Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-09-01
TOM PAIN r..


son came into my store, and SAID tha'
Paine was standing on the steps at the
entrance of the hotel. AS | lived next
street, and beng curious to see him,
with two gentlemen who happened to be
in the store at the time, went round the
corner to have a look at him; but before
we got there he had stepped in. AT that
moment happened to observe $
L--n the painter, enter the hotel.-
As knew Sma and he were compatri-
OTIS through the whole Of the American
Revolution, presumed he was going to
see his old friend, and proposed to my
companions to go in likewise, saying,
that as | was acquainted with mr.. l.
N, he would introduce us. They how
ever, declined to go, so ] went alone.
'Is Mr.. Paine at home" said | to
the waiter.--"H es. "--"In his own
room?" "Yes."-"Can see him?'-
"Follow me-" and was ushered into Il
spacious room, where the table was set
for breakfast. One gentleman was writ
ing at the table, another reading the
newspapers at the further end of the
room, and lengthy, lank, coarse-look-
ing figure was standing with his back to
the fire. saw resemblance to por-
trait had seen in 'the Rights of Man. ,
| knew it was Paine.
While following the waiter, presumng
Paine was alone, | prepared speech to
introduce myself to plain Republican
soIus, but when ! found myself in the
presence of others, with the great author
of "Common Sense" | was at a loss for
moment; at last | recovered my self
posse ssion and said,
"Gentlemen, is Mr.. Paine in this
room;" he stepped towards me and an
swered, "My name is Paine" | held
out my hand, and when had hold ofhis,
says | "Mr. Paine, and you gentlemen,
will excuse my abrupt entry, came out
of mere curiosity to see the man whose
writings have made so much noise in the
world" Paine answered, 81 am very
glad your curiosity is so easily satisfied. >
Then, without a word more, | reloned
''Good morning." and, walking out, shut
the door behind me.
heard them all burst out into n loud
laugh. Thinks |, they may laugh that
win, have seen Paine, and all things
considered, have made a good retreat.
The gentlemen called the waiter and
inquired who was; and he told them
They reported the matter in the coffee
house, and among their acGuaintanccs,
and as the story travelled, it was enrich
ed with all manner of garnishing. One
of them was, that had told Paine he was
I'D rascal, and had it not been
for his books | would never have left my
native country. Are not people who in
| vent additions to truths, liars?
At rhat time was presentar in the
Scotch Presbyterian Church in Cedar
street, of which the famous Dr. John
| Mason was minister. The Kirk Session
caught the alarm, an extra meeting was
called, and | was suspended from cilice
some months on account of having visit
ed Tom Paine.
When Paine had afterwards fallen in
to disrepute, and was Stunned by the
more respectable of his friends on ac-
count of his drunken habits, he boarded
in the house of one w. C*"t% This G.. and
] being acquainted, had free access to
his house, and frequently called to con-
verse with Tom Paine. One evening
he related the following anecdote
| During the slaughtery of Robespierre,
when every republican that the monster
could get in his power was beheaded,
Paine was cast into prison, and his name
was on a list with nineteen who were or
dered for execution next morning. 1t
was customary for the clerk of the tribu-
nal to 60 round the cells at night, and to
put cross with chalk on the back ofthe
door of such of the prisoners as were or
tered for the scaflold in the morning -
When the executioner came with his
guard to remove the victims wherever a
chalk was found, the inmate of the cell
was taken forth and executed
In these horrible shamblcs there was
long gallery, having row of cells on
each side. The passage was secured at
the end, but the doors Of the cells were
left open, and sometimes the prisoners
stepped into the rooms ofone another for
company. 1t happened on the night pre-
ceding the day appointed for the doom oi
Paine, that he had gone into his neigh
boris cell, leaving his door open with its
back to the wall Just then the chalker
came past, and being probably drunk,
crossed the inside of his cell door.
/. Next morning, when the guard came
with an order to bring out the twenty VIC
TINS, and finding only nineteen chalks,
Paine being in bed and his door shut,
they took prisoner from the further end
of The gallery, and thus made up the re-
qulslte number.
\ About forty-eight hours after this a.