Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1857-09-10
TALLEYRAND AND ARNOLD.


There was day when Talleyrand arriv-
ed in Havre, on foot from Paris. 1t was
in the darkest hour of the French revolu-
ton. Pursued by the bloodhounds of this
reign of terror, stripped of every wreck of
property, Talleyrand secured a passage to
America. in a ship about to sail. He was
to be a beggar and wanderer in strange
land to earn his bread by daily labor.
'Is there any American staying at your
house 2" he asked the landlord of the hotel
Il am bound to cross the water, and would
like to see person of influence in the New
World"
The landlord hesitated for moment, and
then said: ''There is gentleman up stairs
either from America or Britain, but wheth-
er he is from America or Eng land, [ can
not tell"
He pointed the way, and Talleyrand-
who in his life was a bishop, prince, and
minister -ascended the stairs. A misera-
bic suppliant stood before the stranger S
door, knocked, and entered.
In the far corner Of the dimly lighted
room sat man of some fifty years, his arms
folded, and his head bowed upon his breast.
From a window directly opposite, q food Of
light poured upon his forehead. His eyes
looks from beneath the downcast brows, and
upon Talleyrand's face, with peculiar and
searching expression. His face was strik
ing in outline the mouth and chin indica-
tive of an iron will. His form, vigorous
with the snow of fifty, was clad in u dark,
but rich and distinguished costume.
Talleyrand advanced-stated that he was
a fugitive-and, under the impression that
the gentleman before him was al American,
solicited his kind Offices
I lie poured forth his history in eloquent
French and broken English.
Il am a wanGerer-an exile. [ am
forced to fly to the New World without
friend or home. You are an American
Give me then, beseech you, letter Of
yours, so that [ may be able to earn my
bread [ am willing to toll in any manner.
4 life Of labor would be paradise to ca
reer Of luxury in France. You will give
me letter to one of your friends? A gen.
tleman, like you, doubtless has many,
friends.
The strange gentleman arose. With a
look that Talleyrand never forgot, he re-
treated towards the door of the next cham
Der; his eyes looked still from beneath his
darkened brow.
= He spoke as he retreated backwards
voice full of meaning:
Il am the only man from the New World
who can raise his hand to God and say, |
have not a friend-not even one in all A.
merica."
TallcSrand never forgot the overwhelm-
ing sadness of the look which accompanied
these words.
''Who are you?' he cried, as the strange
man retreated to the next room; 'syour
name 2"
MY name," he replied, with smile that
had more of,mockery than joy in its con-
vulslve expression, ''my name is Benedict
Arnold -
He was gone. Talleyrand sank into
chair, gasping these words:
''Arnold the traitor..''
Thus, you see, he wandered over the
earth like another Cain, with murderer's
mark upon his brow.
y FRANKLIN ASKING FOR WoRK.-When
quite youth, Franklin went to London,
entered a printing office, and enquired if
he could get employment as printer.
"Where are you from?" enquired the
| foreman.
''America,'' was the reply.
"Ah," said the foreman, ''from Ameri-
ca lad from America seeking employment,
as printer! Well, do you really under
stand the art Of printing? Can you set
type?'
Franklin stepped to one of the cases, and
in very brief space, set up the following
passage from the first chapter Of the G ospel
of John:
Nathaniel, saith unto him, can any good
thing come out Of Nazareth? Philip saith
unto him, come and see p
It was done so quick, so accurately, and
contained such delicate reproof, so appro-
pirate and powerful that it at once gave
him character and standing with all in the
Office.
| Mr. ADAMS AND THE BIBLE-In letter
to his son, in 1911, John Quincy Adams
says IL have for many years made it a
practice to read through the Bible once ev-
cry year My custom is to read four or five
chapters every morning, Immediately after
rising from my bed. 1t employs about an
hour of my time, and seems to me the most
suitable manner Of beginning the day In
what1ight soever we read the Bible, wheth-
er with reference to revelation, to history,
or to morality, it is an invaluable and mex
haustible mine Of knowledge and virtue"
It has been said that a chattering little
soul in a large body is like swallow in a.
the bird.