Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-17
THE LONE STAR HERO.
James Alfred Wakefield Relates the
Romantic Story Of
SAM HOUSTON'S LIFE AND LOVE.
A Noble Nan Who Sacrificed Himself on
the Altar of Love.
ENDING HIS DAYS AMONG THE INDIANS
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WRITTEN EoR THE DIsPArcH.J
Sam Houston, the man who occupied
almost every position from the meanest Of
civil offices to being twice President Of .
republic, is less heard of than any other
man in America who has achieved the same
results. He was born on the I'd Of March,
1888 in Virginia, and the iron of his soul
shows he was scion of that race which first
subdued the wildness Of those hills, and
Tennessee forests and the feroeity Of
their savage people. The day Of his
birth was many years afterward to be
celebrated as the anniversary of the
birth of q new Republic. It was on his
natal day that Texas declared herself free
and independent. And when that Repub-
lie, with its "lone star, /" was admitted to
the constellation OF States, with it came that
Eondrous man who had stood by the side Of
the yourg country and rocked her infancy
in those far-of wilds. He came to the
threshold Of the Senate chamber, bringing
in his arms, not like a Scipio of old, the
fine gold and precious stones of distant
barbarie princes lashed to his victorious car,
but new and vast empire. There be St. Cd,
the tall, manly, heroic, generous American,
coming out of the forests, bringing
to our altars that which is noblest and best.
He has occupied almost every po-
sition in life and the heroism Of his
nature viii always be a fertile theme for the
old to tell the young in cabin, hut and
stately palace halls. His Saxon grit in
sured victory. AS teacher he was q sue
cess; as lawyer he could reason with pre-
cision and separate argument from fal1acy
by the clear, simple rules Of unsophist1cated
logic, and could steadily pursue truth
through the most intricate deduction; :
Congressman, be was felt; Governor, hon
ored ana respected; an Indian chief, be
touched the hearts of the untutored sons OF
the forest; President Of that Western Re
public, he was loved as . god; Senator,
his words were Iiiads; but as a man be i
all that represents unsel6shness aud the de-
sire for the veal of others-the ideal man
hood.
SAD ROMANCE.
Just as he was stepping upon the theatrs
Of q high and brilliant fame, q cloud came
over the sky aud wrapt his heart and home
In sadness and gloom. He married girl Of
gentle character and sweet reserve, and the
alliance gave promise of all that is high
and good But due to malignant circum-
stances their union was unhappy and short.
1t was in their separation that the noble
character Of the man showed forth. He who
can conceal the love Of his heart, screen the
IOnQuE1I
nature and smother the attachment that the
angels Of heaven have tanned with their
wings Of Whiteness, and all to shelter the
fair fame Of her he had sworn before the
altar Of God to defend and protect, his life
must read like the exploits Of the gods Of
mythology, and defes the sober prose Of the
English tongue. Fancy has borrowed her
sweetest images from the wild idolatry of
Indian eonstaney, but the world Of passion
must acknowledge him king Of pathetic
tenderness, who turns his back upon the
graves Of his fathers and the land that gave
him birth, simply to 90 out Of the horizon Of
the woman that be loved, 70 make place foz
his rival
His young wife had loved before. and
when she gave her hand to Houston her
heart was withheld. His home had none Of
the sweet felicities Of welded souls, and
lik all uncongenial alliances the Separating
distance grew apaee. Her friends loaded
his name with odium and charged him with
every species Of crime. He sat quietly and
saw the wife Of his heart and bosom torn
from him without single deDial Of siaglo
calumny. When she showed her preferences
for the sweetheart Of her girlho0d days, .
young Englishman, with 3 heart as firm a8
q rock and words as soft as down ho
told her they must part; that never
q word should fall from his lips
to cast q shade upon her character, nor
would he suffer an unkind breath against
her in his presence. He left the life Of glory
and honor that was daWning upon him, rode
into the forest Of the Red man and east his
lot with them.
THE CHIEFTAIN's WKLCoME
The touching greeting Of the venerable
chieftain of the tribe is an exhibition Of how
he was Feverenced. my son" he said, isit
is long since we met; my heart has often
wandered 10 you. have heard that a dark
cloud has fallen on the Whits path you we're
walking. and when it fell you turned your
thoughts to my EigWam. know you will
be our friend, for our hearts are near 70 you,
and you viii tell our sorroWs 70 the Great
Father. Ny Wigwam Is yours, my home ID
yours, my people are yours. rest with Us
There in the heart Of the woods, sur
rounded by patriarchaI simplicity, his
noble heart broke from misguided love, and
his troubled spirit sought for balm In the
wars that added to our proud domain that
"lonely star" that has never ceased to shine
bright and alluring to the pioneer. Tbs
fair god Of love froWned and shadowed him
in gloom. Without the sunlight, and IN
sustained BY that great conservative prin-
ciple Of . mans life-the smile Of affection
and devotion Of . woman whose tender per-
menta, the stricken wandersr fought himself
to the front.
During all his trials he never forgot the
sweetheart Of his youth, the young wife Of
his early days. Gently, lovingly, caresS-
ingly he kept his idol enthroned in his
heart. Amid the vail Of the winds on that
Western prairie when his soul was passing
to that unseen world where strife and disap-
pointment are never known, his lips voiced
the last sentiment Of his heart: Darling.
I forgive you" There are crowns Of laurel
and Of gold studded with diamonds; there
have been songs written as tributes to loV-
ing, devoted manhood; monuments hsve
been built in honor Of men who have
achieved greatness, but there never vas
sweeter, greater, parer tribute erected over
any man than this; never . crown Of
brighter lustsr than 10 stand in the gateway
Of God and whisper, Darling. forgive
you" Ii promise for . future.
So benign has been the influence Of his
wonderful example, and 50 calm and 90 holy
a light beams ceaselessly around bis tomb
that flowers viii ever bloom over his grave
in that far-of land.
JAMES ALFRED WAKEFULD.