Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-07-24
THE STRANGE BLOTCH ON CAL
HOUNsS HAND.

THE STRANGE BLoTCH on CAL
HOUN'S HAND.
Notwithstanding the long period (some
thirty years. which has elapsed since the
following narrative was given to the world
it has still a fresh interest, and all the more
striking in view Of events which have come
upon the American nation in these later
years The 'unobseIyed spectator, whose
pen made record of the scene here descrlb-
ed, was a veritable eyewitness Of the same:
The other morning, at the breakfast table
when l, an unobserved spectator, happened
to be present, Calhoun was observedt to gaze
frequently at his right hand, and brush 1t
with his left in hurried and nervous man
ner He did this so often that it excited at
tention. At length one Of the persons COM
prising the breakfast party-his name, l
think, is Toombs, and he is member OF
Congress from Georgia, took upon himself
to ask the cause of Mr.. Calhoun's disqul-
etude. docs your hand pain your 10
this Mr. Calhoun replied, in rather hur-
ried manner 'Pshaw it is nothing but a
dream had last night, which makes me see
perpetually large black spot, like an ink
blotch, upon the back of my right handi an
optical illusion, l suppose. OF course,
these words excited the curiosity of the
company, but no one ventured to beg the
details of this singular dream, until Toombs
asked quietly, What was your dream like?
am not very superstitious about dreams,
but sometimes they have a great deal of
truth in them But this was such a
peculiarly absurd dream, said Mr.. Cal
houn, again brushing the back Of his hand;
| however If it does not intrude too much
on the time of our friends l will relate it to
you. OF course, the company we're pro-
fuse in their expressions Of anxiety to know
! all about the dream, and Mr. Calhoun rela-
| ted it, SAT late hour last night, as was
sitting in my room, engaged in writing, |
was astonshed by the entrance of visitor,
who without a word, took seat opposite
me, at my table This surprised me, as [
had given particular orders to the servant
that / should, on no account, be disturbed
The manner in which the intruder entered,
so perfectly self possessed, taking his seat
/ opposite me without a word, as though my
room and all within it belonged to him, ex-
] cited in me as much surprise easindignalion.
A. raised my head to look into his fea-
lures over the top of my shaded lamn. I
I el6aRy 'I6dvth bauauy concealed his face
| from my view; and as | raised my eyes he
spoke: "What are you writing, Senator
from South Caroliua?" l did not think of
his impertinence at first, but answered him
voluntarily, 4 am writing plan for the
dissolution of the American Union. (You
know, gentlemen, that / am expected to
produce plan Of dissolution in the event
of certain contingencies. To this the intru-
der replied, in the coolest manner possible,
Senator from South Carolina, will you al
low me to look at your hand, your right
hand?' He rose, the cloak fell, and be-
held his face. Gentlemen, the sight ofthat
face struck me ike thunder clap. It was
| the face of dead man, whom extraordinary
events had called back to life. The features
were those of General George Washington.
He was dressed in the Revolutionary cos
tune, such as you see in the Patent Office. -
Here Mr.. Calhoun paused, apparently agi-
tated His agitation, | need not tell you,
was shared by the company. Toombs at
length broke the embarrassing pause.
"Well what was the issue of this scene?''
Mr., Calhoun resumed THE intruder, as
| have said, rose and asked to look at my
right hand; as though I had not power to
refuse, extended it. The truth is, | felt a
strange thrill prevade me at his touch: he
grasped it, and held it near the light. thus
affording full time to examine every feature.
1t lcas the face of Washington After hol-
ding my hand for moment he looked at
me steadily, and said in quiet way, And
with this right hand, Senator from South
Carolina, you would sign your name to a
paper declaring the Union dissolved" ]
answered in the affirmative. Yes, " | said:
"If certain contingency arises | will sign
my name to the Declaration of Dissolution. -
But at that moment black blotch appear
ed on the back of my hand, which | seem
to see now "What is that?' said I. alarm
ed, know not why, at the blotch on my
hand. ''That, said he, dropping my hand
''is the mark by which Benedict Arnold is
known in the other world He said no
more, gentlemen but drew from beneath his
cloak an object, which he laid on the table
laid upon the very paper on which was
writing. This object, gentlemen, was a
skeleton. There" said he; there are
the bones of Isaac Hayne before you; be
was a South Carolinian, and so are you; but
there was no bloteh on his right hand. y
With these words the intruder leftthe room.
| started back from the contact with the
dead man bones-and avoke Overcome
by labor, had fallen asleep, and had been
dreaming Was it not a singular dream?
All the company answered in the afirma-
tive, and Toombs muttered, Singular;
very singular, and at the same time looked
curiously at the back of his right hand,
while Mr.. Calhoun placed his head between
his hands and seemed buried in thought.
-> 90 ~--
THE Philadelphia Bulletin" which is
printed upon paper made of wood, States
that in the boat race upon the Schuylkill,
some of the skifs used were built of paper.
Fifty years ago the man who would have
ventured to foretell the use of paper row.
boats and newspapers made Of wood would
have been deemed fit subject for an insane
asylum.