Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-10-25
TOM BENTON.
sons New Anecdotes Of Him.

Correspondence of the Cincinnati Commercial.
The pleasantest bit of street in Wash
ington is G street, or rather that block of
it which runs between Trinity church and
the new Methodist metropolitan" on
Four-and -a-half street,
In this street, where are the residen-
ces of Judge Casey, John C. Rives, and
many other lights and by-gones, lived
Thomas II. Benton, the great Missouri
senator. His brown stone house is still
an ornament to the street, and every day,
wrapt in his great blue coat, folding it
around him like Roman senator, with
his tall hat pulled down to a peak at the
brim, his high, black stock and standing
collar, his large, positive feet, and his
long, stately stride, Senator Benton was
seen descending the steps of his house, tax
ing turn around the corner into Four
and-a-half street, and thence descending
block atShillington S at the west corner
Shillington is a periodical dealer, pub
Usher, and stationer, popular with those
whom he loves, and his power of recollec-
tion is great. He told story the other
night, which he declared to be new for
print, and as one of the participants is still
living, and journalist, he may deny it if
it be untrue. I give it as Shillington
tells it;
Next door to Shillington's, on Penn
sylyania avenue, a fellow came one day,
about 1850, and opened a show He
had music playing at the doors hurdy-
gurdy, or something across the
pavement stretched gorgeous transpar-
ency to the effect
1.-THE Rocky Mountain Pony, Cap
tured by Capt. John C. Fremont, United
States Army, On Exhibition here"
at is neither horse, nor stag, nor ante
lope, but a marvellous combination of
them all an. extraordinary nondescript,
the puzzle of the faculty, the miracle of
nature, the admiration of the world"
The day after this spectacle opened,
DR.. Wallace, now of the New York Her
aid, favorite of Benton, was looking
over the papers in Shillington's, when
Col, Benton, in his pOnderous and stately
way, turned the corner, coming down
-Four -and-a-half street. He heard the
music of the hurdy-gurdy, and, seeing
the great painted canvas over the pave
ment, he folded his cloak around him and
proceeded to read the INSCRIPTION. As he
did so, his eaglish nose began to expand
his whiskers brushed forward like gun
swabs, began to curl his gray eyes looked
famine.
Wallace, inoffensively reading the pa
pers, was suddenly disturbed by the
colonel laying violent hands upon him.
Here, sir You! want you sir p
Said in his deepest and most dreadful
tones.
He put his talons into Wallaee's
shoulder, lifting him almost off his feet,
showed him ahead, and poked him along
into the street and up the pavement. At
the door of the show he took Wallace by
the nape of the coat collar and gave him
a chuck upstairs.
Stop, said the Snowman, you have
not paid your admission.
How much, sir, is it2" said Benton,
terribly; "what is your fare, sir ?"
"Quarter of dollar"
Benton produced the quarter, and
handed it over graciously. Then he
chucked Wallace further up stairs.
$50 on, sir, / want you for witness"
Stop cried the Snowman below to
Benton, who had pushed by him, 81
must have your fare too y
I don't recognize you, sir, cried
Benton; ego on, to Wallace.
Wallace, in great CONSERVATION to
know what this meant, was propelled into
the show room, while the door-keeper
followed hard after to recover his money.
There stood the woolly horse, eccen-
trio, indeed, at his ruminations, divided
from the people by rope. Across this
rope the colonel vaulted. He fixed his
talons in the nondescript's wool, with
another grip upon the crupper, and, at
jerk, tore away hide, horns, and the
whole outrigger of the quadruped.
There, said the colonel, in a scream,
standing upon his hide like an eagle up
on a sheep, You are an impostor, sir
You slander, in this imposition, an officer
of the army. l give you twenty-four
hours to leave this city. DepartF'
He slung Wallace aside, paying no
more attention to him, and stalked up |
toward the capitol.
Shillington says that in ten minutes
there wasn't vestige of the Snowman
left. Dray, horse, hurdy-gurdy and
canvas folded their wings like the Arabs,
and silently passed away.
At another time, Corbin, the clerk of |
the Senate committee, who had been a
and had recently gone over to
the anti Benton faction, came into Shil-
lipgton's while Col. Benton was reading |