Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-08-15

ct Dickinson aim hau OeeA per
feet. He had meant to hit Jackson in
the heart. He did not, however, real
ize how exceedingly slender was the
generals body, like that of Charles
Sumner, who in youth was playfully
nicknamed The line by Julia Ward
Howe, because he seemed to be length
without breadth and thickness.
The loose frock coat which Jackson
wore increased the error in. Dickinson :
ocular calculation by Just enough to
save life The ball broke two ribs
and raked the breastbone; a severe
wound from which acute pain arose
and, as a false healing occurred, pur-
sued Jackson at intervals TO his last
hour.
When the surgeon overlook Overton
and Jackson, about a hundred yards
away, his professional eye caught a
glimpse of blood on one Of the gener-
ais shoes.
MY God, general, You are hit
Hush, was the naughty answer
Il believe he has pinked me a little,
but I prefer that he should die with
out the satisfaction Of knowing it. ~
How this reply exemplifes the saw
age temper of the time Yet Andrew
Jackson was not cruel by nature On
the contrary, he was, ike Henry Clay,
tender, even to the point that his gray,
iron eyes could easily melt into tears.
The character of Jackson, indeed,
in many respects was far above the
average. lie gambled like most gen
tlemen, but not deyotedly. He was
very fond Of horse racing and not
averse to whiskey, though be rarely
drank to excess. He was quick to
quarrel, but lie never used vile Ian
guage.
Never word came to his lips that
could cause a blush on the cheek of a
woman. This purity of language m
a coarse tongued time was the outward
and visible signs in his case, though 1t
is not always ola pure heart. Andrew
jackson, from earliest boyhood, was
thoroughly chaste, and his ideal Of
womanhood so high that he hated to
suspect evil in any of the sex. in all
the transactions of his life his word
was better than Il bond.
In fine, this orphan son Of poor
Irish emigrant, with scanty, picked
mp education, and bred chiefly in the
rough college of the camp, was a radi-
calIy fine gentleman. He had fine
manners, too, especially toward women.
Lady Hamilton, well versed IN Euro
pean courts, after an hour spent in his
company while President, referred to
him as the finest hammered man she
had ever meta very "king Of court
esy.
To recur in closing to the final scenes
ofthis famous duel, it is worthy of note,
as slight set off against the barbarty
Of his first remark about the dying
Dickinson, that from the tavern where
Jackson rested to have his wound
dressed he sent bottle of the best
wine to his enemy. His own Prepara-
ton for the further pain Of the surgI-
cal operation was a draught Of butter
milk.
The large majority of Tennesseans
condemned this duel to death, because
it was too real. The fantastic folly
of fighting for honor and coming Oft
with a scratch from a sword or a smell
oc powder was all right and proper
it gave the stroke Of grace, the acco-
lade Of knighthood to a gentleman
character; but meeting for the eX-
press and determined purpose Of kill
ing, save where the honor Of woman
was the point, reused the dormant
sense Of the community to Temporal
rilyintense remembrance Of that brief
est and most emphatic commandment,
Thou shalt do no murder.
Your husband has been i'll, " said
the caller
Yes, replied the little, worried
looking woman; he has been feeling
very badly. I do my best to please
him, but nothing seems to satisfy him.
is his condition critical?'
Its worse than critical, she an
swered with a sigh, its just abusive.
Young Lady (out yachtingJ-What
Is the matter, Captain Quarterback?
Captain-The fact Is, my dearyoung
lady, we've broken our rudder.
Young LADY, wouldn't worry
about that. The rudder Is mostly un-
der water, you know, and 1t isn't likely
people viii notice It.