Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1880-03-31
TEXAS JACK.
The Story Of a Rowing Typographer-Elo.
quence and lmpecuniosity-A
Man Who Gave Up.


They call him Texas Jack. He
travels under a broad brimmed hat,
which has sheltered his head from
rain and sun for many a day; long
locks, which were once raven, but
are now sprinkled with gray, curl.
ing down over his collar: a rolling
black eye, whose fires have grown
lusterless with age. long watching,
late hours, and bibulous habits; Il
sharp face, with furrowcd cheeks; a
mustachc, and short beard little
grizzled: coat buttoned close around
his spare frame; general appear.
auce which indicates that the man
has had more downs than ups in
this world, and is getting "a little
tired of the battle of life-a look
of comical impecuniosity, and sort
Of scent, not Of royal favor, but OF
respectable connections, clinging
to his person-and there you have
Mr.. John l.. Ledette, otherwise
known as Texas Jack. He is "a
genuine tramp printer, surrounded
with all the romantic halo of u row.
or, an adventurer, soldier of for.
tune. His sole object in minglng
with men now appears to be TO in
duce them to "give up, and he
summons TO his aid an eloquence
which, though his voice is husky,
is quaint aud irresistible. When
the Capital man ran against Jack
he was pleading with young man
who did not seem inclined to re-.
spond literally to the demands
made upon him. lyon are young
man," said Jack, posturing himself
with one hand bobbing up his coat.
tail, "of fine ability, of elegant &C.
complishments, of high literary at
tainments, in the prime and vigor
of your manhood. surrounded with
friends. receiving high salary,
with your breeches lined with mon.
ey. Look at me; used up physical.
", morally and financially. Such
as you should rally to my rescue
and buoy me up, and all that sort
of thing. Won't You give upi'
The young man still seeming disin,
clined to "give up Jack regarded
him with a smile which expressed
disdain and pity, while he remark.
ed as he turned away, "Ioung man,
your face is good, but 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 "give up little of his per
sonai history.
"You are an old,timer, aren't you
Jacki" inquired the Capital man.
81 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 we're yon hornsn
"Natchez, my boy, Natchez-on
the Hilton the banks Of the Faith.
er of Waters, on the beautiful Mis-
sissippi. l was born in 1920. /
have been here some time"
allow have you spent your days''
al am printer. | have been
publisher of four of the finest news
papers OH the continent. | pub
lished the Albany Democrat, and
also the Aspinwall Courier. am
a printer, | an; am no snall-pica
setter. Every dollar earned |
passed over the counter. In the
days of my youth and prosperity
l cast my money on the waters, and
it has never returned to me.
thought money grew on trees then
1t never occurred to me that the
days of adversely, days of financial
depression, days of stagnation OF
labor and trade were coming; but
they came. Now ! find myself In