The commonwealth., 1898-06-09
II Was BAD BACON,
BUT A DANGEROUS TRICK.
A Duel Of Which jackson was
Ashamed.
Youths Companion.

Youths Companion.
| None OF General Jackson's biograph
ers give the details of his first duel, anc
he himself meyer cared to speak of the
matter in later years but some years
ago a granddaughter of Col. Waitstill
Avery told me the full story.
WaitstiH Avery was Massachusetts
man who went to North Carolina, car.
rying with him a letter of recommend.
alton from no less parsonage than
Jon7 ti.an Edwards. He soon acquired
reputation and influence, and in time
became attorney general of the state.
It was his custom to take students
OF law into his family, who became
tutors CT his children.
In 1854, when Andrew jackson was
but seventeen years old and ambitious
to become lawyer, he applied for this
| situation. The tradition is that he was
refused because a daughter of Avery's
took a dislike to his uncouth appear
ance.
Young Ia: 31 s.e,; applied to
Spruce MeC@:, !, lawyer ia Salisbury,
N. c., in who's; oliice lie was fitted for
the bar, ana he shortly made his ap-
pearance In the courts. When Jack
son was twenty one years of age, he
and Avery met in the trial of ii case at
Joneshoro, Tenn.
It was Jackson's habit to carry in
his saddle-bags a copy of Bacon s
Ahrldgment," and to make frequent
appeals to it in his cases. This preci-
GUS book was always carefully done up
in coarse brown paper. such as grocers
used before the neat paper bags Of the
present day were invented. The un-
wrapping of this much -prized volume
before court was very solemn func-
tion as performed by Jackson.
Now Avery had by this time drop
ped whatever of Puritan sedateness
bad commended him to Jonathan
Edwards, and was uncommonly fond of
a joke. He procured a piece of bacon
Just the size of the book, and while
Jackson was addressing the court he
slipped out the volume from its wrap
ping and substituted the bacon.
At length Jackson had occasion to
appeal to Lord Bacon. 1t was an i'm
portant case, and he would not trust to
his memory. He would confound his
opponent by reading from the book
itself. While still talking, he raised
the bearskn flap Of his saddle-bags,
drew out the brown paper package,
carefully united the string, unfolded
the paper with the decorous gravity OF
a priest handling the holy things of
the altar, and then, without looking at
what he held in his hand, exclaimed
triump phantly, 1--WE will now see what
Bacon says p
The court, bar, jury and spectators
were convulsed with laughter before
Jackson saw the trick that had been
played on him. OF course he was furi-
Gus. He snatched a-pen, and on the
blank leaf OF a law-book wrote per-
emptory challenge, which he delivered
then and there. He asked for no
apology-nothing but blood would do.
He commanded Avery to select friend
and arrange for meeting at once.
Avery made no answer to this per-
emptory demand, thinking his peppery
antagonist would laugh rather than
fight, as he grew cooler. But he did
not know the young man. Jackson
grew hotter instead OF cooler. Next
morning, he sent this note, which was
tull of bad spelling. My North Caro-
lima friend had seen the original, and
in copying it had corrected the ortho-
graphy but these are the exact words ::
August ~, 1888.
SIR: When a mans feelings and
character are injured, he ought to seek
speedy redress. You received a few
lines from me Yesterday. and undoubt-
edly you understand me- My character
you have injured and further you have
insulted me in the presence Of the
court and large audience. l there
lore call upon you as e gentleman to
give me satisfaction for the same. And
I further call upon you to give me an
answer Immediately without equivoca-
| A:.A....An EA.a Na sss.1.