The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-04-12
MISCELLANEOUS.
Hecollections of the late John G.
Calhoun.
BY HIS PRIVATE SECRETARY.


meal. II, ate to live; he w,3 mn, on' oF
t ,ne GAS that 1--we to eat. Cod water was
MS la'or,te beverage. IIe rarely drank
WINE; when he Iii 80, it was cItrct. At
dinner party, he woull sip very it'll.
rom his wine glass. His physician or.
Hered him to take very sma oranti,v
oi "ranly, for year br more prey;ous to
his death; but it was like talinr a u,us,.
Gus dose of medicine, AMI it was with
some trouble that he could be induced TO
comply with the prescription. NV fond
ness Tor ardent spirits was matter of
great. surprise to him. To use his own
words, IL don't understand the philoso-
ply OF IT." Between the years 1912 and
1850, some very amusing anecdotes oc
CURED in relation to my drinking propcn-
slty. In the summer of 1914, when he
was Secretary Of State, he was livinr Mt
Mis-. Owens; she kept n boarding hors
on Capitol Hill; lived with him; his family
was not at Washington that summer: i
was very dull, John Tyler was President:
Mr.. Calhoun used to rise about davbrcak,
and at 10 o'clock go to the State Depart.
meht-retdrn about 3 when be had din
ner, afterwards he would walk until tea
time; generally, in the evening, used to
have a great deal of writing to do and he
would retire about 10 o'clock after he
had retired, l don't think he remained
awake moment; | have heard him saw,
that no matter how much care or anxiety
had been upon his mind, that no sooner
did his head touch the pillow, than he
hunng 1t of and went 10 sleep, and never
woke until morning, unless he was dis
turbed As soou as he had fai " retired
l used to lay aside my writing arrange
ments--very quietly make my way out
OF the house, 60 down upon the iTdnue,
and at Mr.. Jenkins or some other ten pin
alle:", pass awaytwo or three hours very
comtortably7and actively, at .hc same time
Indulge in three or four mint iulcps, and
about one or two o'clock reach Capitol
Hill, slide into the house, and mp stairs
and go TO bed. a little later in the morn
ing when the train went rafting out OF
Washington towards Baltimore, | would
be up, dress, and 60 to work as busy ms
bee; very probably, little later, ifI
was doing any particular writing, he
would enter. the room everything would
appear like clock work this state of things
went on for some weeks. The town was
very much excited about the election which
was to come off in November, between
Polk, or Clay. During my night trips, |
had great deal to say about Mr.. Clay
and Mr.. Polk, and | had managed to bet
hundred dollars on the result. Unbe-
known to me at the time, a great many
people to whom | talked freely, convey ed
my. doings and talkings to Mr.. Calhoun.
One afterHoon he took me to task, very gent
ly, however.
"You ought to be extremely careful Of
what you say in rete ence to Mr.. Polk or
Mr.. Clay" ). ,",.~'.'
"Me. Sir. What have [ said I"
"Well, l have heard of great many
things that you have said, recently, al
though | don't exactly comprehend when
you have had the time or opportunity to
say so much. But being with me, a great
many worthy people hold me responsible,
for they think you express my sentiments.
Did you not tell some one, that if Mr..
Clay was defeated, would nev cr be Pres
ident!
"No, Sir. | did not exactly say that,
but said if any unknown man like Mr..
Polk, could be elected President over such
man as Clay, no great man would ever
be elected again, and still think so. l
did not mention your name"
"Ab, that's it. 7 wouldn'r talk politics
on the Avenue" sai1 he, good naturcdIy.
Soon after this, | came home one night,
and Mr.. Owners two dogs set up such
racket that went back again TO the Ave
nue., determined to wait until day break
before | went home. | found a billiard
saloon open yet and into that entered
and got drinking very freely; about day
light / started for home, and had lust
reached the West grounds of tie Capitol
ghen WHO should l meet but Mr. Calhoun.
l stopped short. So did he. His eyes
went through me. There was no need Of
my saying anything At last he spoke
very kindly.
NComc with me Into the 'GrGunds." y
followed without word, until we
reached the cast iron seats.
snow sit down." said he, "and tell me
all about the matter"
did so,> and said that was very much
confined by my duties, and that had
scarcely any time for relaxation, and so in
order that might not disturb him, I had
been in the habit Of leaving the house at
night, and going on the Avenue to take
exercise by rolling ten pins, and that
drank when was in company.
al can't understand it. have had
one case before you. Warren r. Davis
got into the same habits, and it was kept
from me until it was too late. He was
on his death bed before knew what the
matter was with him. ! don't intend
this shall be the case with you." He con
tinued to converse with me in the kindest
rnanner. promised to try and abstain
"0r, if you do drink any at all, drink a
glass OF wine, as | do. Don't carry il to
excess, and (for had expressed wish to
get out Of the atmosphere of Washington
continue TO pursue this course, and remain
with me until the time approaches for my
leaving office, and ! will get the President
70 appoint you abroad" The* kindness
Of that interview alone made an impression
upoon me that never forget. From that