The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-04-12

4sn,inned ir~m First rase.
any peculiarly Of traits Or temper. my HsrS
serious, earnest, and even eedate anu metnoaloAi
ID their habits and ideas. Oakley HALL Whilst gu
gagged in The practice OF the law, OF in writing Tor
fhe newspapers, or in political strugglee, eyinoed
4 stesdineps and consistency OF principles, ideas
and conduct, which achieved for him large
popularity and condolences. and finally promotea
him TO the high office Of Mayor o. new I9ih,
lie occupied this position that The eccentrioity OF
Mall eliminated In certain freaks which eHcited
general suspicion OF his sanity, snd certainly
compromised the dignity OF bis Office ana ms
character. .4
A ridiculous habit Of punning on oil occasions,
serious as well AZ light, was common 70 nm anu
his uncle. On certain occasion OF an lrlsh
parade he attended ~ Mayor, ut the mead q, me
ioh nnd slip Of shamrock In his hat On other,
ana freuuent occasions. he played the part OIL .
comedian. and he never missed an opportunity 10
scribble some wretohed attempt at Wit Tor tue
Sunday papers and ret IN bug ooe, 10 se ss co
and able. and made one Of the most SUCCESSFUL
District Attorneys New York ever had. La the
very Emidst OF large practice, BY when he
was rapidly recovering the social position ~ M naa
nearly lost by his involsement IN the Tweed
scandal, no was suddenly seized with ga Impulse
TO abandon the profession In which ne haa
achieved distinction and success, ana emoark ~
that OF comedian. To the shame ana horror oI
Of one of the New York theatres, IN comedy
written by himself, made stnpendous failure,
and was filed with disgust. Hesun'ng bis pro
fesHion, he suddenly. after . vigorous end able,
bus unsuecessfni, defense OF person charged
mitk homicile, announced his withdrawal from
oil such cases for the future. and resumed MS
stage associations.
in these and many other peculiar actions :, ne
reproduced the eecentiioities OF his unoe. Qol.
Oakley WAS for many years quiet, retiring, iabo.
riuus merchant. who pursued the even tenor Oh
his way without attracting any special notice.
Whilst TINS engaged in large business ne pc
came involved In q personal aiiar WHO "a
Engllshman named Wright A duel was arrang-
cd 10 come of between the parties. Wright Was
regarded ~ a skilful and practced sportsman,
who was certain of hitting his mark. oskey sur
prised everybody by his promptitnds ~ accept
ing as the arm Of ooabat tae r,,e, Wf,g sxes
fred one In his life. The duel occurred on the
lake shore, aud ut the second ehot Wright was
killed. After this affair the habits and character
or Col Oakley exhibited great changes. ...r
extravaganily and ridiculously fond of military
displays titles and ssall the nofnp and circutn-
stance Of glorious war" Elected Colonel OF q
mythical militia regiment, he equipped himself
in gorgeous uniform and furnished the othcefs
Of his regiment with complete outfits, and on Gil
public oocasionsa made grand display q him
self and staff. No distinguished military man
could visit our city without being waited ON by
COL Oakley Of the Bloody 18th en- g,'unde ten,e.
As senior Colonel, he always supplied the ab-
sence OF the Major General and Brigadier Gem
eral, ard on national anniversaries Issued the
most spirit stirring procsmstions and APP
peals TO his invisible command. When
Marshal Bertrand visited this city, 40
oompanied by young Ney and severs
other distinguished military. heroes and Napo-
leanists, the gallant Colonel assembled all the
uniformed officers Of the city and marched TO
the st. Louis Hotel 70 greet and honor the dis
ul..1 II. a n
posing ceremony, and tho brilliantly accoutred
Colonel OF the Forty-Fi bors himself with . II
the pomp and importance OF q Marshal or corps
commander 80
French hero OF Wagram, the Colonel was only
for moment somewhat taken sbsck by the Ia
curry of the Marshal as to the active force and
composition OF his command.
''Sir,' proudly responded the READY Oolohei,
s'my command embraces perhaps the largest d.
vision, hrigades and regiments in the world IL
includes the First, Second aud Third Wards oil
the Second Municipality, extending frotd tho
river TO the swamp, and from Canal street TO
Felicity Road"
This, rendered In French, announced to tho
great Napoleonist new style OF military forfns..
tion and enumeration which must have perplexed
him to The day OF his death.
These military airs OF Col. Oakley were not
merely for display. He assumed also the tone,
bearing and punotio of q pret.5 chepdlte,, and
held himself ready TO respond to any aud AN osils
10 the field OF honor, and promptly made such
calls when offered any offense or indignity.
On one occasion. acting as commissioners oil
election In q very exciting political contest, he
assumed and held with great pertinacity . posi-
tion which few others could ever have main
tained--that of excluding large class OF voters,
including many OF the most prominent gentle
men In the city. For his obstinacy and partisan
psreistenoy on this occasion be was denounced
In violent terms by the persons who were denied
the exercise Of their most valuable political right
Requesting the clerk to make q list or the names
anu residences Of each Of these denouncers,
after the polls were closed he had struck of a
number of printed blank challenges, which were
early the next day delivered TO each one OF his
denouncers.
On another occasion no challenged Major.
General Pillow, on his return from Mexico, re
fulgent with the glory Of his achievements and
vAlor at Uerro Gordo, because the General had
written letter rather too severely critical OF 4
plan OF the campaign In the Valley OF Mexico
prepared for him by the Colonel Of the 45th
Louisiana militia.
But this sketch has grown too long, and yet i
fails TO present 1.-THE of the queer and eccentric
freaks and oddities Of this strange old uncle Of
OAkoy Hall, which produced 80 general an i'm
preston among those OF his day and generation
that his mental organization had been reflected
from its rectangular aud normel condition, at q
period OF l,fs aud under circumstances very sim
liar to those which have induced like m anifesta
tions on the part OF his nephew.
--~~A
THE COURTS.
s,,nartnv rr,s IN, ,uaa T,nurt