The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-11-28
EVANSVILLE ND WEDNESDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 28
OBJ 9aiIp genrnaL
4 WONDERFUL STORY

a WONDERFUL STORY.
The following wonderful story appeared
several years ago from the pen of al unknown
author:
The other morning at the breakEa table,
our friend, the Hon. John c. Calhoun, seemed
very much troubled and out he spirits.
You know he is altogether venerable man,
with hard, stern, Scotch Irish face, softened
in its expression around the mouth by sort Of
sad smile which wins the hearts of all who
converse with him. His hair is snow white.
He is tall, thin and angular. He reminds you
very much of Old Hickory. That he is honest
no one doubts; he has sacrificed to his fatalism
his brightest hopes ofpolitical Advancement;
has offered up on the shrine Of that necessity
which he worships all that can excite ambition
even the Presidency of the United States.
But to my story. The other morning at the
breakfast table, where l. an unobseryed specta-
tor, happened to be present, Calhoun was OBJ
served to gaze frequently at his right hand,
and brush it with his left in hurried and
nervous manner. He did this so often that it
excited attention Atlength one ofthe persons
composing the the breakfast party; his name,
think is Toombs, and he is member of
Congress from Georgia-took upon himself
Ito ask the occasion of Mr.. Calhoun's dis
Iquietude.
"Does your hand pain your he asked of
Mr.. G.
To this Mr.. Calhoun replied, in rather
Hurried manner:
"Pshaw. 1t Is nothing! Only dream l
had last night and which makes me see per-
petually large black spot like an ink blotch
upon the back of my right hand. An optical
Illusion | suppose. IS
OF course these words excited the curiosity
of the company, but no one yentured to beg
the details of this singular dream, until Toombs
asked quietly ~
"What was your dream like? Pm not
very superstitious about dreams; but some
times they have a greatdeal of truth in them"
"But this was such peculiarly absurd
dream said Mr.. Calhoun, again brushing the
back of his right hand; however, if it does not
intrude too much on the time of our friends,
will relate it to you"
| Ofcourse the company were profuse in their
expressions of anxiety to know all about the
dream. In his singular sweet voice. Mr..
Calhoun related it:
"At a late hour last night, as was sitting
in my room engaged in writing, was aston
ished BY the entrance of visitor who entered
and without word took seat opposite me at
my table. This surprised me as had given
particular orders to the servant that should on
no account be disturbed. The manner in
which the intruder entered, so perfectly self
possessed, taking his seat opposite me, with
out word, as though my room and all with
in it belonged to him, excited in me as much
surprise as Indignation. AS raised my head
to look into his features, over the top of my
shaded lamp, discovered that he was wrapt
in thin cloak, which effectually concealed
II cook frO,,, Ay,I 7
raised my head he spoke" 4
What are you writing, Senator from South
Carolina?' -
81 did not think of his inpertinence at first
but answered him voluntarily rll
81 am writings plan for the dissolution of
the American Union, (you know gentlemen,
that l am expected to produce plan of dis
solution in TIC event of certain contingencies !
"To this tine intruder replied, in the coolest
manner possible:
sSenator from South Carolina, will you allow
me to look at your hand-your right hand?"
'He rose, the cloak fell, and l beheld his |
face. Gentleman, the sight of that face struck
me like thunder-clap. 1t was the face ofa
dead man whom extraordinary events had
called back to life. The features were those
of General George Washington-yes, gentle /
men, the intruder was none other than George
Washington. He was dressed in the Eeyoiu-
tionary costume, suchas you see in the Patent
Office"
Here Mr.. Calhoun paused apparently agitat-
ed His agitation, / need not tell you, was
shared by the company Toombs at length |
broke the embarrassing pause:
well, we'll, what was the issue of this
scene?', ra -
Mr.. Calhoun resumed |
"The intruder, as | have said, rose and ask
ed to look at my right hand. AS though | had
not the power to refuse, / extended it. The
truth is / felt strange thrill peryade me at
his touch; he grasped it and held it near the |
light thus affording me full time to examine
every feature, 1t was the face of Washington. |
Gentlemen, | shudder cred as / beheld the horri- |
bly, dead alive of that visage. After holding
my hand for moment, he looked at me steadi4
Ily, and said in quiet way 80 l61 /
Sand with this right had Senator from South
Carolina, you would sign your name to pa
per declaring the Union dissolved?'
II answered in the affirmative. Yes II
said, IF certain contingency arises, will
Isign nv name to the Declaration of fDissolu- |
tion But at that moment a black blotch ap
peared on the back ofmy hand. an inky blotch
which seem to see even now. What is that
said l. alarmed, know not why, at the blotch
on my hand. E
THAT" said he dropping my hand. 'is the
mark by which Benedict Arnold is known
in the next world +"
"He said no more, gentlemen, but drew from
beneath his cloak an object which he laid up
on the table-laid it upon the very paper on
which l was writing That object gentleman,
was skeleton.
There said he, ''there are the bones of
Isaac Hayne, who was hung at Charleston by