Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1885-01-21
GEN. SCOTT.
Some Amusing Stories of Him.

There can be no doubt that the Gem
eral was vain of many things, and es-
pecially so of his person. For that
there was good reason, since I was so
often sickened by hearing persons of
all degrees remind him of his stature
and symmetry, but he was never of
Tended. He referred TO it himself on
all occasions, and sometimes under
strange circumstances, as in the fol-
lowing example which l heard him re-.
late several times. 1t was, think, in
the year 1830-the General was always
infinitely particular in naming the ex-
act date Of every event he described
when travelling in the northern part Of
Ohio, he stopped at country store
where they sell liquor by the glass. He
had on common travelling cap and a
plain overcoat that concealed his but
tons. The landlord having stepped
out, he went behind the counter upon
which the glasses stood to a 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: 'Did you ever
know man six feet four and quarter
inches tall to sell rum-toddy?" f..
He told me that when he received his
first commission in the army, which
was that of Captain, he Immediately
ordered a new suit of uniform-sword,
sash, cap-evervthing complete, and
had it carried ir'" the largest room in
the house, in til diagonal corners OF
which he placed two looking glasses.
Then he cleared away all the furniture.
let in as much light as possible, put on
his new uniform, and strutted back and
forth between the mirrors for two
hours. s.But," said he, ''lf any man
had seen me should have proceeded
ct once to put him to DEATH.
One day was reading to him news
paper article in praise of Henry Clay.
The writer described the distinguished
Kentuckian as q man of commanding
presence, with a lofty forehead, and a
large, loose mouth. He referred also
to several other renowned orators
Burke, Mirabeau. 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!' exclaimed the General
"why, my mouth is not above three
| fourths the size it should be for my
bulk!" He was excessively loud IL
comparing his own quality of greatnes!
| with those of other distinguished mer
of modern as well as ancient times. HI
compared himself most frequently will
| the great military commanders OF thu
worlds history, and three times, OF
various occasions, did I hear Genera
Scott, Say, while he was yet in his Wig
or, that lie Thought himself "next. tt
Washington with many Lengths be
tween.| In this he was partially mis-
taken, as it was only in conscientious
| ness and patriotism that the two mel
resembled each other.
1t was reported that an America
vessel, the Barcelona, was to hs fire!
on from British battery as she passe'
through the Niagara River. Hayin.
heard the rumor the General dressed
himself in full uniform and repaired t.
a point on the shore which was directl,
opposite the English guns. There, b.
chance, he found an old oak that ha'
! been bl own down. The tree was bu
slightly inclined and was lying almos
parallel with the stream, and tn
bright sun enabled us to see clearly tn
English soldiers on the opposite shore
| AS ihe vessel approached the Genera
clambered upon the old oak, the trun
of which was six Or eight feet in diam
oter and hare of limbs thirty Or fort
feet from the upturned roots: He az
peared taller than before, and, as b
strolled to and fro on his high WOede
walk, his cooked hat looked higher, an
his plumes spread wider than evel
Seizing the moment when the PROV
the Barcelona was directly opposite us
| he faced the foe and drew Lis sword
Jerking it from vs. ecabbard and fling
jig it's point skyward, as ae W,R}!n l !
llssnnt the moon. Then bringing hi
weapon to carry, he scowled upol
Canada! holding his vast height up
stretched to its EXTREMIST altitude
Never did Knight Of chizalyy, though
but tabled, present a Shape more hero
ic. He glistened with FURNISHED stee
and gold, and was as gorgeous to lool
upon as q King Of Sara. Though h b
was not fired upon, he frequently re
ferred to this defiant manifestation
and it seemed to me that 1t was seyera
hours after he came down from the ole
tree before his fiery scintillations ant
bristling furry had wholly subsidized
From Gen. Reyes Memoirs.