The National tribune., 1890-10-16

finish the business !"
Meanwhile regiments of the advancing col
umns of bare-bosomed British were stricken
I down before the murdGrous fire " as If the earth
had opened aud swallowed them up"-th,
words OF British officer.
That Gen. jackson was warm hearted e
familiarity, however, goes without saying.
hatty was the endearing epithot by which
! lie was accustomed 10 address Mr.. Van Buren,
TO Others he spoke of him rs Van"
The former nickname afterwards appeared il
! the campaign epic:
odd Tip, he wears his clothing plain,
! lie wears no RULED shir. art,
But Maity' wears golden chain,
And IL little sqUr-rur-urtn
Gen. William Henry Harrison possessed the
/ humorous spirit, though of somewhat gentlel
mold than jackson.
Ia the famous march 10 retalSe Detroit after
! Hulls surrender, scene is described which
illustrates his humorous appreciation Of adverse
circumstances.
The little army was groping through the
forest on the banks of tho Au Glnise. Night
came on, dark, stormy, and with sheets of rain.
| The low ground was soon flooded. They had
no axes could build no fires; and as they had
got ahead OF their baggage, they had no food.
Some took their saddles and sat upon them
others found logs; others stood in the water
and leaned against the trunks of trees. Thus
they passed the miserable night. Cen Harri-
SON shared all these discomlorts with his men,
AS he sat ia the pouring rain, wrapped in his
cloak, with his staff around him, he called upon
one OF his officers, who had fine voice 10 sing
humorous Irish song, with tho chorus
N0w's the time for mirtliful glce
sing and laugh and dance with me"
The troops Joined IN the refrain, and thus, in
that black night of storm aud flood, the forest
echoed with sounds OF merrimeut
That Cen. Harrison was not devoid OF the
power Of satire is shown in his reply to John
Randolph, who, in yirulent attack had ac-
cused him in the Senate of being an associate
OF " black-cOckade Federalists." Mr. Harrison
SAID:
81 am seriously charged with the heinous
odense of associating with Federal gentlemen.
l plead guilty. ] respected the Revolutionary
services Of President John Adams and have
paid him that courtesy which was due to him
AS man and as Chief Magistrate | have also
associated with such men as John Marshall
and James 4. Bayard is the acknowledgment
OF such quit 10 throw me out OF the pale Of po-
htiCal salvation
"On the other hand, / am on intimate terms
with Mr.. Jefferson, Mr.. Gallatin and the whole
Virginia delegation, among whom have many
klnsmen and dear friends. These were my
principal associates in Philadelphia, in whose
mess have often met the gentleman who is
now my accuser, and with whom have spent
some OF the hgppigst hours OF my life IL is
not in my nature 10 DO a violent or proscriptive
partisan; but have given firm support TO
the Republican administrations of Jefferson,
Madison, and Monroe. ] hope the Senator from
Virginia is answered.
Neither Tyler. Polk, Taylor, Fillmore nor
buchanan have ever been accused of being hu.
morists, though Chiei-Justice Cartier is au.
thoTity for the statement that the inhabitants
OF the District Of 9, umbia have only been
- Tf 100 ON 80.
President Taylor spoke of " all the world and
the rest Of mankind" That was a witty re-
mark. too, at Bueua Vista, when the old Gen.
erzl saw row of Mexicaus knocked over BIZ n
shot from Bfagg's battery: GOOD hit, Cap'n
Bragg, by Jings Set 'em up agaIn." His "a
nous order IN the same battle 10 the same bat
terry, of "A little more grape, Captain Bragg
has been disputed by the latter
% j knew Gen. Bragg intimately during our
life as cadets at West Point and during his
after sojourn on earth" said man of good
memory, now SO years old, a soldier in Gen
Taylor army az the battle OF Buena Vista
shortly after the conquest Of Mexico lie dined
al my table IN New York, when the topic Of
conversation very naturally turned upon the |
recent unpleasantness with our sister Republic |
Bfaxton,' said !, what IS the truth about the |
" little more grape storyf The story, rs told
replied he, Is not true Old Zach told me, in
his slight siammeriug way, 'Gi-gi-give 'em
HI, Capt. Bragg He did not mention the
fruit OF the vine at all"
From an old acquaintance OF Gen Pierce we
have an anecdOte which would indicate that he
was on occasion humoTist. if not civil serv-
zee TefOTmer. After his election to tho Presi-
dency, VIM. +. Colcock was & candidate for Col.
lector OF the Port Of Charleston s. C., but was
opposed by the entire State delegation.
Coieock viii be appointed just the same"
sald Aenabics OIL North Carolina, who knew them
both.
3" Why so?D
We'll, said he, "some time ago, when Pierce |
aud Colcock were Members Of tie House COM /
ing bone on foot one night together, they had |
10 cross the little stream known as the Tiber, |
or Goose Creek. Pierce got across all right. but
Colcock was mired in the mud.
Here, Pierce he yelled, come back and |
help me out
Mr., Pierce, returning to the bank, perceived |
through the darkness his friend laundering in /
The treacherous slime, and said
Colcock, confess my inability 10 helm Won /
but but u u viii do you any good I'll como in |
here and lie with you
Pierce stands by his friends, gentlemen"
And 50 IT proved; Colcock got the appoint.
nent.
All Of the later Presidents seem to have
sVinccd something Of the humorous in their
natures President Johnson may sometimes
-~'~ @''fN " bntDhnNlDu5ly- lilB famous
remark 10 Clergyman Moody, when Nashville
MAS threatened, will be remembered:
Oh Moody, don't want You 10 think that
nave become religious man because asked
you TO pray. / am sorry 10 cay it, but am
lot and never pretended TO be religious. No
ne knows this better than you. But, Moody.
here is one thing about it. do believe in
Almighty God, and believe also IN the Bible:
nd i say d me if Nashville shall be sur.
Gen. Grants humor was usually of that quiet
character rather suggested than actually ex-
ITessed.
General, said citizen stranger, who han.
'ened 10 DC with the Union command at spott.
yIYania, u you flank Lee, and get between
iim and Richmond, will you not uncover WASH
ngton, and leave il exposed 10 the encmyY"
Yes reckon So was the Generals quiet
eply.
" DO you not think, General" the stranger
continued, that Lee can detach sufficient force
o re-enlofce Beanregard at Richmond, and
,verwhelm Butler"
" have not doubt Of It." Grant repIied.
And u there not danger" the stranger
.dded, that Johnston may come up and re.
;nforce Lee so that the latter will swing round
ma cut Oh your communications, aud seize
your sUpplies1"
Very likely" was the unc0ncerned response
But the twinkle in the Generals eve was
he positive clement Of fun in the conversation.
letter OF President Arthur written in Igd6 |
ust after he had engaged TO teach a district
chooi at 80 per month, gives unmistakable
oil hls fun-appreciative qualities
Inc committeeman soon arrived TO trans
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