Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-06-07
Painted to the Life.

WIgfaI Painted TO the Life.
Asa Trenehard, the piquRnt sketchy cor.
respondent Of the Philadelphia Press,
draws the following portrait of Senator
WigfaH, who, with JEFF Davis and TOOmbs,
has just taken up his quarters in Rich.
moud;-
Wigfall is in every way a notable and
noteworthy person. He is little squAtly
man, with hair ell over bis face. You have
seen plump English bull pup, half grown.
When such pup grOWls you may easily
imRgins the noble Wigfall, "fun Of sound
and fury" l will not add, "signifying
nothing" Wigfan is full of meaning, in
xplicable meaning, to judge by the very
smhll portion which has escaped him. He
belongs TO thatmy sierious, crusading blood,
which boils within so fercely, that nothing
but froth ever comes out Maybe you are
not aware that he shot Brooks Mr.. Sum
ner's assailant) in duel some twenty years
ago. And thus far he has his claims to re.
gard. he is moreover man Of rare ao-
oomplishments, is efficient as champion
agsinst the desperate tiger Of King Faro,
and can drink himself blind drunk as
quickly as any man. Moreover, Wigfall is
an expert broad swordsmAn, keen pistol
shot, and terrible sWearer All, but you
should hear him swear. Such variety Of
oaths--osths sentimental oaths refsreniial,
oaths common and osths proper, oaths, in
short, masculine, feminine, and neuter, Of
all sizes, shapes, and for every emergency,
real OF Imaginary. You straight laced
Quakers can't altogether appreciate the full
force, effect, service, prestige, Of fun,
round, unvarnished oath. With the chiv-
airy il is staple commodity Of most excel
lent quality. With our ancient cavaliers,
you remember, it was a weapon Of wonder
full prowess. It has not degenerated.
From "by my hslidom r to "damn your
eyes /" the expletive has gained strength,
versatility, melody Of rhythm, music of
dictiou, and force of character. Wigfsll
could illustrate the entire science, philo-
sophically trested, if he chose, with exam
pies, calculations, and limitations.
Wigfall, believe me- is no coward. He is
what might be ftly denOminated poetical
bully. Last fall, out in Texas, be got into
a dreadful row with A., friend of his.
StraightWay he sent 9 note, to wit;
"Compliments of Wigfan to A., and de-
sires to know if he will accompany him out
of the limits of the State,
TO which A. replies, instenter-
"A.'s compliments to Wigfs1l, begs to as
sure him that he tWigfaIl) is too id 3
coward to fulAl any such engagement if
entered into.n
Several days elSpse. A. hears nothing
of Wigfall. Atlength one rainy afternoon,
as he was sitting alone in his room writ
ing, gentle rap came upon the door "a rap
IS soft as the tap Of dove. Come in r
The door slowly opened, and there stood
WigfaIIl Well, A. said he, meekly,
q the lion and the lamb will sometimes meet
you know" "D-n5 you,p retorte1 A,
q which is the lion, and which is the lamb
here p Wigfall studieda q moment; heaV=
emily smile nOunted his unusually ruby
eouutenance; magnanimity, amiability, and
plant condeseension beamed out Of every
pimplei he pAused-butfOr mcment-and
HWeiI, a., old fellow, you shall be lion,
and I'll be lamb." ~ TtEr 0gr5gtlr
QuOth A., thereupOn; q Sit down, then,
and take little Of that whisky, and quit
making jack Of yourself"
On my honor, record but the simple
truth Of history, when I complete my story,
by assuring you that before leaving the
room, Wigfall had obtained a temporary
loan mot yet iquidated) Of Eve hundred
dollars -i- t--
! The thing called Chivalry" is a queer
jade. know of no more tilting, jilting,
flirting, delusiEe substance. Il is q good
deal like the toast Of Wigfall himself in
vinoi0le In peace, Invisible in WARP The
chivaliers wear long hair, like Samson Of
old, and Roger Pryor. They swear, too,
like forty-seYen pirates, and drink whisky
worse thrna a Camsnehe. They like eook-
tail better than coekade, but do not OBJ
ject to the latter, if it is tipped with er-
mine and turned up with gold lace. They
like to be patted upon the beck, eheered
and encouraged, and don't object to q puff
well Worded in the newspapers. Chivalry
is like q wssp, biggest when in the egg.
Ancient ohivslFy vas marked for ardor,
modern chivalry for sdrOitness the heroes
Of the Crusades exhibited much bOldness
and little discretion in getting into fight;
the modern hero illustrates the inverse
rule, and is much guided by one guardian
principle, @hoW to dodge bullet" BQbin
Hood was an ancient member Of olden chiy-
airy; Wigfall and Pryor of the modern.
4 aying ArfiiisrY Review, rs .7a