The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-05-13


JAMES BOWIE.
10 the Editor Of The Ne'e York 9T'e""e:
sir.-I found this in your issue OF the 29th
instant: w.. >-o,,- %
Dostou a short time ago TOOK her seat I'D
drawinc.room car, the only occupants OF
which were TWO gentlemen one was sncN,
INC. tho other held a fresh and unlighted
c;c.r inst ready to apply the match. The
fair traveller did not like The odor OF smoke,
ard calmly remarked aloud tina: this was the
drawipg.room car, and they would please
find the smoking-car forward, for the smoke
was very Offensive to her. The gentlemen
removed the obnoxious weeds, but looked
extremely serious about it, and had word
ortwo with the conductor when that fnnc-
tiopary entered. He mildly requested the
lady to step into another car; but she was
comfortably seated, and declined TO move.
By aud by other gentlemen appeared and adj
dressed the woulG-he smoker as "Mr. Pre>l-
dent" and when atiasl some one let drop
the mystic word Grant" the abuse but
wcll.meaning dame recognized her COM
panion, AID, summoning the conductor,
sought another car"
It affords prominent illustration Of the
common fact that sell-iudulgcnce, Of what
ever kind, tends directly TO bad manners-l
may add, often 10 bad morals. A few days
after General Grant was inaugurated as Pre-.
sident the first time | went into the EXecu-
tive chamber With the Republican members
OF the PENNSYLVANIA delegation in the two
houses of Congress. Soon the President
came in with a cigar in his mouth, nodded ut
some Of the persons present, shook bands
with others, and while they resumed seats
took his stand near table, on which was a
pile Of books Leaning his left elbow on the
topnost book he pulled away the tobacco
smoke. The oldest member O! the deleSa-
ton, seated on sofa at my side, could hardy
restrain bis indignation. He whispered in
nv ear: 81 have been about the capital for
many years. and under different administra-
tionS, but have seen nothing to compare with
this" The President had patronage. The
senators and representatives wanted the DIS
pensalion of portions of it rs means for sus.
tanning themselves ut home, and they held in
check the natural disgust they felt.
remember story heard forty or fifty
years ago. \ stage.coach was going along
an Arkansas road. On the back seat were
three women; on the middle one, two men,
tall ard Muscular: while the forward seat
held only small man, wrapped upcompletely
in 4 blanket. Alter Il time one of the pow
erful men on the middle seat lit cigar and
smoked. The smoke went full in the face
of one Of the women, who was both young
and timid. She slckened, and then request
ed the man to stop smoking. This aroused
the rulliau in him, and he roughly declared ::
81 have paid my fare; it is customary to
smoke, and | will smoke as much as have
a mind to-" Accordingly he took out Il
fresh ciglr, aud started the smoke-cloud
acair. The woman could only add that
"Sm0kcrs ought rot to forget to be gentle
men," This suggestion excited the mans
rage TO white heat. At this point
the small man on the front seat laid
aside his blanket, Put his left hand on
the knee Of the enragcd runln, in order to
withdraw his attention from the women and
to himself, while with his right hlnd he drew
bowie knife from lis case between his
shoulder. blades. Pointing the weapon at
the heart Of tie brute, and looking him
square in the eyes, the little man quietly
said al am Colonel james Bowie, and uG-
less you throw that cigar away III one min
ute | will put this kuIte into your heart is
true as there j. 4 God" The rutli IN COM
.prchcn(ied in az instant with whom he bad
to deal, ard threw the cigar ont of the win.
dow without adding word. Colonel Bowie
replaced his weapon, drcw his blanket about
him, and rclupscd into Il condition OF appa.
rent indifference. II he bad lived in the an
ccnt times his contemporaries or the gene
ration Immediately following would have
made q god Of him. i.
HoSEsDALE, April 30. 1870.