Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1901-04-11
QUAINT SAM HOUSTON
MS PICTURESQUE ATTITUDE IN TAE
UNITED STATES SENATE

Clad ra IN Indian blanket His prin-
ctraI EmpInsmens Was whiting
Pine sticks-Hi> euitclaim Deed TO
one IIundred and sixty Acre. OF
Land.
General sam Houston Of Texas was
the most picturesque figure in the sen
ale during my irSt years OF service at
the capitol Like Eeutou. he was very
fond OF young men and soon came 70
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 tie senate chamber
Invariably asked 10 have. him pointed
out Ia them, and they were never dis
appointed in their hero for lie vas
large Of fran of StateIy carriage and
di.sniaed deIueauor and Lad a IiouiIke
coEbtrL&Hce.
Always unconventional in dress. he
y uld nos ami thea appear AT the cap
Itul wearing q vast and SNOWY so.aGf.,
80 and :. A.eXicau b!anb.t. a sort If or
namentai b>d4uil, with sit in the
middle Through Which the wcarerS
bead was thrust ieaxing the blauEet 10
hang in folds around tie body HIS
pri ejpal employment in the senate
WIS whiting pine sticks of which he
secuted To have an unlimited supply 1t
was only nj rare Intervals that he
broke silence. but when he Id speak
he always proved himself "a aabie of
contributing his quota OF sound and
patriotic advice To the deiibera tIons OF
the senate
No passage in HoustonS career was
nrhlrr than the heroic stand against
diSunion which marked its close. while
cf his EiHd!iueSs OF nature and geuer-
ouS he!pfulness 10 those in distress one
could recall stories sufficient to fill Il
volume.
Near Quincy, Ills. there was a
stretch of country known as the in
dian tract 10 which Houston held Ii
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
anu subsequently Ii SeIdtOE from MS
state. and ssked If he knew Houston.
Richardson said he did. whereupon his
visitor confided to him that he had in
advertenty settled upon 100 acres #
Houstou's land and that all ne 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 a quitclaim
deed to the loo acres
wv hat sort OF = man is this constitu-
ent of yours who has Numbered 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.
What's this farm worth now?' ask
Cd Houston.
improvements and all about $4,000. -
was the response.
w hat was the bare place worth
when you fellows went on itf" queried
Houston.
About So an acre; $500 in ALL an
swered 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 I'll
make him deed
In due time the $500 reached Wash
ington in the shape of New York
draft Richardson sought Houston.
who. having executed deed. took the
draft and Endorsed it.
You say this man of yours is n good
fellow" he asked thoughtfully.
Couldn't be better one was the
emphatic answer.
send him back this draft and tell
him Sam HoSston has changed his
mind. What can you buy a good sad
die horse for out in that country He
was told that 5000 would do it. Well
then" said Houston, write to your
friend and tell him to buy first class
saddle horse about years old and
keep him for me. When congress ad
journs will go home with you and
ride the horse down to Texas
Without delay the man in Illinois re-
WIN t'I tdNh Ms uIdIi anu bought IL Stit-
Ole horse. the best he could find. Just
before Adjournment Houston sought
Richardson. You say the fellow who's
got my horse is a tiptop good mann
Richardson again declared him one of
the best in his district We'll" said
Houston. with q sigh. Il should have
liked first rate to see him and also my
horse. but as affairs turn out | must go
straight TO Texas. When you get home,
20 over and see this man and tell him
TO sell the horse and do what he
pleases with the money. And. 10y the
way. Richardson. l wish you would
write and tell me If II was a good horse
~ ot."-PerSonal Recollections Of Ca
lusha \ Grow as Related TO Rufus
Rock well Wilson in Saturday Evening
Post
Satisfaction.
RrOwn-SO you lost your lawsuit
with SMITH
Jones-Yes: but its satisfaction to