The sun., 1893-10-01

sam rFouston.

There have been several histories OF Texai
and several biographies Of the man whose
name fs associated with tho attainment o.
Texan Independence. but what has been
needed was the fusion OF the stories In q
single. compact narrative. This has beon
done In thoroughly workmanlik way by Mr..
ALfRED NJ. WILLIAMS. in book called San,
Eouston and ne War Of Independence IN 7eras
tHouGhton. Mlfiia & Cob The author has not
only availed himself OF the historical and
Biographical material extant in print but he
has obtained good deal OF information at
first hand from fresh sources. and he has
brought to his task degree Of literary skill
which has not hitherto been applied
10 the same subject. The treatment of
his theme is distinguished not only
for ability. but for genuine and
lively sympathy which the reader will not fail
10 share. 1t would indeed be diffldult TO
u name In American history a moro picturesque
figure than that OF Samuel Houston. or more
romantic episode than the gallant struggle
for self.govornment which. after some vicissi-
tudes. made Texas an Independent republic.
and eventually a member OF our Union. In
the popular Imagination Houston has long
been coupled with Andrew jackson. although
he stands upon lower plane and had some
weaknesses which the groat Tennessecan did
not share. as we'll as some qualifications. In
cluding faculty for public speaking. which
were lacking In the defender OF New Orleans
It 10 remarkable that the two men most con.
= spiouously connected with the struggle for
Texan independence. Houston and Austin.
were both natives OF tho Old Dominion. sam
usl. or. as he always preferred to call himself,
Sam. Houston was born on March .. 1903.
in Rockbridge county. Virginia The Houston
family was Of Lowland Scotch origin OF sui-
cient rank to have a coat OF arms But John
Houston. the founder OF the American branch.
came to this country in 1850 from the north OF
ireland. and settled In Philadelphia. His
grandson. Robert Houston. removed to Rock
bridge county. Virginia and marrieda dauEh-
tor OF the Scotch family OF Davidson. Roberts
son, Samuel. inherited the estate and mar
risd o Miss Elizabeth Paxton. whose fam
fly had accompanied his own in the emigra-
tion from ireland. The position OF the Hous-
ton family in Virginia was not that OF the
manorisl gentry Of the seaboard and tidewater
region. but should rather be described as that
OF the richer farmers OF the interior. who con- |
stituted class OF independent yeomen. and
lived In rude plenty. due largely to their own
labor. Samuel Houston served with credit in |
Gen. Daniel Morean's brigade OF rihemen dur |
ing the Revolutionary war. and. at Its close. |
was appointed Major and Assistant INSPECTOR |
General OF the frontier troops. After his death. |
which occurred In 1906. his widow determined |
to remove to the new settlements in Tennes- |
see. and. with her nine children. Sam being |
thomas years Of age, she crossed the Alle-
ehany Mountains and settled in Blount coun-
ty. at o point eight miles east OF the Tennessee
River. which WAS then the boundary between
the tribe OF Cherokee Indians and their white
neIghbors. Here cabin was built. a clearing
was opened and the family managed to live in
the rude and toilsome frontier fashion.
- A. IT
obtained the most rudimentary schooling IN a
thinly peopled agricultural neiGhborhood like
that Of Rockbridge county and that his oppor-
tunities for instruction must have been even
smaller in O pioneer settlement like that OF
East Tennessee. Whatever education he ac-
quired In his early youth must have been due
to his active mind and fervid Imagination
eagerly feeding upon such books as fell In his
way. The biographer tells US that among the
few books which had come to the frontier set
tlement. tucked in pack saddles or In the cor
nsrs OF chests. was Popes translation Of the
Iliad. and that this was devoured by the
boy. until he know 1t nearly by heart Suoh
book was an education In itself. for
the artihciality OF Pope's style could not
entirely obscure the heroic and kind
ling vitality Of the original Throughout his
life Houston continued to be a man Of few
books. It Is said. however. that he read and
appreciated Shakespeare and acquired some
familiarity with the standard works OF Eng glsh
classical literature in his later years. after he
became converted. he read the Bible so thor
oughly that Its phraseology tinged his oratory.
It is Interesting to learn that. whom command
or Of the Texas army. he studied "Cesar's Com
mentaries" for their lessons in the art OF war.
At tho best. however. his reading was limited.
What knowledge and wisdom he obtained came
mainly from contact with men. and his persua-
sive eloquence and power Of vigorous writing
came from the native force Of his mind ele-
waiting and Illuminating common speech
rather than from any training In the methods
and vocabulary OF the masters OF expression.
It was not long after the settlement OF his
family in east Tennessee that the first OF his
sscapades took place. He had been placed as
. clerk In o traders store. but his spirit re-
volted at the tame life behind the counter. and
one day he absconded and took up bis abode
with the CherokeeB. There were in Houston's
nature many OF the characteristics OF the In
dians: his hot blood. strong passions and ap-
petites: fondness for adventure and for the |
freedom OF the wilderness: his solemnly
childish vanity and turn for histrionic effects:
rs well as his personal impressiveness. his
shrewdness In managing men and affairs. his
eloQuence. his loftiness OF spirit. and his pre-
dominant qualities OF determination and cour- {
age. The germs Of these traits were doubt
less visible in youth. At all events. Hous-
ton was made welcome to the Cherokee ,
villages. and was adopted into the family 8
of one OF the sub-chiefs of the tribe. He :
acquired the Cherokee language 3
wore the native dress. and became to all intents
and purposes an Indian. lie remained with .
the Cherokees until his eighteenth year, and it =
was not until he found himself in debt for the )
ammunition and trinke.s which he had pur- ,
chased from time to time that he returned to :
civilization. Curiously enough. considering his
he undertook to extnguish his q
debts by opening country school. and. what 7
is still more curious. he succeeded in his pur- ,
pose. although he raised the price OF tuition i
from SO to So year. one-third payable in 4
sash. one-third In corn at :}3 cents n busheL a
and one-thlrd In cotton goods. such as were ]
used to make hunting shirts. Toward the y
,losa of his Huccassfnl life IL hannannd TINT a