The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-04-05

Recollections of nIr. Calhoun.


will be read with all the more pleasure for the
scarcity of personal anecdotes of t's great
southerneT:
It is pleasant yet mournful occupation to
recall the hours spent in the society of this
great and pure statesman, and to dwell upon
the impression made by his conversation and
appearance. More particularly do lprize these
memories since he is no longer among US, and
know the privilege of listening to him is new
er again to be enjoyed. Taught from child
hood to admire, might almost say worship,
his character as a statesman, the first time
beheld him is indelibly impressed upon my
mind. The fame of an eloquent minister of
the Gospel had drawn together the inhabitants
of the little village Of P. and the surrounding
country. Glancing carelessly over the church,
was attracted by the striking appearance of
gentleman just then entering pew near the
one occupied. His hair silvered by age, form
erect, the penetrating glance of his grey eye,
together with the thoughtful expression of his
face, "marked him as no ordinary man." As
certainiug who he was, could scarcely repress
an exclamation of delight and surprise. The
man admired more than any living one was
now before me- The remainder OF the servi-
ces were lost on me my attention was occu-
pied in watching him. He joined in the ser
vices of the church with great devotion Of man
ner, and paid undivided attention to the sermon.
In short time my desire of approaching him
was gratified. rode to Fort Hill with friend
to return call. Mrs. Calhoun, with old fash.
ioned hospitality insisted that We should spend
the day. To approach Mi. c. in crowd, to
speak to him then, l had anticipated but to
know him for the first time in his own home,
to see him alone with his family, was pleas
ure as unexpected as it WAS agreeable. No
young person draws near to q great man for
the first time without a feeling of awe. long
ed for, yet dreaded Mr.. C.'s appearance in the
drawing room. When he entered, and was
presented to him, the simplicity of his manner,
and pleasing, quiet conversation, soon assured
me, and felt perfectly at my ease. He was
very agreeable to young people, entering into
their amusements and occupations as if he felt
and enjoyed them With his sons his inter
course and influence were very happy. He
treated their opinions with respect, at the same
time correcting them when erroneous. One
instance | remember. One of his sons, a
thoughtless lad, who had already learned to
pride himself upon belonging to the aristocracy
of the State, where aristocracy Of births priced
more than in any other State in the Union,
spoke of the impertinent curiosity and inquisi.
tiveness of the lower class. "My son" re.
marked Mr.. G., ''you must not commence life
with such wrong impressions. Ii you can give
Information 10 those who have not your ad.
vantages, give it gladly, and learn from them
in return. Some of the best lessons OF my life
I have learned from those beiicath me. ifthey
have less education, they observe more closely
than we do never meet a laboring man
| who seems disposed for conversation, but Ills.
ten to his remarks and ask him questions. -
Turning over portfolio of engravings for our
amusement, Mr.. c. held up to our gaze the
most miserable daub in the way of portrait
ever beheld. 1t was the head of man, with
fiery red hair, standing up as if each hair was
electrified; eyes without expression, and mouth
and nose unproportionate. "Do you think this
correct likeness!' he asked with a peculiar
smile.
I received this few days since, with an
accompanying letter requesting a lock of my
hair, from young lady who admires my cha.
racter, and has had SO many descriptions OF me
that she thinks she can paint a correct likeness
of me. This is the result of her experiment" f"
"Why did you not return it and inform her
that it was unlike2" asked.
"If this is her idea of beauty, and she attri-
butes it to me, | prize it as such" he replied.
81 wrote, thanking her and sent the hair"
In the afternoon Mr.. C. conducted US through
his garden and orchard. He took much inter.
est in agriculture, and had the most productive
orchard and best regulated farm in the country.
The day soon drew to a close. | shall ever
regard it as one of the most agreeable days of
my life. l saw Mr. c. often afterwards, fire.
queutly in his own house, hut never alone with
his family. My admiration of him grew with
nv acquaintance. Never was man more be-.
loved by those among whom he lived than he
was, | visited them short time after his
death; gloom pervaded every household, for
all felt they had lost a friend.--N Y. Times.
DISCIPLINE IN CHILDHooD.-Young people
who have been hsbitually gratified in all their
desires, will not only more indulge in capricious
desires. but will nfalliably take it more amiss
when the feelings or happiness of others require
that they should be thwarted, than those who
have been practically trained to the habit of
subduing and restraining them, and conse.
quently will in general sacrifice the happiness
of others to their own selfish indulgence. To
what else is the selfshness of Princes and 9TH
er great people to be attributed? 1t is in vain
to think of ofcultivating principles of generosity
and bene6ceuce by mere exhortation and rea-
soning. Nothing but the practical habit of
overcoming our own selfshness, and of fami.
larly encountering privatious and discomfort
on account of others, will ever enable US to do
it when required And therefore am firmly
persuaded that indulgence nfalibly produces
selfshness and hardness of heart, and that