New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1862-03-24
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, From .hs G. osg.a Conntr, man. j

Il Es.5- FROM ms IN osga Country mani
Roman youth complaining to his N other that
bis sword was too short, the stern natron replied
"'Then, my son, take another step forward! !i %&s
Southern people should not complain OF o want
common blacksmith in the country can make q
pike or bowie knife. The best fighting ever done
III the world has been done with short weapons ~
| We quote from the Autocrat of the Breakfast
Table, who although Yankee--whick, We think.
he is not 10 blame for being, as be could not help
its, nevertheless, so far as we know, mp to ths
| time, gentleman and man of sense. We quote
| from Dr. Holmes as follows t.ts ne y t4E.t &.sgg
"We 1.-THE amercansI are the Romans of the
modern world-the great assimilatiRg people.
Cont1icfs and conquests are, OF course, necessary
accidents with US, as with our prototypes. nd
SO we come to this style Of weapon. Our army
sword is the short, stiff, pointed gtudus of the
Romans; and the bowie-knife is the same tool,
modified to meet the wants of civil society. L
announce ut this table an axiom not to be found
| in Montesqueu or the Journals of Congress: 8is
| The race that shortens hts weapons lengthensI
its boundaries.
/ Co,7'oUary. It was the Polish lance that left
Poland at last with nothing of her own TO bound
Dropped from her nervelass grasp the shattered spear.
| What business had Sarmatia to be fighting for
liberty with tifteen-foot pole between her and;
| the breasts of her enemjes If she had Init
| cIutched the old Roman and young American
weapon and come to close quarters, there might
have been q chance for her; but it would have
spoiled the best passage ia The Pleasures of
| So says DR.. Holmes. Now let US quote from an
| other Yankee authority. In the New American
| Cyclopadia we find the following:
- Boloie- Kaite, an Americau weapon similar to
the French couteau de chassc, except that it has
but q single edge. According to rather doubtful
story 1t was first used by Col. Bowie, of Texas,
| who. in q contest with the Mexicans previous to
| the Texan revolution, had his sword broken of
within eighteen inches of the hilt. He is said TO
have subsequently, employed the fragment as q
kliie for iaLd,tp-hand fighting Was initiated
I'by others, and is now worn by all who have to
fear weapons, in the whole South aud West Of the
| United States.n5szA y..t4sG.7.ssjsst zST 5s 50 i
/ Put what the, Autocrat says and what the Cyclic
,pedia say together. The Autocrat says: 53 =
2'.The race that shortens its weapons lengthens5
Its boundaries. " w 4,8ias ~
/" What business had sarnatia to be fighting for
liberty with q fiftsenfoot pole between her and
the breasts Of her enemies? If $fle Had but
cutched the old Roman and young American
weapon, (the bowie knife y there would have beeM
| some chance for her.u . 5,sst ,g5 9,5E- ss,B
The Cyelopaadia says 6owie- knives are worn BY,
all whoh to bear weapons in the whole soutfs
Let, then, the whole South use these weapons, and
t;complain no more of q scarcity Of arms. What,
i business has she 10 be fighting for liberty With rifle
range between her and the breasts Of her enemies?
I Her bosyie.knife told with terrible effect upon her
/ epemiss at Manassas. Let it tell with the same
etfec. upon other battle delds and 10 future poet
l win haYe to sing of her that she f * EssE5,,.
" Dropped from her gasp he battered spear,
~ Clio ed her bright eye and crbed her high careef'