Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-12-22
THE RAFTsMAN's JOURNAL,

the gulf too wide between his Majestic High
ness and his sshumble'' fellow-citizens. He
does not dine on gold services, nor reyel in
damask curtains, nor drive bis coach-and- six
little Injuries, which might do very well for
common men. but never for such distinguish
ed wonders as he. s'Although the Senator
according to the Clearfield paper, which must
know all about iD sshas ample means at his
command to crafty a taste for display, yet
his residence is as unpretending in its appear
ance and its appointments as that of a private
citizen in moderate circumstances :" How
very kind and condescending to live just like
other private citizens, instead of lording it in
princely mansion. as he is certainly entitled
to do by right of his s'distinguished" position.
How cruel-hearted- hisconstituents must be
not to build him a marble palace
That they have not done this tardy act of
simple justice is mainly due, as we are glad
to learn from the CIearfield chronicler, to the
fact that Senator Bigler, like Shakespeare, is
s.not a man for day. or even ssfive months" !"
s.but for all time" His greatness is too great
for single county-Clearfeld county cannot
contain it, and ifit could, and if it were kind
enough to do it, has no right TO such .sdis-
tiDguished'' monopoly ssrhe people of
Clearfield are justly proud of being able to
claim Senator Bigler as one of her adopted
children. but she can no lorger claim him as
erciusireivter oun. His varied and command
ing talenss, and his political experience and
sagacity, have already marked him as one of
the nations statesmen, and hereafter his his
tory will be part of the history of the country
whose legislative halls he helps to adorn 20
We do not wonder that the Clearfielders are
all in tears at their incalcuable loss. The
sudden vanishing of such brilliant light
from their horizon must plunge the ssAmeri-
can citizens" of Clearfield into saddening
gloom. 1t must be poor consolation to them
even to feel that their loss is the countrv's
eternal gain. Ii cannot relieve their agitated
and bereaved bosoms a particle to know that
their ssdistinguished SOM is sshelping to l.
dorm the National Capitol, on whose adorn-
ment so much expenditure has already been
layished that the addition of Bigler seems a
piece of pure wasteful superhuity. They
cannot be quieted with such cold comfort
this They want the distinguished son'' at
home, or ClearfieId must go into sackcIoth
and ashes. Hinc iliGr lachryme. But they
need not pine as those who are utterly without
hope. Three more revolving moons, and the
commanding talents and political sagacity'
of Clearfeld's distinguished son'' need not
answer at the Senate's roll-call. The short
agony of the Thirty-fifth Congress will soon
be over, and the immortal Senator, sswhose
history is to be the history of the country"
may pocket his perquisities and mileage, and
travel home rs fast as steam and his own con-
descension carry him. Then Clearfield
may rejoice once more, and clutch that exten-
ded hand. If Cearfield is content 10 get him
back, the country will be satisfied to spare
the Senator, and we question whether it would
ever feel a single throb of agony if his county
should keep the distinguished sons at home
for the rest OF his natural life.
NoTE.-Boswell was the biographer of DR..
Johnson. Macauley says 'she was always
lay ing himself at the feet of some eminent
man, il he could thereby secure the least
notice. When he remarked on one occa-
sion that ssthe world said johnson was a bull
dog" the Doctor replied that s'lhe world said
he TBoswelll was a tin-kettlc tied to his tail.''