The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-05-29
"DICK" TAYLOR.
Same "Reminiscences of the Lately De-
ceased Confederate General

!
/ ceased Confederate General.
! Correspondence of the Chicago Tribune.I
About year ago was thrown into
the company, for an evening, of an old
ex-planter from Louisiana. We were
fellow guests at the Gibson House, in
Cincinnati; and, he being of COM
municative turn of mind, the converse
ton naturally fell upon affairs with
which he was acquainted in his native
State. We had talked only a short time
when he conveyed the information that
he had before the War lived near the
old Taylor estate, and had in the old
days known the ex-President, and more
recently knew Gen. 'sDlck," quite in.
timately.
President Taylor's family was ac-
complished in the highest degree" said
the old gentleman. "Mrs. Jefferson
Davis is not only aperfect lady, but she
is thoroughly educated, her father hav-
ing taken every possible pains in her
behalf; but, while all the ex-President's
children were very dear to him, it was
thought by good many people that he
was more fond of Dick than of any of
the rest. He was bright and interest
ing, full of fancies, and quite fond of his
books. He would often astonish his
father with some ref ection much beyond
his years, and it was to him that the ex-
President looked for the honor of the
family to descend" ...
elbow was Gen. Dicks early educa-
ton conducteda" asked.
"Mostly by private TUTORS" he con-
tinued, "until he had reached some ad-
vancemens, when, as is well known, he
was sent to the West Point Academy,
where he graduated. But, like many
other boys whose minds are very active,
and afterwards make great men, Dick,
at about the age of Is, got some very
curious notions into his head, that caused
his father good deal of trouble. But
the hero of the Mexican War and future
President was adequate to the emergen-
cy, and, by holding him with close
rein and indulging in little judicious
management, he was able to bring him
through all right"
"In what direction did these youth
full ideas run?"
"Prineipally, as have been told, in
one direction, or at least so much so
that, when they were diverted from this
direction, he was largely cured of them
all. He had, suppose, been reading
more or less pirate-tales and sea-novsls,
and, from their exaggerated statements
and descriptions of the beauty and pleas
ures of { life on the ocean wave,' he de-
termined that nothing but the life of a
sailor would suffice to crafty his ambi-
ton and the cravings of his heart. He
put this in much less glowing colors
than it appeared to him, reserving the
Oriental picturings for the depths OF
his own soul. Finally he broke his
intention of following the life OF
sailor to his father. The
latter received the information with a
great degree of surprise, and attempted
to persuade his son from his intention.
Dick listened with marked attention.
but was not convinced that he could
ever be content to pursue any other
calling, and in due time informed his
father so. He said Il take no inter
est in any study now that does not beal
upon this subject. see pictures o.
ships between my eyes and the page
when try to read any thing else. heal
the roar of the surge in my ears in my
most quiet moments have heard the
ex-President relate this incident, ant
he said that, when this point in the i'm
petuous boys discourse was reached, ht
could not repress smile. This touched
) the young man, and, ceasing his speech
he averted his head, while big tea
started in each eye at the thought tina
his father did not appreciate or under
stand his deep feelings. Il made up m,
, mind when saw this,' said the ex-Pres
ident, 'that, unless I permitted him t.
: try his nand at what he thought was hi
natural calling, he would surely ru
away from home and try it any way
. This, of course, would be very unfol
q tunate, and might be the means of ruin
e ing him; so remarked to him, in m
: k1ndest tone of voice, that, if he wa
bent upon the life of a sailor, it woul
: be useless in me to oppose him, and
would do all in my power to assist hin
l told him that would much prefer
> have him pursue some other cal
!, ing, but should by no means OF
= pose his inclinations. The nel
day the conversation was again take
- up by the father telling the son that
. had better begin his life of sailor, {
almost every body did, on the Missi
;, sippi, and that the next day they woul
y 20 to the port, where he would get hi
berth on a steamboat. He also argue