Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1901-07-26
QUAINT SAM HOUSTON
HIS PICTURESQUE ATTITUDE in THE
UNITED STATES SENATE.

w. Nv ~ ]
UNITED STATES SENATE.
Clad In nm Indian blanket, his Prin-
ciDnl Employment Was whiting
Pine sticks-His Q~uitcInim Deed TO
one and sixty Acres OF
Land.
General Sam Houston OF Texas was
the most picturesque figure in the sen.
ate during my first years Of service at
the capitol Like Benton, he was very
fond Of young men and soon came to
count me as zone OF his boys" Only
those who were youngsters in the for
ties al realize the interest people felt
IN Houston In the days when his part
IN the struggle for the independence OF
Texas was still fresh In the public
mind. Visitors to the senate chamber
Invariably asked TO have him pointed
out to them, and they were never dis
appointed In their hero, for he was
large Of frame, Of stately carriage and
dignihed demeanor and had a lionlike
countenance.
Always unconventional 10 dress, he
would now and then appear at the cap
itol wearing a vast and snowy sombre-
70 and a Mexican blanket, a sort Of or
namental bedqullt with a slit in the
middle through which the wearer's
head wal thrust, leaving the blanket to
hang in folds around the body. His
principal employment IN the senate
was whiting pine sticks, of which he
seemed to have an unlimited supply. II
was only at rare intervals that be
broke silence, but when he did speak
he always proved himself capable Of
contributing his quota OF sound and
patriotic advice to the deliberations Of
the senate.
No passage in Houston's career was
nobler than the heroic stand against
disunion which marked its close, while
OF his kindness of nature and gener-
Gus helpfulness to those In distress one
could recall stories sufficient to ill a
volume.
Near Quincy, Ills, there was a
stretch Of country known as the TN.
dian tract" to which Houston held IT,
tic, a fact many Of the settlers thereon,
a careless pioneer brood, failed to
search out. One of them called upon
William A. Richardson, long member
of the house from the Quincy district
and subsequently a senator from his
state, and asked If he knew Houston.
Richardson said he did, w%hereupon his
visitor conGded to him that he had in.
sdvertently settled upon 100 acres Of
H~ouston's land and that all he was
worth stood In improvements on it. He
wanted Richardson to see Houston and
make the best term1 that he could.
Richardson upon his return to Wash.
lngton told Houston the story and ask
ed what he would take for a quitclalm
deed to the 100 acres.
what sort Of a man is this colstitu-
ent Of yours who has %blundered upon
my land?" asked Houston.
"a good, square, honest man." was
the reply.
when I turn him off my land, l
reckon he and his family will be beg
garsY
Richardson nodded.
! whats this farm worth now?" ask.
ed Houston.
Improvements and all about $4,000
a, was the response.
/. what was the bare place worth
when you fellows went on itT' queried
! Houston.
About IS an acre; $500 in ALL" an.
swered Richardson.
GOOD fellow, this man Of yours
Richardson this after a moments
: thought.
a BEST in the world" said Richardson
!, Tell him to send me $500, and III
? make him a deed"
In due time the $500 reached Wash.
ington In the shape of a New Yorl
draft. Richardson sought Houston
who, having executed a deed, took the
draft and Endorsed It.
you say this man of yours is q goo(
fellowT he asked thoughtfully.
. Couldn't be a better one" was th'
emphatic answer.
"Send him back this draft and tel
him Sam Houston has changed Iii
q mind. What can you buy a good sad
. die horse for out In that countryF' HI
was told that 5000 would do 1t. well
then" said Houston, write to you
friend and tell him to buy a first elias!
Ehuule iOise hDOuL > years Olu uuN
keep him for me. When congress ad
n journs, I viii go home with you anl
II ride the horse down to Texas"
4 Without delay the man in Illinois re
4 celved back his draft and bought n sad
II do horse, the best he could find. Jus
Il before adjournment Houston sough
Richardson. you say the fellow who
N got my horse Is a tiptop good man2
4, Richardson again declared him one o
n the best In his district. "Well," sait
Il Houston, with n sigh, II should havI
n liked first rate to see him and also M
horse, but as affairs turn out | must q
n straight to Texas. When you get home
20 over and see this man and tell hin
y to sell the horse and do what h
pleases with the money. And, by tn
| way, Richardson, ! wish you would
write and tell me If It was a good horst
! or not."-Personal Recollections Of Ga
4 lusha a. Grow as Related to Rufus
Rockwell Wilson In Saturday Evening
: Post.