The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-16
lITERA TU r E.


colt & Co.
A richly bound and finely printed work,
aboUnding In well-executed illustrations cannot
fail to be an attractive volume to the lover of
the luxurious in literature, but when It's diction
isIpure, its description graphic, and its subject
matter new, it is a welcome companion, friend
and an entertainer as well as an ornament. The
work of Colonel Marcy comes partially under
such a description. In some parts the author Is
inclined 10 be too diffuse, but as a whole it is
both original and well written, while all must
admire its Typography. Colonel Marcy in an
experience of thirty years, has been enabled to
colate vast supply ofmaterials, for which he has
coploUsly drawn on his "army life." 1t is full of
anecdote, adventure, and valuable information.
Many parts of 1t are of deep interest, and much
new light is lot in upon that rapidly diminishing
race, the prairie Indians The main portion OF
the work is generally SO continuous that we
cannot quote from it, but the more humorous
portion will we'll bear republication. The fol-
lowing excellent description OF frontiersman
we give entire:- 4H..J t
had made new road from New Mexico
that was extensively travel ed by Calitornla emil
grants, and was very great advantage to the
settlers along its line. Some years after its COM
pletion stopped over night with one of them,
Yirginian, who was delighted to see me, regarded
me as benefaCtor, would have liked to give me
a barbecue, extended the hospitalites of his
house, and said that could be elected to Con-
gres5 from that district. l thanked him for
his kind wishes in my behalf, and informed
him that ] should not be able to stay for
the barbecue, but that, if it was perfectly
convenient we would with pleasure dine with
him. After dinner hesitated for some time
about offering compensation to our host but
finally did so by asking him how much we were
indebted for our dinner. He replied, "only six
country was two bts.) As we were preparing
10 leave, he remarked, "You must give us cali
on your return, sir, and stay over night with us,
sir; want to show, you specimen OF genuine
old Virginia hospitality, sir.p He then directed
one Ofth negroes 10 bring up our horses; and,
as we were mounting, said, "Gentlemen, don't
give that boy Jake two bits apiece for taking care
OF your horses; don't do it, gentlemen" eve
had then made no demonstration towards re-
warding the boy.) From the price we paid for
our dinner, it occurred to me that If the bar.
bacue had come of, the Virginian's hospitality
might have proved rather an expensive affair
to me.
Again, referring to the well-known hospi-
tahty of Virginia, he says:- .'
"Are you gwine fur to jine ole Zack down in
Mexicow @ ..
mo, sir, the Mexican war is ended and we
are now on the way for the Choctaw nation.n
"Whar did ye come from, stranger?r
1--WE came last from Pascagoula." ...
"Mought you be the boss hossifer of that thar
armysn pointing to the men.
IL am the commanding officer of that detsch-
"Wall, Mr.. Hossifer, be them sure huff sogers,
or is they make b'lieVe chaps like seen down
to Orleans !" .. 10 II - Fs..l W.
They have passed through the Mexican war,
and trust they have proved themselves not
only worthy the appellation of real, genuine
soldiers, but of veterans SIR"
Now gest want to know one thing more,
boss; be them chaps reg'lars, or be they me-
lish ~
81 assure you that they belong to the regular
army OF the United States" -
Then, pointing TO my uniform, he added,
"Apperiently, then, fghtn's your tradep
age" replied.
WAR you at the Orleans fight, whar our boys
gin sich particular fits to ole Pack ?" (Packen-
ham suppose he meant.)
l answered that, though pretty old soldier,
my commission did not date quite SO far back
as 1874. e
''WalI ole boss, you moughtn't been thar,
but you amt no chicken now, suren He con-
tinued :-"0ne time me am him, Ike Thompson,
we went on sogerin' SPREE" -rE
"Ah! indeed; in what place did you serve,
prayw
''In SEVERAL places; but the last pop we fout at
the battle of the Hoss-shoe, whar we and ole
Hickry cleaned out the Ingines."
THAT was most decisive and sanguinary
battle" observed.
II calkerate, Mr.. Hossifer that war the most
de-cisivest and the most san-guin.ariest fight you
ever seen in all yer born days. We boys we up
and pitched in thar and we gin the yaller- bellies
the most porrticlar hail Columby. We chawed
nm all up; we laid um out cold'r nur wedge;
we Sdued every mothers son of um-we did that
thar little thing, boss.'
l replied that had no doubt very many of the
Indians were killed, but that had always been
under the impression that some OF them made
their escape; and, in fact, was very confident
that several Creek Indians were then living
upon the Canadian river who participated in
reckon'd not;" but, at all events, he was quite
certain ''ef any OF the dogond varmints did git
dway, they war ID badly wounded, sartln
sure"
He then produced bottle of whisky, and gave
me pressing invitation Ito liquor" remarGing
that 'he war not too proud to take horn with
a feller soger even if ne war regular"
After having taken the drink, he approached
me, and in a serious tone SAID, "Thars nary
paper tuck in this yere settlement but hearn
ten that Gin'ral jackson ar dead; maybe you
mought heerd some talk bout it as you comd
'long the road, strangerW
The author tells OF Virginan travelling in
the same locality, who, on testing the whisky o
his Arkansas host found it rather raw and un
palatable, and mixed it in the shape of mint
julep," which was novel idea to the Arkan
sian. The latter, however, was delighted with
the new style of drink, INDUCED in II quite libe
rally, and learned the method of concoctlng it
The mournful result is told thus
THE OLE MANS DEAD, STRANGER"
The Virginian continued on his journey
towards Texas, and in due course OF time set ou
to return. On arriving at the house before men
toned, he concluded he would call and renew hi
acquaintance with his friendly old host Ac
cordingly, he rode up to the gate, and seeinl
one OF the boys OF the family standing near
asked him, "How is the old gentleman, you
father, my sonN
The boy, with an air of the most perfect indit