The Van Buren press., 1873-04-22
Sam Houston's Razor.
an Incident OF the Days When He Wa
a Cherokee.
81 Louis 1ymes.

tile Library hall, Tuesday night, Colons
E. C Boudinot told the following anec
dote:
In the Cherokee nation, upon the bank.
OF the crystal waters Of Grand river
General Houston. the father Of the Texas
republic, spent several years Of his event
full life.
After having been member of Con.
gress and the Governor of a great State
he cast his honors behind him as vanity
and vexation of spirit He went to the
Cherokee nation, about forty four years
ago, and at once identified himself with
l"e manners sn customs Of tn, half civ.
ilizcd Cncyokecs of that day. He dressed
in buckskin leggings, hunting shirt and
moccasins, married Cherokee woman,
becoming thereby citizen Of the Chero-
kee aation. aud built cabin near Fort
Gibson, on Grand ryer. The building
at this day is pointed out to the traveller
us " the house where Sam Houston lived
when he was Cherokee.
But the struggle for the independence
OF Texas enticed him from his Indian
home, and he once more entered the lis,
for rank and fame
Ar interesting incident OF his depart
ure from the Cherokee nation for Texas
has been related to me BY Major Elias
Rector, Of Arkansas, better known in
song AS "thc fine Arkansas gentleman,
close to the Choctaw line "
Major Rt.at,r OF b, hausn Of ,an
eral Houston when he decided to go to
Texas, and travelled with him some dis
tancc on the journey, They were very
warm friends, General Houston always
addressing Major Rector as My boy.
Arriving at the point where their
routes divcrged, they halted to exchange
II few parting words. Houston at that
time was very intemperatc. He pulled
from his saddle bags bottle of whisky
and proposed TO take a farewell drink
AS he held it in his hand, Major Rector
thus addressed him: Governor, you
are n much older man than and it may
look prcsumptous for me to advise or
counsel you, but admire es ecm and
love you, and wish you tv make me one
promise
Houston responded, My boy, | will
do anything for you; what shall it be y
That you will not drink any more in
toxicating liquors. answered Rector
Houston hesita' ed Il moment, then rails
ing his magnificent form in his strrups,
he dashed the bottle upon q rock ex-
claiming, "lou shall have your wish,
my boy"
Rector then took from his saddle, bags
a razor. and said "Govcrnor, here is a
little present desire you to accept it
may be Of service to you sometimes
take ii, and whenever you put it to your
face think Of me
Houston took the razor, clasped with
the fingers Of his left hand the sleeve OF
his buckskin hunting Shirt, and slowly
and thoughtfuly strapped the razor upon
it, then turning to Rector his eyes lit up
with the fires of prophecy and genius, he
said Thank you my boy; the next
time you see me, this razor will have
shaved the face Of a president Of a rcpuG.
lie " oeh
Thus these tW5' ,rfna SaPSrated. Be
fore they met again years passed, years
Of strife and war, and stirring incident
which flied the world with the name and
fame Of the hero Of San Jacinto.
Well the country remembers how after
being the leader Of victorious armies, and
president of the Republic OF Texas. Gen.
cral Houston took his seat in the United
States Senate, tit companion Of the in
tellectual giants of that day
Shortly after General Houston took his
seat in the Senate, Major Rector went te
Washington, and the first call he made
was on the old friend from whom he had
parted under such singular circumstances
in the wilds Of the Cherokee Nation. As
Rector entered the room of the Senator
the latter was busily engaged in writing
and did not recognize his visitor. In his
usual courtly and polite manner, Houston
said Take seat, sir | will be al
leisure in a moment
The GOODNESS Of this reception cut
Rector to his generous heart, and, chok
ing down his emetio !, he said:
~ see you are busy, Governor; will
call again. "
Houston recognized the voice Of his
friend, threw himself upon his knees by
the side Of Rector, and putting his arms
around him, asked. with tears of JOY in
his eyes:
"My boy, is it your told you that
razor you gave mo would shave the flce
OF a president Of a republic