St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1880-03-06
TEXAS JACK.
The Stary of a Rowing Typograpl,er-Elo-
I"ence and Impecuniosity-A Man WHO
From the Washington CaDitai1

From the Washington Capital
They call him Texas Jack. He travels
under a broad -brimmed felt hat, which
has sheltered his head from raj anC
sun for many day; long locks, which
were once raven, but are now sprinklcG
with gray, curling down over his collar
rolling black eye, whose fires have
grown lusterless with age, long watch
ing, late hours, and bibulous habits; A
sharp face, with furrOwcd cheeks: 4
mustache, and short beard little oriZ-
zled; coat buttoned close around his
spare frame: a general appearance
which Indicates that the man has had
more downs than ups in this world, and
is getting little tired Of the battle OF
llte-a look of comical impect,nioSity,
and sort OF scent, not Of royal favor,
hut of respectable connections, clnmino
to his person. and there YOU have Mr..
John l.. Redette, otherwise known as
Texas Jack. He is u genuine tramp
printer, surrounded with all the ro-
mantle halo OF rover, an adventurcr, a
soldier of fortune. His sole obccl in
mlngling with men now appears to he
to induce them to "give up,' and he
shmmons to his aid in eloquence which.
though his voice is husky, is quaint and
Irresistible. When the Capital man ran
against Jack he was pleading with I;
young man who did not seem inclined
to respond literally to the demands made
upon him. "You are Il young man, -
said Jack, posturlng himself with one
hand bobbing up his coat-tail, ''of fine
ability, OF elegant accomplishments, of
high literary attainments, in the prime
and vigor of your manhood, surrounded
with friends, receiving Il high salary,
with your breeches lined with money.
Look at me used up physically, NOR
ally and financially. Such as you
should rally to my rescue and buoy me
up, and all that sort of thing. Won't
you give up?' The young man still
seeming disinclined TO " give up,n Jack
regarded him with a smile which cx-
pressed disdain and pity, while he re-
marked rs he turned away, "Young
man, your face is good, Dut your heart
is light. The warmeSt language of the
Sunny South would not touch your
heart
Jack next fell into the hands of the
Capital man, who proceeded to turn the
tables, and made Jack himself "giye
up little of his personal history.
You are an old-timel, aren't YOU
jack ~ inquired the Cupitol man.
1" | should smile, 'replied Jack and he
suited the action to the word, smiling
broad smile, which bowed all the
creases in his cheeks into nooses.
"Where were You born?n
"Natchez, my boy, Natchez-on the
Hilton the banks Of the Father of Wa
tiers, on the beautiful Mississippi. Twas
born in 1920. | have been here some
time.''
How have You spent Your DAYS? ''
g am a printer. I have been pub
Usher of four of the finest newspapers
on this continent. | published the AL
bany Democrat, and also the Aspinwall
Courier. | am q printer, am; | am
no small-pica setter. Every dollar |
earned passed over the counter. In
the days of my youth and prosperity |
cast my money on the waters, and it has
never returned to me. though money
grew on trees then. 1t never occurred |
to me that the days of adversely, days |
If financial depression, days of stag
nation Of labor and trade We're coming;
out they came. Now | find myself in |
he sere and yellow leaf, without cent
% bless me, travelling around like biz /
fellow dog Jack, who had sat
Town during this recital, and thrown
me leg upon the table, looked long and |
q npc1Ix bn tnc nf ~,
vas in about the same dilapidated con-
iltion as himself, and seemed to be eaz-
ng down the long aisle of time to the
lays when he was a healthy young buck,
With his brooches lined with money and
he world before him.
" You have been around some, |
.uess,'' suggested the Ca1oital man, in
this revery.
81 have travelled a little,'' replied
ack, rousing himself Il was four
ears in the gold regions of California.
have been in France, Spain and Ger
many. Then | was young and had
money. What travelling | have
one in the past few years | have done
4 slow coaches.'
Chow are you on the walk?"
every poor on the walk replied
ack, scarcely noticing the interruption.
| am writing up a story now The
White Chief o the Cherokees; or, the
cout of the Valley In 40 | was
nown as the White Chief of the Chero-
ees. | lived out there them
You have seen some thrilling times, ,
len?'
eyes; l went on an expedition to
uba in 1850 on the Creole, and | went
n the last expedition in 1851, under {
eneral Lopez. They hunted us down t
Ike dogs then, and shot fifty-two of us.
was sent to the chain gang in Spain /
II ten years, but was pardoned out in |
70 months because | wa an American ,
tizen. Then was nine months fight t
g the Incatete Indians in the revolt
yainst Mexico q
!" Were YOU in the Mexican war?' q
g was there when the first gun was /
ed a
"Did you serve in the late warp C
81 held the small rank of Major in b
e 18th Mississippi. | fought for the !
)st Cause. We were in the most fear n
| charge that was made at Gettysburg, h
hen the ranks were moved down, the d
en- slaughtered like sheep. The mimic II