Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1857-04-22
Anecdote of Preston and LAWS.


The Hon. w G Preston and the Hon.
Warren K. Davis, the one still cherished and
honored among the living, the other deeply
lamented and fondly remembered among the
dead, Were alike given to something akin to
monopoly of conversation at dinner or social
parties, and both spoke so well that their au-
dltory were never weary oflistenint On some
occasion they met atrthe liospitable board of
{, mutual friend, and were, as usual both be-
set by the cocoethes loquendi, but Mr. Pres
ton OF superior tactics, and greatly to the an
noyance of his distinguished friend and col
loquia rival, got the parole, and Kept it, too,
without stint or compassion, The theme of
the accomplished ex-senator was a iavorte
one with him, and one he delighted to dwell
and expatiate upon-it was the e>traorlina-
ry power Of condensation, in both thought
and expression, which characterized the an
scier.t Greek and Latin languages, beyond
anything ofthe kind in modern ton cues On
it he literally 'discoursed eloquent music,
adjoining it with frequent and apt ilustra-
ton, and among examples, citing the cele,
brated admonition Of the Spartan mother to
her warrior son, on the eve of battle-"With
your shield or upon it. IT, t'.r. ..@
The whole party were delighted with the
rich tones and classical teaching of the gifted
colloquist, except his equally gifted compct-
tor for conversational laurcis, not"iths;and-
ing his enforced admiration sat uneasly I'M
der the prolonged disquisition, a,lxiousy
waiting for an opportunity to take ais place
in the picture. At leagth, u tituation seiz-
ing the ollactory nerve Of Nh Preston, he
stoppe to take a pinch of snuff, AMI Mr. Davis
immediately filled up the racuam taking up
the line of speech in this wise: .y se a.- :,
Il have listened, said he with equal ed
ifcation and pleasure, to the classic discourse
Of our friend, sparkling with gems alike of
intellect and fancy; but differ with him
toto cceio He may say what he will as to
thesuperior vigor and condensation OF thought
and speech, characteristic Of classic Greece
and Rome; but, for my part, | think there is
nothing superior to 0ur own rcraucular, in
these particulars; and am fortunately able,
although from a humble source, to give you
a striking and conclusive example aud illus
traton of the fact ,lk .ai.aa# oq ..g
las | was returning, home from Congress
some years Since / approached a river. in
North Carolina, which had swollen by re-
cent freshet, and observed country girl
fordiag it, with sails fiuled, and a pisrin of
butter on her head. As approached the
waters edge, the rustic Naiad emerged from
The watery clement. My girl, SAID |, how
deep the water; and what's tie price of
butter z up to my waist and nine pence
was the prompt and significant response -
Let my learned friend beat that, he can, in
breyty and force of expression, b aueht to
be found, in his treasury of CLASSIC lore"
\ roar Of laughter followed this humorous
explosion, and ii unanimous vote in, favor Of
the cernacu1ar, awarded the palm to the dis
and successful wac, over his elias
steal but crest fallen competitor. .'r. +-'