CHAPTER the Sixth.
Houston and Wigfall of Texas--Stephen A.Douglas--The Twaddle about Puritans and Cavaliers--Andrew Johnson and John C.Breckenridge I The National Capitol--old men's fancies fondly turn to thoughts of youth--was picturesque in its personalities if not in its architecture.
By no means the least striking of these was General and Senator Sam Houston, of Texas.

In his life of adventure truth proved very much stranger than fiction.
The handsomest of men, tall and stately, he could pass no way without attracting attention; strangers in the Senate gallery first asked to have him pointed out to them, and seeing him to all appearance idling his time with his jacknife and bits of soft wood which he whittled into various shapes of hearts and anchors for distribution among his lady acquaintances, they usually went away thinking him a queer old man.

So inded he was; yet on his feet and in action singularly impressive, and, when he chose, altogether the statesman and orator.
There united in him the spirits of the troubadour and the spearman.
Ivanhoe was not more gallant nor Bois-Guilbert fiercer.

But the valor and the prowess were tempered by humor.

Below the surging subterranean flood that stirred and lifted him to high attempt, he was a comedian who had tales to tell, and told them wondrous well.