The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-08-02

with us whether he is the more noted as a fu
elist or a duelist We can say little more
of him than he was Of Southern, but honest
parents, and has acquired some fame as ar
artillerist by the management of the celebra
ted Buchanan, which will be discharged on
the 4th of March next. Mr.. Breck;nridge
is rather sharp in conversation, as is proved
by the following
| ANEcDoTE.
| In the rear Of Mr. Breckenridge's private
residence is green sward, on which is 10.
Gated pen for hogs. One day, while he
was standing by his pen Cthcn empty) with
a friend, watching the motion ola hog that
was luxuriously roofing the sward before
them, one of the negroes came from the
house and filled the trough of the pig-pen
with swill, and looked wistfully toward the
pen, and then back at the place where he
had been roofing, as though undecided what
ITO do about it. FINALLY, however, the swill
prevailed, and, with decisive grunt the hog
trotted toward the pen.
Turning toward his friend, Mr.. Breckin-
ridge said:
eff that hog could speak, what line of
Bulwer's drama of Richilieu, might he ap-
propriately quote ?'' d..
The friend didn't know.
"Why," exclaimed Mr.. Breckenridge, che
might truly say: The pen is mightier than
the sward y"
That night the friend died of the measles.
LIFE OF SAMUEL HOUSTON.
" BYA wELL-KNowN AUTHOR.
General Samuel Houston was born at San
Jacinto, Texas, on the 4th of July, 1776, and
whipped Mexican baby before be was hall
a year old. at the age of three years he
electrified the universe thus: ....
Having been taken by his parents to see a
foot-race between two noted Indian runners,
he turned to his father and asked:
"Why is patron of foot-races like a phil
anthropist?'' p
II know not, my angle boy, returned the
venerable Houston: . .s .-.
Because" said Samuel, she is friend to
human progress"
After this, the family compelled him to
wear cold brick on his head and it is said,
that even now, while at Washington, he
sometimes carries the article in his hat. At
the period when Texas rose in rebellion
against the Mexicans, because the latterkept
getting up resolutions among themselves ev-
cry afternoon, Mr.. Houston was chosen
General ofthe patriots, and completely de-
feated the revolvers at San Jacinto. In con-
nection with this battle, and by way of illus
trating Gen. Houston's great precision of
speech, they tell an
ANECDoTE.
Toward the conclusion of the battle of San
Jacinto, Texas Ranger dashed fiantically,
into tent where Houston was asleep, and
aroused him with the exclamation of:
General, the day is ours"
"You illiterate fellow" exclaimed the
brave old sol-lier, scowling at the frightened
fellow, "why can't you speak properly p
You should say, the day is composed OF
hours
The abashed ranger muttered something
about his being soldier, and knowing moth
ing about time, wherupon Houston again
reprimanded him. with:
"Know nothing about time, you raseally
scoundrell There is but one time that an
American soldier knows anything about,
and that is fly time.'
The Ranger deserted that night.
When General Houston was informed
that he had not been nominated by the
Charleston Convention, he pressed his hand
kerchief to his tear dimmed eyes, and ex,
claimed hurriedly: ....
81 accept. Go and tell the people that
accept for their sakes."
Samuel Houston was unanimously nom
mated for the presidency by the Washington
Monument Convention of this city, and vii
probably receive votes in every State excep
| Texas. The assertion that he should have
been nominated as Vice-President of tht
Douglas ticket, on account of his many vices
is unworthy of attention for moment.