The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1868-06-19
YOUNG HARRY CLAY.
Pen,pieturo Of schuyler cOlfax in bis " pe

I
Pen-Picturo Of Schuyler COlfax in his Den"
G.. A. Townscnds Washington Letter to the
3 Cleveland Leader.
In what he called his den," found
Schuyler Colfax, some days ago--a little
cIoset,rOom, lighted by one basement
window, under the Capitol. II was a curl.
osty. shop OF manuscripts and documents,
order reigning through superficial con.
fusion. Here the Speaker hides himself
away from pages aud iarpies, and works
unassistediy at his speeches aud his cor.
respondenGe, the latter of itself drudgery
as great and exciting as any accountants.
But lighthouse never grows old ; after
the hundred years its fame is as youthful
as when it began. The pure, unaffected,
radau. cheerlnlness of Mr.. ColiaX keeps him
as rosy aud hopeful as boy. Here he sits,
smoking his cigar, surprised in the midst
of smile, for all his thoughts are good
companions.
/ took a seat before him, and whi!e he
answered come questions ] had brought,
tried to make out Ills face, and, character
"a very dif$cult type were both of them,
for country Of which the Speaker is so
Representative, and yet of "a temperament
We are n sober, minded people, with
lines of thrift and anxiety in their faces
like the marks of whip and burden. We
go to law and go to church with the
same countehances. We want to make
money fast, aid on the way aud after the
end we have remorses, aches, wounded
self lf.esteems, ,asceiicisms. The air, the soil,
the worry and the hurry of American life
provincialize the American into a hard, re.
pellant, dreadfully OveT-earmest nian, with
a skin, u stomach, and soul equally dys-
peptic. .,--
/ Out of this population a face grows, now
and then. like cloverhead out Of a stock
yard, all freshness aud color, and qHiek 10
feel the earliest breeZes. 'rhisui Mr.. Col.
fax. His life is perennial hopefulless,
having good conscience for its compass,
and for its ballast temperament that is
equal as an hour glass, full OF tho elias
ticity OF the Empire City,. A Widows son,
born forty Eve years ago, with RJpsrentage
reaching back on one eide to the Schuylers;
on the other to an officer OF Wasbington's
body.guard. At ten years of age his
schooling ceased end ho had found new
father. AT thirteen he quilted New York
and his step fathers store for a home in
Indiana. At twenty lie was am editor
twelve hundred dollars in debt. At twenty
seven he was candidate for Congress
already young widowcr made sadder but
manlier by deserved love. At thirty lie
was COngrer<msn as he has been ever
since, and three times elected Speaker of
the House, the third position in the nation.
AT the base Of this successful career we
fnd neither wealth, clicancry. nor patron
age, but good citizenship, faithful public
services. steadfast scfrespoci, aud cheer.
ful temper IL is a quiet career of success
under republican institutions, with steady
talents, quick perceptions, and excellent
confidence. His model in the State has
been Henry Cay whose manners we're like
his own, and he confesses TO have modelled
his speakership upon Clay's career as
Speaker o. tho House "Never hoping
he tays, Ito reach this high siaudard, il
has ever beeu before my miud, as the