American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-05-10
"DICKo TAYLOR,
Some "Reminiscences OF the Lately De-
ceased Confederate General


ceased Confederate General.
Correspondence OF the Chicago Tribune |
About year ago 1 was thrown into
the company, for An evening, of an old
eA-planter from Louisiana. We were
fellows guests at the Gibson House, in
Cincinnati; and, he being of q 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 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-Prcsident, and more
recently knew Gen. "Dlck," quite in
timately.
"President Taylor's family was ac-
complished in the highest degree" said
the old gentleman. "Mfs. Jefferson
Davis is not only perfect lady, but she
is thoroughly educated, her father hav-
irg taken every possible pains in her
behalf; but, while all the ex-President's
children were very dear to him, it was
thought by a 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 reflection much beyond
his years, and it was to him that the ex-
President looked for the honor of the
family to descend"
"How was Gen. Dicks early educa-
ton conductedP" I asked.
"Mostly by private TUTORS" he con-
tinued, "until he had reached some adj
vancement, 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 a close
rein and indulging in little judicious
management, he was able to bring him
through all right"
elm what direction did these youth
full ideas runp'
principally, 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-novels,
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
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
q sailor to his father. The
latter received the Information with
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 bear
upon this subject. see pictures of
ships between my eyes and the page
when try to read any thing else. 1 hear
the roar of the surge in my ears in my
most quiet moments have heard the
relate this incident; and
he said that, when this point in the i'm
petuous boys discourse was reached, he
could not repress q smile. This touched
the young man, and, ceasing his speech,
he averted his head, while big tear
started in each eye at the thought that
his father did not appreciate or under
stand his deep feelings. Imade up my
mind when saw this,' said the ex-Pres-
ident. that, unless permitted him to
try his nand at what he thought was his
natural calling, he would surely run
away from home and try it any way.
This, of course, would be very unfor-
tunate, and might be the means of ruin
ing him; so I remarked to him, in my
kindest tone of voice, that, if he was
bent upon the life of q sailor, it would
be useless in me to oppose him, and I
would do all in my power to assist him.
I told him that would much prefer to
have him pursue some other call
ing, but should by no means op-
pose his inclinations. The next
day the conversation was again taken
up by the father telling the son that he
had better begin his life of a sailor, as
almost every body did, on the Missis.
sippi. and that the next day they would
go to the port. where he would get him
a berth on a steamboat. He also argued
that, in order to make it a success, Dick
should begin at the bottom and come up
all the intermediate stages. He
should enter the service as cabin-boy.
This was a new idea to the young man,
who had not thought much of the de-
tails of the business but he was deter
mined not to back out. According to
they went the next day to
The port, and there, incog., the General
and future President sought among the
various Offices and river-captains of the
dock for the position of cabin-boy for
his son. The search was not a very
long one, but sufficient to show to both
father and son all the disagreeable feat
lures of the low class of characters who
the docks of the Mississippi
River ports in the old ante-bellum days.