The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-02-26
ANECDOTE OF WIN. C. PRESTON AND WAR.
rem r. DAVIS

The ClusSicut and tie Tcynarulur.-The
Hon. VIM. 9. Preston and tl,e Hon. War
rem II. Davis, the one still l,cnorc.l and cher
lshcd among the living, tic other deeply
!amentci and fondly remembered among
tie dead, were alike given to something
akin to monopoly of conversation, a: dinner
or social parties, and both spoke so we'll
that their auditory were never weary Of liz.
ten'ng. On some dinner OCCASION, they met
ut the hospabie board of Il mutual friend,
and were, as usual, both b"S,.t by tic CO.
cocthcs ioq"cmii; but Mr. Preston, ly SUI
pcrlor tactics, and much 10 the ANNOYANCE of
his distinguished friend and colc,,uial rival.
got the parole, and kept II, too, without stint
or compassion. The theme of tho account
plshcd ex-senator was Il E,vorile one with
him, and one OH which he delighted to
dwell and cxpaliate-il WIS the extraordi-
nary power Of condensation, in both thought
and expression, which characterized tile an.
cicnt Greek and Latin Iangnagcs, beyond
anything Of the kind in modern tongues.
On it he literally "disrourscd eloquent mu-
SIC" adorning it with frequent and apt H.
lustration, and, among other. examples,
| citing the celebrated admonilion of the
spartan mother to her warrior son, on :he
eve OF battle" With your shield, or upon
1t" The whole party were delighted witt,
The rich tones and classic teachings Of the
gifted colloq"ist, except his equally gifted
competitor for conversational aurels, who.
notwithstanding his enforced admiration.
sat uneasi'y under the prolonged disqusi-
ton, anxiously waiting for an opportunity
to take his place in the picture at length,
/" Utilization scizing the olE,ctory nerve of
Mr.. Preston, he paused to take a pinch of
snuii, and MIR. Davis Immediately filled up
the r"ccum, taking up the line of speech.
in this wise:
" have listened" said lie. "with equal
cdiiication aud pleasure. to the classic dis
course of our friend, sparkling with gems
alike of intellect and fancy; but I differ
from hun toto c@lo. lie may say what he
will, as TO The superior vigor and condensa-
ton OF thought and speech, charact err site
Of classic Greece and Ho:me; but, for my
part, | think there is nothing equal to our
own rc'"oc"l~, in these particulars, and
am fortunately able, although from hum
bic s"''sce, to give you a striking and con-
elusive example and illustration of the
fact
"As I was returning home from Con-
gress, some years since, I approached a
river, in North Carolina, which I,a, beet,
swollen by a recent freshet, and observed
country girl fording in with sails, ,furl.d, aud
Il plgggin of butter on her head: As ar
rived ut the rivers edge, the rustic Naiad
emerged from the watery element. MY
girl said l, how deep's the Water, and
what's the price of butter?' up to my
waist and ninc.pence,' was the prompt and
significant response! Le,my learned friend
beat that, if he can, in brevity and force Of
expression, 10y aught to be found, in all his
treasury Of classic lore,,'
A roar Of laughter followed this Lumor-
Gus explosion, and a unanimous vote in
favor OF the re'naculur awarded the palm
to the distinguished and successful wae
over his classical but crest fallen competitor.
-ChaieSiom Courier.
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