Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-05-17
QUAINT A HOUSTON
HIS PICTURESQUE ATTITUDE IN THE
UNITED STATES SENATE.

cipnl Employment Was whiting
One Hundred 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 'one of his boys" Only
those who were youngsters in the for
ties can 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
digniied demeanor and had a lionlike
countenance.
Always unconventional in 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 bedquilt with a slit in the
middle through which the wearer's
head was 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. 1t
was only at rare intervals that he
hrsnl.n Ci1onan 1trf O-Inn 1n 1f1 Ctnno1 l.
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 fill q
volume.
Near Quincy, Ills, there was a
stretch of country known as the In
dian tract" to which Houston held IT,
tie, 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, whereupon his
visitor confided to him that he had in
advertently settled upon 160 acres of
Houston's land and that all he was
worth stood in Improvements on it. He
wanted Richardson to see Houston and
make the best terms that he could.
Richardson upon his return to Wash
ington told Houston the story and ask.
ed what he would take for o quitclaim
deed to the 100 acres.
What sort of a man is this ~constitu.
ent Of yours who has blundered upon
my land?" asked Houston.
"A good, square, honest man." was
the reply.
when | turn him off my land,
reckon he and his family will be beg
gars?"
Richardson nodded.
whats this farm worth now?' ask,
ed Houston.
improvements and all about $6,OOO.'
was the response.
what was the bare place worth
when you fellows went on itT" queried
Houston.
About S. an acre; $500 in ALL" an
swcred Richardson.
Good fellow, this man Of yours
richardson" this after a moments
thought.
BEST in the world" said Richardson
"Tell him to send me $500. and II
make him a deed"
In due time the $500 reached Wash
ington in the shape Of n New York
draft. Richardson sought Houston
who, having executed a deed, took the
draft and Endorsed it.
You say this man of your ia a good
fellow" he asked thoughtfully.
Couldn't be a better one" was the
emphatic answer.
Send him back this draft and tel
him Sam Houston has changed hi,
mind. What can you buy a good sad
die horse for out in that country" He
vas told that 5000 would do it. "Well
then" said Houston, write TO you
friend and tell him to buy a first class
saddle horse about 4 years old anC
keep him for me. When congress ad
%1ourns, | will go home with you an(
ride the horse down to Texas"
Without delay the man in Illinois re
ceived back his draft and bought a sad
die horse, the best he could find. JUS
before adjournment Houston sough'
Richardson. You say the fellow who's
got my horse is a tiptop good MANI
Richardson again declared him one Of
the best in his district. "Well," sale
Houston, with a sigh, Il should have
liked first rate to see him and also my
horse, but as affairs turn out l must &c
straight to Texas. When you get home
go over and see this man and tell bin
TO sell the horse and do what he
pleases with the money. And, by the
way, Richardson, / wish you would
writeyand tell me If it was a good horse
or not."-Personal Recollections of Ga
lusha A. Grow as Related to Rufus