The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-01-25

The Washington correspondent of the
New York Times, of the 18th inst, makes
the following statement:
On Wednesday evening, between eight
and nine o'clock, man of unusually large
proportions called at tho residence of Hon.
Benjamin F. Wade, United States Sena-
tor of Ohio, on Four-and-a-half street, and
asked to sec the Senator He was shown
up stairs by the servant to Mr. Wade's
room After being seated, lie stated that
he was trying to obtain employment in
the United States navy, and asked MIR.
Wade to sign a paper of recommendation
from him in order to further his object.
Senator Wade refused to do so, saying he
did not know him, and advised him to
procure the signature OF some person to
whom he was known After listening to
the reply, the strange visitor, whose
physiognomy Mr.. Wade described as sim
gularly malicious and brutal, looked at
the Senator with significant scowl, which
the latter plainly interpreted as meaning
mischief At this juhcturc of tho inter-
view Mr.. Wade arose, and stepping into
an adjoining room, armed himself with
loaded pistol, and quietly returned again
into the room where the man was sitting.
After looking at each other in silence,
the man began the conversation by say
ing, g Aint you going to sign my paper"
To which the Senator returned decided
negative, alleging that he had no knowl-
edge of him. Matters now began to reach
crisis The stranger rose to his feet,
drawing out bowie-knife about twelve
inches long, and remarking: 1 suppose
you know we arc alone, sir, in this room"
he was proceeding to unshcath hisweapon.
when Mr.. Wade sprang to his feet, and
drawing forth his pistol, placed it within
short space of his head, telling him to
clear out Immediately or hn would shoot
him. Taken somewhat by surprise, the
man began to find his way to the door,
followed closely by Senator Wade, with
his pistol still in close proximity to his
head. The Senator saw his visitor down
stairs, and before reaching the door, he
quietly informed him that he had great
notion to shoot him anyhow. Upon this
the stranger departed During the visit
he failed to produce any papers for sigma
ture, and evidently made this nero pre-
text for the interview. At the time of
the visit there were no persons in the
house beside Senator Wade, excepting
Mr.. Matthews and his wife and servant.
W1T-The habit of mind, however.
which wit cherishes, is obviously, not de-
sirable Wit turns on secondary and
trihing relations, not on fundamental
agreements. The more philosophical our
habits of observation, the more carefully
and constantly VIC note important resem-
blances, the less shall we mark or treas
ure the trivial connections Of wit. The
movement of mind from which wit
springs is opposed both to thorough and
serious reflection, and ought not thcre-
fore to become habitual
Nor is wit desirable as q constant ac-
compartment of composition or of con-
versation. The train of thought is too
much diverted and interrupted by it.
Take for instance, the habit of punning.
The pun demands separate consdcla-
ton of mere verbal relations. The
thread Of discourse is for the instant bro
ken, and the mind requires time to rally
and reunite it. Let diversion Of this sort
recur several times, and the interest and
attentions due to the cardinal point are
lost, and the main topic if abandoned
amid the percussion OF small wit I'm
doubtedly even the most serious discourse
can, in the hands Of q master, suffer occa-
sional humor without detriment; but
more frequently laughter is secured at
the cost Of conviction.
Another undesirable result of wit, when
constantly employed, is the Unsuitable de-
mand to which it gives rise. Men love
to laugh better than to think; and the
moment they find one who can indulge
them in this respect they require con-
stant exhibition of his power, and trans
form him, as far as possible, into a pub
lie buffoon. Great earnestness and
strength of purpose are required to resist
this tendency. The power is rare and cx-
ceedingly attractive, and fattering in the
/ Q.aa