Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-03-27
General Jackson and the Turtle.


81 Among the many charges brought by the
opponents of General jackson against him,
to prove that, he was not fit for the Presi-
dency, was that he was iIlterdte and this
was the honest belief of great many eV-
.erywhere.
= During his administration a vessel ar
rived at Norfolk from the West Indies, and
on its deck were several sea turtles.
Among them was a giant OF reptile
which attracted the attention of every body
who went aboard. The captain had them
all taken on the wharf and exposed Tor
ie.6sAmong those who admired the huge
fellow above mentioned were several lead
ers of the ''unterriied," four or five OF
whom made up purse, bought the mon
ster. and by the next Washington boat sent
it lip as present to Old Hickory.
He was much gratified at such present,
and the inmates and visitors of the White
House enjoyed a rare treat In the way OF
59tHrtle soup of the most magnificent de-
,ecription.s @ t
The General wrote very polite note ac-
knowledging the receipt OF the present,
which was duly received by DR.. A, who
had sent it in the name of himself and his
other Democratic friends.
= Shortly after the receipt OF the Generals
answer. DIR. A. was hobbling along Main
street, and Just when nearly in front of
Mr.. BIS book store. he was hailed by five
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. as follows: r
"Well, Doctor, have you heard from the
General about your turtle?"
s, .sYes,' answered DR.. A, sand have his
reply in my pocket"
t'Let's see it let's see 1t u they all cried
in breath. -
: Here it is,'' DIR. A. replied.
He produced the note, and they read:
Gentlemen: thank you for the very
fine tortoise you so kindly sent me-" &c.
ssThere,n said one of the gentlemen, "we
al =
not write English, and now we know it..
Who ever heard of a turtle being called a
tortoise P'' - Eza 7s
isWiH you take a bet on ?" said A.
THAT we WILL" answered they, land we
will decide the point by going into friend
B,s.n s.s.5 sal s,,t 1, =resr ~
So i'm they went, and both parties agreed
to abide by the definition of certain die
tionary then the standard of the language.
One of them turned over its leaves till he
reached the word turtle The definition
was, "a bird of the dove kind" and in the
next line, this word is sometimes used to
designate the tortoise found on the shores
of the West Indies 1t is a corruption used
by sailors and izliterate people,
g Are you satisfied, gentlemenW eX-
claimed DIR. A.; II know you are not SAIL
oys. so. by your own authority, you are
tLtitefdte Be pleased to pay your bets, and
never after this say that General Jackson
can't write English" ial
nThey did as requested, giving each an
order for six bottles of Medeira; and, as
they went out of BIS, a bystander OBJ
served that there was in the ear of each a
very large flea.
xNECDoTE OF GENERAL JACKSON.
The following is related by F. w. Thorn
as. in his ASketches of Character"
"A vacancy occurred during his admins
tration in the bureau of one of the auditors,
and General Jackson wrote very strong
of recommendation to the auditor in
hoholt of a Young man from Tennessee,
with whose fitness and character the Gen
eraI was well acquainted. With the letter
in his hand the applicant called upon the
auditor, who replied that lie held the high
est respect for the Preside nts recommen-
dation. bat that Mr.. Burns came SO various
10 comDelfed to fill the vacancy with his
name. The applicant quietly took up his
letter and withdrew; and with Western
frankness, and somewhat chagr1ned, re-
haired to the White House and returned
the General his letter.
whats the matter?" asked the old
"He saws he cannot give it to me, Gen
asWhy not ?" was the gentle inquiry.
sHe savs he has the highest respect for
1onr recommendation. But Mr.. Burns is so
Stron0ly, and variously recommended that
be {. # compelled to give it to him."
..Mr. Burns is his relative, sir. Com
,,ol,ed to give it to him ~ And so saying,
he nnlled the bell sharply. Ito have the
HIGHEST respect for my recommendation, Is
to follow IT," (. +on
no auditor wish to see him. Keep your
,dot sir.n to the Tennessean.
Tn a few minutes the auditor made ms
.,3naorance. The General, whose placidity
6ad apparently returned to him, asked why
10 had not given the situation TO the young
r1o,tIeman whom he had recommended.
why. Mr.. President, Mr. burns Is SO
strongly recommended.
9. Enow Mr.. Burns, sir; he is your rel
4.,,a s;r and / also know this gentleman
J aI1 shonld like to know whose recon-
mendation is stronger gnan 81, S,,a' u 'iie
President of the United States ;. 8,
The Tennessean got the ONCE; ana IL Is
needless to say thar the audlbor calle near
losing his. --
xYrcruRER was dilating upon the pow
o,s ot the magnet, defyiDg any one 10 snow
e1s,ame ANYTHING surprising It's powers
Vl : hoa-er demurred, and instanced young
-, a Nv who used to attract him thirteen miles
every Sunday
..wv,1 wasn't that finished sermon we
,,od This his morning ?" asked one person oi
.o.i.er nsu Sn as they came out OF church,
i.o.E;nished ~ was the reply; yes, II was
e.;shnd at last, although began 10 Gnihk 1li
- .a1,nr yvould be"