Smyrna times., 1866-05-30
Webster's Vase.

There are many of our readers who will re-
member that Mr.. Webster was, on the 18th
OF October, 1885, presented by the citizens OF
Boston with silver vase. 1t was given to
him as 1.-THE Defender Of the Constitution. P"
Three thousand persons fOcked to the Odeon
to witness the ceremony. Mr. Francis c. Gray
made the presentation speech, Mr.. Webster
"a happy and characteristic reply" We may
be sure that 1.-THE Webster Vase" was very
much talked Of about that time. 1t is u curl
Gus fact that some Of the gentlemen who origi-
nally subscribed for this costly token should
now be found uniting with others in buying
back the piece of plate from Mr.. Webster :
heirs. How much they paid for it, we are not
intormed-probaby something more than its
worth as old silver But whatever its value,
the thirty gentlemen, headed by Mr.. Pc
tyr Harvey, have struck bargain, and sent
the vessel to be forever preserved In the Boston
Public Library. If too poor to keep it, the ia
mlly, 1t seems. were not too proud to sell 1t,
and the utensil has been saved from an ignO-
minious exhibition in an auctiOn-rOOm. The
transaction is painful enough to provoke lit
tie cynical reflection 1t seems as if dollars and
cents were to be forever associated with MIR.
Webster's name and memory. Men still talk
OF his prOdlglOus earnings and his equally pro-
digious prOdigaty-hOw he lived beyond his
income and was always in debt-hOw he carried
great sums in his waistcOat pocket, and how he
lost thenl-hOw he took cash in making Taylor
speeches-how he kept tradesmen out of their
mOney-how he borrowed Of all who would lend
to him, and often forgot to pay-hOw he re-
ceived regular annuity from several of his
friends, &c, &c. His great abilities carried
him through all this, under which lesser men
would have sunk; but when he died, he left
none who had like claim upon friendly gene
rOsity, although in position greatly needing
it. But it is hardest of all to have these mer-
cenary "reminiscences associated with u lofty
name The public has its own idea Of clean
palms and of dsinterested public service. The
younger Pitt did nothing which came nearer to
making him actually popular in England than
his refusal to receive money from the City of
London. He, too, was extremely poor and
dreadtully in debt; but the proposal to relieve
him by public subscription met at once with
his decided and inhexible disapprObation.
What private man owes or does not owe
whether he lives within or beyond his income
whether he be economical or extravagant, is
merely his own business, and that of his credi-
tors. But Mr.. Webster's affairs were made
public affairs; his wants were relieved by pub
lie subscriptions; his pecunary eccentricities
were the theme of public anecdOte everybody
who knew him knew that he wasted much mo-
ney and often wanted it. The silver vase,
which is to be preserved in the Boston Libra
ry, will inevitably perpetuate these scandals.
This should have been a sufficient reason for
consigning it to some less public custody, with
somewhat smaller violation of the laws OF
good taste and of gentlemanly feeling: But Its
position having been settled, it must be admit
ted that the toy will not be without Its lessons
lessons which it is unnecessary for us to more
than suggest st-1ribune