The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1869-12-04
Stephen A. Douglas.

! Stephen A. Douglas.
HOW HE LOOKED, DRESSED, AND
ACTED IN HIS YOUTH.
stephen A. Douglas first came
to reside in Springfield, ILL.,, some
time in April, 1887. He had al
ready served one term in the
Legislature, and had then recent
" been appointed by President
Van Buren, Register of the Land
office of that place. At the date
above mentioned he was a little,
active, wiry fellow, about five
feet, and weighed not more than
1lO pounds. He had a bearlless,
boyish face, dark blue lustrous
eyes, a short, thick neck, square
shoulders, and a large, round,
bushy head, which somehow seem
ed much disproportioned to the
size of. his Frame. He. dressed
plainly and rather slovenly, > for
his was scanty, and finances at-a
low ebb. Altogether he present
ed quite a youthful, and at first
view unp1epossessing appearance.
But he. was uncomlnonly quick
and vivacious in and
had an exllberant flow, of animal
spirits, which rendered him a de
lightful companion. OF a pecu-
liarly social truth, he soon made
the acquaintance and won the
heart of every citizen of the town;
and, what is more, like Themisto-
.cles of Athens, he knew them all
by name. He attended all the
local political gatherings, was
present at all the village frolics,
and took part in all manly pas
times of the day. He is said to
have been especially fond of wres-.
ting, and could throw a man
twice his weight. He paid ;assid-
uous court to the elderly DANES,
and danced with their young and
Interesting daughters; but in
threading the mazy meshes Of
Terpsichore he never was consid-
cred an expert. ~
He went about with his pock-
cts crammed with newspapers,
phamphlets and other political
documents, and when called upon
for speech, was ever ready. If
an opponent was to be demolish-
ed, there was no man so compe-
tent to the task, and he always
carried the record with him to
.substantiate whatever charge he
made. He was gifted in rare
degree with those peculiar quail;
ties of head and heart which
secure to their possessor the as
tendency and the leadership in
all matters of public concern
Even at that early period of his
fortunes his Democratic support
ers considered him a prodigy of
political WISDOM, consulted him
as they would an oracle, and pre-
dicted for him a high destiny.
But the more aspiring among his
Wing acquaintances, being jeal-
Gus, perhaps, of his rising reputa-
tIon ridiculed his pretensions.
Mr.. Douglas was then just enter
ing, as it were, upon his brilliant
and unexampled public career,
and was himself scarcely con
scious Of the possession Of those
amazing powers Of intellect which
qualified him for acting such a
distinguished part in national
affairs.-Sprinq7fe1d (IH.) Register.
+. Henry Ward Beecher some
times tells his congregation. that
it is, as hard for a rich man to get
to Heayen as it is, for camel to
go through the eye of a needle.
But as his income, which amount
ed to S2S,oOO last year, is very
small compared to that Of Stew
art, Or Vanderbilt or Astor,s he
thinks he can, induce ST., Peter to
look upon it as a mere trif1e, and.
to admit him for his piety. We
certainly wish him success in the
attempt, but would advise him
not to die with such an income
upon his soul. There is no tell
ing to what out-of-the-way place
its specific gravity might sink
him m.-I1YentiCe 80 '... '-t'