Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-11-15
Amusing Stories Of Gen. Scott.

From Gen. Keyes Memoirs issued by the Scribners.
There can be no doubt that the general was
vain Of many things, and especially so of his
person. For that there was good reason, since
was often sickened by hearing persons of all
degrees remind him of his stature and symme-
try, but he was never offended. He referred to
it himself on all occasions and sometimes under
strange circumstances as in the following eX-
ample which heard him relate several times. 1t
was, think. in the year 1S30-the general was
always infinitely particular in naming the exact
date of every event he DISQUALIFICATION travel
Ing in the northern part of Ohio. he stopped at
country store where they sold liquor by the
glass. He had on common travelling cap and
plain oyercoat that concealed his buttons The
landlord having stepped out, he went behind
the counter, upon which the glasses stood to
desk, and was busy writing note, when
farmer came in and called out, "Give me a glass
of rum toddy." The general Strengthened up,
and turning full upon the man, he exclaimed
Ibid you ever know a man six feet four and a
quarter inches tall to sell rum toddy?''
He told me that when he received his first
commission in the army. which was that of cap
tain. he Immediately ordered a new suit of uni
form. sword. sash, cap-everything complete
and had 1t carried into the largest room In the
house. in the diagonal corners of which he placed
two lOoking-gasses. Then he cleared away
all the furniture. let in as much light as pos
sible, put on his new uniform. and strutted
back and forth between the mirrors for two
hours. 'But," said he. off anv man had seen
me should have proceeded at once to put him
to DEATH"
One day was reading to him newspaper
article in praise of Henry Clay The writer de-
scrloed the distinguished ketuckian as man
OF commanding presence, with lofty forehead
and large, loose mouth. He referred also to
several other renowned oratOrs-Bnrke. Mari
beau and Patrick Henry-whOse mouths were Of
extraordinary size, and he concluded his article
with the remark: 'All great men have large
mouths" All great men have large mouths. I"
exclaimed the general; "why. my mouth ia
not above three-fOurths the size it should be
for my build!" Hewas excessively fond of COM
pairing his own qualities of greatness with those
OF other distinguished men OF modern as we'll
as ancient times. He compared himself most
frequently with the great military commanders
OF the worlds history, and three times on va
rious OCCASIONS did near Gen. Scott say while
he was yet In his vigor that he thought himself
Z" next to Washington, with many lengths be-
tween" Once he said "with many links per-
haps between" In this he was partially mis-
taken, as it was only In consciousness and
patriotism that the two men resembled each
other.
1t was reported that an American vessel the
Barcelona, was to be fired upon from O British
battery as she passed through the Niagara river
Having heard the rumOr, the general dressed
himself In full uniform and repaired to a point
Ou Tic suOTc WHICH was directly opposite the
English guns. There by chance. he found an
old oak that had been blown down. The tree
was but slightly inclined, and was lying almost
parallel with the stream, and the bright sun en-
abled US to see clearly the English soldiers on
the opposite shore AS the vessel approached
the general clambered upon the old oak, the
trunk Of which was six or eight feet in diane
ter and bare Of limbs 30 or 40 feet from the
upturned roots. He appeared taller than be-
tore, and as he strobe to and fro on his high
wooden walk, his cooked hat looked higher
and his plumes spread wider than ever Seizne
the moment when the Prov of the Barcelona
was directly opposite us, he faced the foe and
drew his sword. jerkingit from its scabbard and
hinging its point skyward: as he would iaunt
the moon. Then bringing his weapon to carry.
he scOwled upon Canada! holding his vast height
up-stretched to its EXTREMIST attitude. Never
did night of chivalry, though but tabled present
a shape more heroic. He gstened with burn
ished steel and gold. and was as gorgeous to
look upon as a king Of Sara Though he was
not fired upon. he frequently referred to this de-
fiant manifestation, and it seemed to me that it
was several hours after he came down from the
old tree before his fiery scintillations and brist-
ling Hurry had wholly subsidized