was doing SO he turned up his eyes,
shook his head, and stretched forth his right hand
| in such way that you might have taken him for
| street parson II was most serious sort of
I poetry.
1t was something about Farewell the drums
aud flies, the banners and the big guns-and the
planes and the feathers, cooked hats and swords,
| and the grtuGus wars and the fair women
| honoTs decorations, and rewards o farewell
everything Alas. the poor fellows occu-
| patton's goueN All OF a sudden, SIR he shuts
| up the book, elaps il under his arm, whis-
| ties jig, and dances to ii, and remarkably we'll
| toe, did he come the double shuttle. Another
| time, when lie was reading out poetry, saw him
work himself up till the tears actually rolled down
| his cheeks and not two minutes afterwards he
was playing at FOUNDERS with all the little boys
the beach"
And did Mr.. Erskine know, asked the old
smuggler, !" that at first you all thought that he
was mad ~
+" Yes; and was very much amused at it. And it
is to be hoped that you will not take offence be-
cause the people here had the same opinion of
yourself.'
g But, my good sr.'' remarked, they are still
laboring under the Impressions
Very true,' he rejoined; ''but it will be all
right in day or so.n
On the following morning Roberts wife was
taken suddenly i'll and sent for the DOCTOR |
very able practitioner, and very gentlemanlike |
man. He came; and after seeing his patient, |
and assuring me that the case not one Of se-
rious nature, we entered into conversation upon |
general matters, during which mentioned what |
had happened on the previous day. The doctor |
laughed and said:
81 hope you will not be offended, but do YOU
know that only till the other day, when, by the |
merest accident, became acquainted with the ma |
tnre of your aEocaton, too shared the opinion of
the inhabitants of the town. Yesterday evening |
heard of your peregrinatons and of the groundless
alarm that you had created. However, | nave |
have taken the liberty OF disabusing the minds of
the people of their erroneous idea; and you will |
find that when you next pay them visit, you will |
meet with very warm reception, and most proba- |
bly, have rendered unto you the most ample apollo.
ges.N
Reader such was the case, aud never enjoyed |
myself more than did at that little watering place
during the ensuing summer Butamongst some OF |
the rising generation the original impression stil |
holds, fancy; iuasmuch as two years agoI was
walking down one of the back streets--naetttotns
rettgdi'aat-when heard little girl. of about ten
years of age, call out to younger sister, tCome
you here, Polly! don't you see that mad gentle
man2"
AN IMMENSE Stock OF Dry Goons AT PANIC
Prices Everybody knows the magnificent store Of ses,Fs
e Reilly Co.. No. 1Sl Canal street everybody has adj
med the many beautiful things therein contained Therefore
we know there VIII excitement this morning. when
becomes known that this honse have to sell their
stock real saorifeeo mark down their prices completely
and thoroughly paFeis in the power every one
very small outlay cash. wear a4 beautiful goods a.
were ever brought this city That this action the part
p o. Iy- .,5II f=1Tz- =