The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-09-05

gave an acquaintance who did not know
Mrs. Richmond, asingular idea OF that
very elegant and Christian lady, entire
ly at variance with her true character.
The gentleman had expressed his SUI
prise that a railroad manager who trav-
eled so much by rail, had never been
present. at any great railroad accident,
Never have" said Richmond, "but
expect to be some time. My wife,
Mrs. Richmond, said to me only the
the other day, says she, MIR. Richmond,
/ expect some time or another, in your
Id long trips, You'll get your Cd
Id brains knocked out by one OF
these internal locomotives. -
The gentleman's astonishment was
only dispelled by further experience IN
hearing Mr.. Richmond swear.
Another incident, Illustrating this care
lessness in using profane language, oc-
cured during consultation between MIR.
Richmond and committee Of New
York merchants, who were engaged IN
raising funds to aid in the election OF
Seymour in 1862. A Rev. Mr.. Benedict
had been arrested by Mr.. Stanton and
kept some months in confinement, for
preaching a sermon on the text, "Bless-
ed are the peacemakers." Mr.. Bene-
dict, when released, stumped his county.
told his troubles, and did much towards
electing Seymour. The committee, con
terring with Mr.. Richmond, alluded to
this affair, and asked what effect it
| would have in Benedict's part of the
| State.
''That will help, that will help" he
answered. 81 met MIR. Benedict just at
ter his release, and the old me, said he.
Mr.. Richmond, I'm going back to Erie
by Cd, sir, and l intend to hire q
a horse and wagon and 90 over every
id inch of the soil till rouse every
Cd id scoundrel in the county
to vote for Seymour. ,"
/" You don't mean to say, Mr.. Rich
mond," said committeeman, "that
the Rev. Mr.. Benedict swore in that
manner?"
"No, no." said Richmond, apologet-
ically, "but, by Cd, he meant it."
So absolutely innocent was the man
in this careless use ofvulgar and profane
language, that he was frequently led in
to mishaps by them. A minister once
approached him with an Introductory
letter from Richmond's wife, containing
a request that he should be passed over
the Central Railroad ''on her account. T"
Mr.. Richmond received the minister
with great courtesy, and was about to
write him free pass, when the other
begged him not to do so, fit was in any
way violation ofthe rules ofthe road.
''Not at ALL" said Mr. Richmond, wri-
ting away, ''every id vagabond in
the country comes to me for passes.
You are entitled to one.
He never saw the mistake he had
made, and the minister was obliged to
exercise his good nature in suggesting,
as an explanation, that he had meant
that as every vagabond got a pass, GER
tainly a minister Of the Gospel was en-
titled to one"
One of those vagabonds applied to
Mr.. Richmond for a pass Just after a
bitter political contest, during which
the vagabond who had been in charge
of political campaign paper, had great
ly abused the Albany regency generally,
and Dean Richmond in particular-Mr.
Richmond knew him, but without hest
tation, and with apparent satisfaction,
gave him a pass from Buffalo to Albany.
The "vagabond" read it over, and han
ding it back to him said
SPlease Mr.. Richmond, add to it, sand
return"
"Oh!' said Mr.. Richmond, "You are
coming back, are you? See you id
first. Pay your way;" and with that he
destroyed the pass, and the ''vagabond"
"sloped."
The ilIegibility of Mr.. Richmond's
hand writing was proyerbial, and many
amusing anecdotes III relation to the
difficulty of deciphering his characters
are related, although no doubt, like the
late President Lincoln, he is made to
father some jokes which do not leeiti-
mately belong to him. 1t is said that an
employee of the Centred Railroad, at
Buffalo, once offended Mr.. Richmond,
andreceived an rbrupt dismissal, by the
then Vice President of the road, briefly
informing him that 'shis services could
be dispensed with after date,' and sign
ed cd. Richmond" in the usual vieo-
rous style. This card, so says the story
was used by the discharged official as a
fapily pass over the road for twelve
months, the conductor being satisfied
with the sight of the well known sig
nature, without attempting to read the
body ofthe document.
When that old public functionary, James
Buchanan, supposed himself to stand some
chance of denomination for the Presidency,
the manner in which the New York delega-
ton was divided with Mr.. Dickinson, puz-
lied the Washington politicians, and Mr.
Buchanan wrote letter to Mr. Richmond.
dilating on the dangerous condition of the
country, requesting to be informed by Mr..
Il. OF the position that would probably be
taken by the New York delegates and assur-
ing him that any information given should
be held strictly "private and confidential
When Mr. Richmond received this communi-
cation, an intimate political friend to whom
it was shown, inquired whether he intended
to reply to it "Oh, by G." said Mr.. Rich
mond, " of course must answer letter from
the President" and he took sheet of paper
and wrote his answer. As there was a sly
humor in his eye when he made the above
remark, it is fair to conclude that he did not
strive to make bis writing any palmer than
usual. At all events, the letter, when writ
ten, would have puzzled a Philadelphia law
yer, had he desired to CLEAN any information
from it. Those who have seen Mr.. RS
writing even at the hoot of +;,,,oc IN 49,.