Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1868-12-12
wEyERDx JOHNSON.

Inc WssHlbStOn toIiesponoeut VI tuo Oh
Louis Democrat gives the following interest
ing personal history of Reverdy johnson:
The old legal and social acquaiutances of
Mr.. johnson say this Il quote the exact
words, very nearly, from leading lawyer of
Frederick, Maryland):
Eyes, sir Reveray is thorough patriot.
His attitude at the beginning of this war
was as. rosolute as prize fighters. He is a
perfect bull dog even at his age of seventy
five, and woul6 fight duel to day as quick
as he would eatn
i thought his remarkable trait was his want
of moral frmness and his abiding amia-
bility."
odd he ever fight9"
IL am not aware that he did, but after the
allure of the Bank of Maryland, in which
Als name was associated with much rep-oach,
Mr. Johnson challenged number of people
and permitted none to escape without
apology. He lost his eye, you know, be-
sause of duel"
"How cid he lose that eye, eirs ?"
"Well North Carolina Congressman
named Stanley, had been bull.ragsing Henry
A. Wise, with the determination to make
the latter fight or be frightened Wise
finally resolved to suffer this thing no more,
but to bring it to head. So, at horse
race near Washington City, he ran his horse
violently against Stanley's, and then, pre-
tending to believe that Stanley was the ag
gressor, turned sharply round and cut the
latter with stick. Stanley had to chal-
lenge Wise, Of course, and he went to Rever-
dy's neighborhood, near Baltimore, to learn
how to use the pistol. Some say Reverdy
| u.oc fao al ta rl,,
wen. out to see him fire one day Stanley g
bullet struck tree and glanced, shot Rever-
dy in the eye, brought him down, and nearly
killed him. Ee lay in bed long while, his
life despaired oS. The friends of Stanley
ald Wise stopYed the duel, and Reverdy' e
misfortune Nas kept out of the papers,"
"Does that lost eye give Mr.. johnson any
trouble now a.dsys2"
''Yes, sir. A cataract has formed over his
other eye, and he is next to stone blind
They show him good deal of attention in
England q get letters from hin), and he say,
that in the galleries of noblemen and gentle
men they show him a good many paintings
With the old fellows splsusible amiability
he replies that they are beautiful, but be
says he never sees anything at ALL"
"Was Rcvertly johnson q handsome mar
before he lost his eyer
wife, Mary Bowie, who is now with him in
Englaud-she and his con Edward, the latts
not very bright--was the most beautiful
woman in Maryland. She Was thh daughter
of Governor Bowie, an old Governor f TIT
state, relative collaterally of the presv4
Governor Bowie, and also of James Bowie
the inventor of the Bowie knife. She me
Reverdy at a party in Prince Georges coun
ty, not more than twenty miles from Wash
instor, and it was q clear case of love a
FIRST sight. She was poor and so was he, Ou
10th were eminently and gently connec
ted Rever5y owe, al lie is to his wife, a
his brother John, the Chancellor Of Mary
land, deceased, has often told ne; for sb'
was beautiful, fsithful, spirited and anibi
tious woman, and has kept him steady an,
earnest all his days. They have forty od'
grandchildren, and have had about tel
, children. This is their second visit to l3lg
land, having gone thther years ago, whel
Mary johnson was still handsome, and at
tracted much attention. At that time Re
J verdy was United States Senator, and Lore
Lyndhurst ans, many English nobemen wer
particularly attentive to him. He nance
; his ane es ate near Baltimore city Lyndhurst
{ on his rcl.!rs. and has been visited there b
a many Euglishmen and noblemen"
Said Mr. johnson: 81 have just receives
/. letter from Lord Stanley Of Haughto
9 Hall (aow English Minister of Foreign A
: fuirs"J
> why ~ said I, "this is the secretary vii
, whom Mr. johnson is now treating for tn
Alabama clamsrn
! THE samcl Lord Stanley and Mr.. Johr
, son are cid acquaintances and correspor
: dents"
q Reverdy is hearty but PLATA liver. II
mixes whiskey toddy before s.ianer, drink
half, eats, finishes the other na.f and the
= takes nap. He can ther get up and writ
: and prepare a brief all night.