The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-09-01
AN ABsgHT-H1HDED oLERaYHAH.

DR.. Samuel West. OF Dartmouth. Mas
sachusetts, was one Of the celebrities o.
Now England during the latter half Of th.
last century. He worked upon farm until
his twentieth year, when he spent six month.
in preparing for college, and in 1850 started
for Harvard College barefooted. carrying hi.
shoes and stockings under his arm. On be.
ing examined for admission, he had dispute
with the Professor in regard to q Greek read.
ing, in which he is said to have carried hi,
point. lie was settled In l76l on salary
Of f66 lbs Sd, which, small as IL was, wa
not paid. He was twice married. His 6rst
wife was very tall, and her Christian name
was Experience, a common one at that time.
Alter her death he said he had "learned from
long experience that it was good thing to be
married." and so he took another wife. He
was an ardent patriot from the beginning Of
the difficulties with Eugland, and was un.
sparing in his dcnunciations Of those who
were unwilling to come out on the side ol
the'r country. immea'aeiy a''er 'ne oas'
"e o' bunker NH 10 1o'hea '"e ar"y 70 10
"""' "' 'oa'u 10 minister W Keep UP 'ae
courage o' tue So'o.ers' anu F" promo'e
their welfare. He gained great notoriety by
deciphcring for General Washington trca-
sonaole letter from Ut. onurch 70 an oince'
OF the BRUSH army 'ull account OF wh'cn
u 'on'a'"eu ~ olafk writings u "A'"'
'ns'on' Dur'"s '"o f'e'o'u''0nafy war "e
rendered important service 70 the country
he was an important member OF the oonven
tion that adopted the Constitution, ana u
was through his influence that governor
Hancock was induced to give his assent TO
the adoption OF the Federal Constitution.
DR.. West was remarkable for absence OF
mind. During the session OF tho Conven.
tion to adept the Constitution of the United
States he spent many of his evenings abroad,
and generally returned with his pockets filed
with handkerchiefs, silk gloves, silk stock
ings, and other small articles, and was great
ly distressed on finding thou there, thinking
that he had taken them up and slipped them
into his pockets. In fact they had been
placed there by friends who took this meth
cd Of making presents, well knowing that
ho was too much engaged in conversation to
take any notice OF 1t. While he was pastor
his friends would sometimes find him on his
horse, which had stopped to graze by the
way sidc, tho bride loose, the Doctors
hands folded on his breast, and himself Who'll
ly absorbed in bis own thoughts. Once he
went out to drive COW from his yard. and
striking at her with NHi. q long ooaro missed 'ne
COW, and was himself brought to tho ground
and split his small clothes nearly the wnolo
length ot tho leg. he Knew nothing OF TINS
latter accident; but gathering himself up
aud forgetting entirely where he was' no
went on without hat three miles entered d
friends house, and passed the night talking
with him, to the CONSERVATION OF bis wile'
who on his return, saw 10 what plight ne
was tor visit to one OF the most gen'eei
families Of tho parish. de once met q iriend
and told him that he and his wife were on
their way to make him q visit. "Your
wifo2" said tho friend, "whero is shc?"
Why" replied the Doctor,"I thought she
wasi on the pillion behind me-" She had
got ready to accompany him, and the absent
minded Doctor had gone OF without her.
He would sometimes at the church stop OF
the horse.block Tor his vile to dismo'unt'
when she had been forgotten and was still at
home. ........ii 49,, ,,, ss.s.I.,
Once no went to mill, leading his horse 70
md carrying the grist on his shoulder. One
who saw him ON his way, states that when
before his second marriage hewent to ask the
.own clerk to publish the bans. ho walked
he whole distance leading his horse, and
passed directly by tho house of the town
,lerk, and did not halt until he was brought
,p by log at the end Of wharf. Once,
,pon a Saturday afternoon, when on his way
,ome from Boston, be was overtaken by |
,loleut shower as he was riding on horseback. |
Ills family at home were anxiously expecting |
. . :
,is return, but he did not make his appear.
.nco until the last moment on Sunday morn
ng when ho was seen hurrying his horse on.
,ard with muddy r,ufilcs dangling about his