Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-04-19
MERsrER I'D CALHouN.

was in Washington in the winter Of 1880
81 when ] painted the portrait Of John Z.
Calhoun. During the sittings, he invited
me to come up 70 the Senate, as there was
to be an interesting debate Mr., Hayne was
TO speak on the subject Of FoOte S Res0lu
tons" III reply 10 a short speech Of Alr.
Webster accepted the invitation aud
Mr.. Calhoun admitted me as one Of the ma
nv favored ones Mr. Hayne was most elo-
auent, aud exceedingly bitter in his remarks
upon Mr. Webster : speech and 80 scath-
ing In his denunciations of New England
and her policy. that felt his sarcasms were
uuanswerable | think all the friends Of
Mr. Webster thought 30 too The south
side Of the Senate were vocjterous in their
applause At night, went 20 see the fall
| en- great man, as | considered him. My
/ daughter was visiting MT. Webster 5 daugh-
ter at the time. To my surprise, l found
/ him cheerful, even playful. He had the
| two girls upon his knees. / told him | ex-
pected 70 ind him in another room, pointing
/ TO his library. Time enough tor that IN
| the morning, said be.
/ Mr.. Calhoun gave me another sitting the
/ next morning. He seemed TO think the great
champion of the North was annihilated.
| lie said it was pity he had laid himself
omen at so many points / needed no lnvl-
tation to 60 TO the Senate that morning. l.
went early to the gallery and secured a seat
I among the reporterS. As Mr. W ebsteT en-
tered the Senate, all eyes were turned upon
him. He was elegantly dressed and appa-
rently less excited than any of his friends.
felt towards Mr.. Webster as | imagine a
criminal might feel who looks to his counsel
to save him from punishment fer some crime
he is charged with He soon, however, put
me at my ease. As he proceeded With his
speech. all his friends felt satisfied that VIC
torv was his | need make no further allu-
sion to this splendid effort as it is as tamIi mi
,,,orn;pe ,nr ~ | asked Mr. Calhoun what he
thought of Webster reply. He said g SIM
nlv. but with great emphasis, 'Alr- WEB
ster is a strong man, sir, very strong
man.
Webster's family dinners were always
charming. We always found sumptuou
fara though not elaborate Often the grea
feature of the feast would be chowder o.
dun-6sh. both of which dishes he excelleC
. in. One day / was admiring and praisini
! the latter. and asked him where he procur
ed them; He said from his friend, Charles
. Gutter of Portsmouth, y. ii. SAID tha
: | got my fish from the same gentleman, ou
r they did not seem 70 De OF the sduic l.iSA o.
n ty but perhaps they were not as skiliiuLly
cooked. Thereupon be gave detailed ID his
/ tory Of the fish, mode of curing, &c. The
h he entered into minute description OF tn
Y way of cooking it, ending with, Have read
o good, mealy potatoes, beets, drawn butter
q and oil; have it all served up hot, and the
send for Ashmuu aud me
: had few bottles Of old Scotch whIs3key
4 such as Wilson and Scott have immoTtaiII1,e
under the name OF mountain dew. Ih
beverage is always used with hot water an
: sugar. pat bottle Of this whisky lni
% nv overcoat pocket, one day when | WI
= going TO dine with Nr Webster; but
!. thought, before presenting It to hIm,
n would sec who was in the drawing room;
\ put the bottle on the entry table, walked
il to the drawing room aud seeing none bl
Ie the familiar party, said Il have taken Il
n liberty to bring Scotch gentleman to pa
n take of your hospitality to-day
se most happy sir, was the reply. | walk!
IN back to the entry, and pointed to the bottl
.e "Oh - said he, that IS the gentleman tn
p bathes in hot water - Chester Harding
! autobiography