Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-04-23
THU GAZETTE.
FRIDAY A6pRNlNG, AraL -, 1858

when he REMOVED TO the vicinity ot Benton,
near the dividing line of Lowndes aud Dallas.
The lasttime that ever visited BIN, occurs to
me. and as some OF the incidents which took
place are bubGling up from the repertory OF
the past, shall relate them. He had inst re-
turned home from Washington via New York,
where he had been Toasted and toasted Ito
the top of his bent" by the merchants and
manufacturers. In fact, | had scarcely Ia
ken seat, after entering tie house, before
saw evidence that the 1ndia rubber man bad
been about. Here were India rubber trunks,
India rubber capes, India rubuer caps ana
cloaks-egad, he was enveloped In lodia rub
Der. After We had inspected these articles
" BIO should come in but his son John, Looking
Ike Texas Ranger, and holding yard
stick in bis hand.
"Fatbcr," said John, al have measured the
band: it's twelve inches wide, and Il think he
said) 40 feet long"
"That will d." replied Mr.. Lewis, 81 will
write on to New York tomorrow, about the
gin bands"
The cat was out. He was about to write
to al India rubber mandatory, ordering
band of Iudia rubber, as substitute for
leather, in ginning his cotton. | saw at once
that the feastiug in New York, OF which the
newspapers gave the most animated accouhts,
had been purposely designed. having Tor one
of it's objects the use of India rubber on the
Southern farms.
That evening spent with the handsomest
yourg lady of Alabama, who resided in his
yhborhood, and on my returning to Mr..
Lewis's and retiring for the night, was shown
into the drawing room, which contained o
bed, this being common among the old set
tlsrs. The novelty of my position kept me
awake for the rest OF the night, aud as the
first streak of day touched tue windo" with
it's fingers, Jumped up and surveyed the
field. The bedstead was made Tor some
giant: the chairs and stools we're HercuieaD;
and, having approached the mantel-piece, l
saw a sight that eclipsed everything. AT one
end of the msntel-piece was a miniature
likeness Of John c. Calhoun, representing
him when he was about twenty-five years old;
at the other end of the mautel-piece was
Mr.. Lewis himself, as if TO balance the in
tellectual giant at the other end-and what
do you think was in the centre? Why, no
less parsonage than Tom Thumb! | look
ed around for some quiet place where, like
Annie Laurie, Il might lay me doom and
dee" .-E..
But am admonished that these anecdotes
trench too nearly on reserved rights; ana yet
what shall | do? You ask for description
of Mr.. Lewis? How can you have HIM as he
was, without any stating some OF the peculiar
traits of his character? Nay more. 10 the
morning we fell into discussing some Incidents
which had taken place in Washington seve.
al wears before. He found himself frequently
A. fault. and at last he cried in his loud alb
rupt tone. "Susan" In a little time Mrs.
Lewis appeared at the door, inquiring what
be wished. when did so and so take place
at Washington" After little hesitation,
she replied, and then returned to her duties.
We had not got along very far after this,
when he became puzzled again, and again be
called out, Susan and again Mrs Lewis
appeared, heard what he had TO say, replied,
and then returned to her business as before.
She was his factotum. lie appealed to her
on all occasions when be was doubtful on any
point, aud in truth they seemed to be as
much one person as it is possible for man and
wife 70 be. Mrs. Lewis was Miss Susan FL
more, the sister of Franklin Gilmore, who
succeeded Mr.. Calhoun in the Senate OF the
United States. She is one oil the klndest and
poblest of her sex, and what pleased me more
than ANYTHING else, was the interest which
abe took 10 all things that concerned Mr..
Lewis. If / am not mistaken, she always
accomnanied him in bis tour through his
district in the recess Of Congress- tour
that be seldom neglected Notwithstanding his
physical iutirmity, for he was the largest man
that the world, perhaps, has ever seen. lie
was as large as ten men put together-ten
fat men--and bis head was large 10 proper
ton to his body. But there was nothing su-
perhuous about that head. 1T was compact,
and bis brow gave az ipdelibe and unmista-
kable signs of intellect, as did that OF Charles
Fox, the great English statesman.
It's impossibe to mention Mr.. Lewis with
ont saving som ething of his immense size
He could scarcely walk. He could not visit
his cotton fields, Oh foot or horse, and there
fore he caused roads to be made, which he
passed over in bis wagon or carriage, or
whatever the vehicle may be called winch he
travelled ic. This carriage was large
round box, which opened 10 the rear, and 1t
was at this portion of it that he ascendeu &c
his scat Ii was drawn By two stout horses,
bsrnessed tandem fashion, and on the ieau
horse bis groom vas mounted. lhis Was
bis travelling style; bis wife usually preceded
him In Der carriage, apu pe' "n'p ="
brought 10 the rear. the little oui-rlder form
ing a striking contrast to the stal~art states
man.
There are many anecdotes current about
Mr.. Lewis, most Of them touching his great
size, of which be was exceeding sensitive
II is well-kuown to everybody that when
the collision occurred between the two
steamers of the North Carolina coast Mr.
Lewis refused to leave the sinking steamer
until every human being had been safely
provided Tor. Mrs William c. Preston was
present, and testified to his gallantry 90
the occasion. He was brought back to
Charleston, where be remained several days
al like the people Of Charleston" said ne
to friend, "ior they can pass man IN
the streets, without staring at him.. 10
one OF his earliest electioneering tours, ne
visited Camden. in Wllccx county HIS
enormous size being subject OF general
discussion, the boys got up early on the
morning of the day Of his VISIT ana to"S
the road to meet the monster, at midday,
the villagers were startled by universal
shout from the boys, as they rushed INTO
town, esclaiming, "IIere he comes! here ne
comesl' all evidently impressed with tee
belief that they bad "seen the elephant
~. III. nost fat men. bit OF DO-