The Natchitoches enterprise., 1915-08-12
| Happenings Forto
/ Years Ago.
This Week.
} From The Peoples Vindicdtor.
! Aug. I4tb. 1875.
New Orleans Letter.

Special Correspondence of the Enquirer.
NEW ORLEANS, June 7, 1875.
Yesterday afternoon your correspon-
dent was lazily dreaming away the
hours while seated upon the the mag
nifcent veranda of the historic st.
Charles. when his attention was arrest
ed by the arrival of a person who
seemed to be no less distinguished for
his extraordinary physical appearance
than his exquisite toilet He was
six foot individual, with magnificent
head and handsome face set upon
pair Of giant shoulders, finely-molded
body, and the leg of an Apollo Belvi-
dere. He was neatly arrayed in
fashionably-cu black, with white vest
and black silk tile. A handsomer man
I'm sure never saw. When he ap-
preached the iron railing and removed
his hat to enjoy the fresh breeze that
was inst then coming up from the Gulf,
he exposed a Uranium which for pom
derousness rivals, if it does not excel,
that Of Daniel Webster, mounting up
in rugged lodges, as it were, until it
formed such an intellectual dome as
bespoke the mental giant. His chin
was exceedingly massive, his mouth
Just little sensuous, and a pair Of
effulgert gold spectacles added BRILL
ancy to two already bright eyes, bulg-
ing in a manner quite fanciful, but de-
noting great power of speech. He was
just such man as would be taken for
a chief among ten thousand. Struck
by the distingIed presence of this at
tractive parsonage, l implusively ask
ed my companion:
"Who is he?"
"Why, that's Colonel Levy-Wm. M,
Levy of Northwest Louisiana, you've
heard Of him, of course"
instantly replied that had never
had that honor.
"Whst! never heard of Bill Levy,
the wheel-horse of Democracy in this
latitude? Why, he's a prominent in
dividual just now, and I'll tell you
about him"
By this time Colonel Levy had left
the veranda, and my companion pro-
ceeded to give me his history. 1t ap-
peared that, as had conjectured, he
was a man of remarkable talent. He
resided in the ancient French town of
Natc.i.oches. on Red River, in North
west Louisiana, where he had, az
lawyer, aniassed large fortune. His
pretensions have always been of an
aristocratic character. In his poorest
days he managed to live in fine man.
sion, drove blooded horses, and kept an
establishment worthy Of one who en-
ioyed state income. His eloquence
was of the most brilliant and persua-
sive character, carrying juries by
storm, and swaying multitudes by its
invisible power. He was quite young
when the war began, and served in the
Confederate army as Colonel, Though
he has served one term in the Legisla-
ture, it has been almost impossible to
prevail upon him to accept Office. Dis
daining the politicians fiesh-pots, he
has contented himself to pursue his
profession quietly, drive a fast horse,
spend whole days playing dominoes
with his Creole burghers, or shuttle a
poker deck with a crowd who enjoyed
his inimitable wit much, but his money
more.
"He always lost at poker, " said my
companion, but he can put more fun in
an anecdote or more hell in political
speech than any enc orator / ever
heard"
At the last general election, now
ever, Colonel Levy accepted the Demo-
cratic nomination for Congress. A
Republican had represented the Dis
trict every term since the war, but
Levy took the stump, and arousing the
people to an unheard of enthusiasm,
was elected by handsome majority.
So he will have an opportunity of air
ing his eloquence at Washington next
winter.
To my great pleasure my companion
informed me that he knew the Colonel
intimately, and offered to introduce me
that night at the Boston Club. Now,
the Boston Club is a sort of yelled
temple here, the interior of which is
generally supposed to support the most
marvellous appointments which none
but the sIector of the social world are
permitted to behold. So / was about
as anxious to visit the Boston Club as
l was to see more of Colonel Bill.
That night my friend and myself were
there quite eafly. Many noted gentle
men were pointed out to me, but the
Colonel had nos yet arrived. Like all
aristocratic nabobs, he was late.
Finally, however, he did come, and Il
had the pleasure Of being presented to
him. Colonel Bill was at once the
center Of an admiring group. And he
should have been. Such a splendid
voice, rich, naellifluous, strong and
and resonant never heard before. It
had just mere faint Of Lord Dun
drearyism about it, which is doubtless
the result of an overweening vanity
which always characterizes people
when they are smart and good-looking,
too. His wit IS keen and brilliant, and
his anecdotal humor fully up to Lincoln.
] learned that Colonel Bill was indeed
an intellectual prodigy, who had been