The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-11-27
Col. Tom ochiltree.

Col. Thomre P. Ochiltree. the famous
Texas wit and statesman, became 4 ma
tional character few years ago when he
came to Congressl as Representative from
Texas He was conspicuous 10 look upon,
and he rarely said anything that was not
conspicuous He made friends and he
was 20 good -natured to his enemies and so
quick with his wit that the men who were
opposed to him were anxious to get over
their tits. He was pointed out on the
floor Of the House as the first native Cor
gresham from his State 1t was also re-
lated that his district was wider and longer
than many Of the states Of Europe. reach
ing over a territory of twenty -seven coun-
ties, and running from the Gulf to Eagle
Pass. on the Rio Grande. This area com
prised ~. 600 square miles OclIiltree
was practically the king Of it.
Ochiltree went to the top If capital IA
voiitisu ut Il single bounl He was
prince If story-iellers The beauty Of his
hunlpr was that il hi, M one 81 hard a. i.
himself He rarely appeared upon the flor
Of the 18th Congress that he did not put
the house into turore OF laughter The
country members used to declare that lie
was more fun than the MINISTRIES, His
bills and appropriations were jested through.
He called himself the Red headed Ran
ger from Texas. aud thetitle was enough
ID ret him hearing before the busiest
committee II was his custom e. send in
word 10 an important session d ellse
mouthed and dignilied committee that the
Red headed Ranger from Texas had a
few remarks he would like to make coy
ering few points in measure the august
body had in It's pigeon holes The adj
mission of Ochiltree meant good laugh
long series of good laughs-and it i il
part Of legislative tradition that the
Colonel stories have done for him what
plain, unvarnished and prosaie logic failed
to do for others.
Judge William b OehiItree, { lawyer
Of great repute in the South. was deter
mined that Young Tom should be brought
up in the strait and narrow path. He
thought his son would be quiet man. Of
gentle habits, and thereupon placed him
under the care and tutelage Of the Catho-
lie priests The priests labored in Nacog-
doehes parish, where the boy was born.
and they tried indusiriously to keep their
Pupil in lines Of thought that might posi-
Div take him into the clergy. The lad
stood it for time, and at the age Of d
suddenly took the matter into his own
hands. He wanted to fight Indians.
The priests were powerless, and, with
great deal Of shrewd planning, young Tom
made an enlistment as private in the
Texas Rangers. starting west for the Scalps
Of the Apaches aud Comanches IN 1851
A year knocked all the romance out OF
this boyish ambition. and he was willing
to come home and buckle down to his
books. He always had some outside plan
in his head. and while he was Still under
his majority in years he was editor Of
paper and had been sent as delegate 70
the conventions in Charleston and Balti
more. He studied law and was barely
out of his teens when his father took him
into his Office az partner The father
went away from town one day, and while
he was gone the boy had the sign changed
San Antonio awakened the next morning
to laugh for years at the strange name Of
the FIRM Thomas p Ochiltree and
Father. Attorneys The grown man
was no less original than the boy had been,
and his wit increased a. the years brought
the stubby, fat youngster into rotpnd,
broad girthed statesman.
OchiItree fought his way to a colonelcy
in the Confederate army After the war
he told the people of Texas, through his
Galveston paper. Ito stop crying and get
solace in work His ability was marked
enough to attract the attention Of Presi
dent Grant, and Grant made him the mar
shall for Texas. He and the President
became great friends 1t is said that
Grant delighted in seeing no one more
than he did in seeing Tom Ochiltree.
Texas owes az much to OchiltTee as it
does to any other man that ever came from
the State. He has been untiring in his
efforts to keep the State before the public.
He did so much in this respect with the
papers that he edited he was at one time
sent to Europe as emigrant commissioner
for Texas This gave him opportunity
for many trips abroad, and he became as
fluent in the continental language as in
English. He actually became feature
in the London papers, and the old journals
used to advertise interviews with him as
the New York papers now advertise their
weekly grist of Sunday matter
Col. Ochiltree has reputation for
knowing more about good things to eat,
for having eaten more good things, for
having helped more people to eat the best
things than any other living man in this
country. He is also no second on the
proposition of beverages The good taste
ia eating and drinking was natural for him, T
and be declares he protested loudly and
industriously because the nurse insisted he t
should have nothing but milk during bis
very early life. He likes the good things I
of life no more than he does the bright
men in life. Where he is there is a GER
tain center of keen wit and ringing stories,
He is versatile in his eating, as well as in
his mind. He stands the chuck of the
plains as well as the chef ouvres Of the
metropolis, and he will relish the poor stuff |
of the chapparel if the men are about the
table that make the diners forget the din