The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-12-06
1--WE :
GOLD HICKORY ASsALANDLORD,

! 4.
| From the Louisville Courier Journal
While residing i'm East Tennessee,
prior to the war between the
North and South, your correspondent
heard from the lips. of an
aged lady, of that place, the owing
anecdote of Andrew Jackson, which is
an exemplification of his character for
determination. | ana of the impression,
| that it has never been published. < At
the time of its occurrence, Gen. Jack
son was a young man and was attend
ing court at Rogersville. 1t was court
week, and an unusual concourse of peo-
pie was collected in the town. There
was the Judge with his. long train of
lawyers. Candidates for Office were
there distributing smiles and kindnesses,
and practicing all those popular arts
which are so well understood in every
republican country. The farmer, clad
in his neatest homespnn and mounted
on his best horse j. the hunter with his
rifle-in short, a large portion of the
county were collected, some for pleas
ure and some for business, exhibits
ing that excitement of feeling which
crowds always produce, with a good hui.
NOR which is always found in countries.
where all is free and equal. Rogers.
vile at this time was a station on the
military road to Washington Cityswhere
travellers made it a point to stop al
night, more on account of the far-famed
cuisine of Joseph Rogers, whose hostelryi
was as widely known to the people of the
Southwest as is the Louisville Hotel or
TO ho f,.oxr 1oy, ,f -
present day. While the people were
amused at the vagaries. of some of the
party who were passing sly jokes, driv-
ing bargain for horse-trade, or the
sale of a crop of corn, the sun had al
most retired for the day, and dusk was.
rapidly coming to tell the hour for de-
parture. Just at this time a stranger
was seen slowly riding through the prin-.
cipal street. He was well dressed,
good-looking young man, mounted upon
what was termed in that day ''the best
kind of nag.' His appearance was
altogether respectable enough; it was,
even as respects. extefiors, a touch
above what is common, and he would
have passed along unnoticed had it not
been forone thing which attract edsuni-
versal attention. Although the streets
were crowded with, people, and the
fronts of stores adorned with samples Of
their best stock and such fancy articles
as usually attract the eye, the strangers
gaze was fixed on vacancy; eIhe
neither turned n his head to the
right 1norapto the left, but rode
forward as if apparently unconScious as
well of his own existence as of the pres
ence of his fellow-creatures. 1t was the
habit in that country at that time, as it
is now, for persons who met, although
unacquainted,s to salute each other
This courtesy was especially practieed
toward strangers, and when those who
were nearest nodded or spoke to this
young man as they civily opened the
way they were surprised to see the
horseman's gaze fixed on vacancy and
his body remaining as erect as il tied to
a stake. ssThat mans asleep y said
one. s.'He's as blind as. a. bat, said
another. 81 reckon he's kinder dead, =
exclaimed the third. SO He rides an ele-
giant nag, /" remarked the fourth. Our
traveller moved proudly on until he
reached the hotel owned by Joseph Rogs
ers. As he rode up he was received in
the usual graceful style by the host.
General Jackson was at this time the
guest Of the house. If the old building
is still standing a visitor to that delight
ful town may be shown asstone hearth
put in the building bye GEN.
eral jackson with his own hands.
! The stranger relaxed not a muscle Of
his own face, but, drawing up his
body, moved majestieally toward the
house. General Jackson was quick to
discern the new conier's character, and
he marked him at once as a fop. With
wink toward the proprietor he deter
mined to take the part of host for the
occasion. The new host touched his
hat as he welcomed - the
stranger and invited him "a in-
to the house with a e. disttNgue
air of dignity and hospitality. A SER
want took his surtout, and several gen.
tlemen who were sitting around the fire
made way by pushing their chairs back
for the stranger. But all these things
moved not the automaton. After a
momentary pause, the gentlemen in the
room resumed their Conversation, the
landlord applied himself to the business
of the house, and the silent traveller was
consigned to the oblivion which he SEEM
ed to eovet. Canttleswere soon lighted,
and the silent gentleman<y seemed. to
grow weary of Silence. He arose ard
started across the apartment with a very
important stride. He was a young mar
OF about % years of age, of ordinary
I height. His fine form seemed tos have
: been in corsets, and his head was sup
ported by a semi circle of linen, giving
him the appearance Of. having put OF
his shirt upsideadown, with the tailased