Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1868-07-24
NO. I8.
Tneideats in the Life Of 1Tr. CoIfax.
From MoOre's biography.

| The following incident is so charac-
4 henstic Of Speaker Colfax, and SO we'll
illustrates that goodness Of heart and
gentleness of disposition tor which he Is
distinguished, that although perhaps
4 out of place here I cannot omit it, The
last days of the session were as such
days always are, full of cares and
perPlexities, everything and everybody
hurried and impatient, yet through All
/ Colfax retained his amiability. on the
last night Of the session, when going
Into the speakers room, / saw a basket
Of the most beautiful flowers marked,
Mrs G., with kind regards Of Mr.. COl-
fax This lady was the wife of an Of
fioer of the House, and was very i'll -
This kind consideration, that did mot
forget the wife of a subordinate, even in
that last hurried night of tae session.
shows an unselfish heart, scmwhat too
rare among politicians. Hi1e
The following incident occurring sew
eral years ago narrated and published
by the President of a literary institu-
ton at Valparaiso in Northern Indiana
Is also illustrative of the character Of
Mr.. Colfax- ,-...
''As we stepped into the Bank yester-
day, we noticed lying on the counter
large and splendid photograph Of our
noble representative, Speaker Colfax.
It is the most life like picture we have
ever seen of this hOnored statesman
tracted by the bold and easy autograph
of the Speaker, running thus; To Mark
II. McClelland from his life long friend
Schuyler ColfaX; we casually remarked
70 our worthy Citizen BIeUlelland, that
that autograph, so cordial, was q festi-
moniai of personal regard ofwhich any
man in any nation might be proud
Mr.. NJ. raised his ever busy pen from
the bank ledger, and with evideEt emo-
ton: That is just like Schuyler. We
were playmabes and debating school
friends in our boyhood, grew up to-
gether, he as an editor, as a tanner.
But our different vOeatiOns prOducsd
no estrangement. We usually spent
our leisure hours together, But soon
his industry and talent began to at
tract attention and no one reioiced
more in his preferment than II. His
reputation soon became national, while
[ have ever plodded on IN private but
in ali this de5pairing have ever found
bin a steadfast, generous friend. from
n sense Of delicacy our correspondence
would have stopped years ago had It
depended on nl0S for I have since felt
his superiority, and felt that I might be
obIrusive, as [ knew thaN the multiple
ity of bis engagements aud efficient du-
ties must occupy his whole time and
that he must find in his extensive ac-
quaintance hundreds more worthy of
his attention than I: but he still C,orres-
as fully and freely as when we were
both poor boys. 1t is a wonder said
Mr.. NJ. 'and that reminds me of a little
incident in a stage coach, years ago.
We accidentlY met as we were both go-
ing t0 indianapolis S no to confer with
the magnstes Of tae State on the grave
matters of the nation, 20 do some I1ri-
Vate business. As usual the cOnVeesa-
ton turned on the scenes and events of
our boyhoOd. While we were chatting
over these matters I could not realize /
was in genial conversation with the
third man of the nation. / at once fell
into moody musings on this strange
transition from a playful boy to the
sagaciOus statesman. / was thinking
of his sCeadfast friendship and was f.
nally reused from my reYeTie by Mr.
Colfax playfully placing his hand on
What now, Mark2' I was thinking
said 'how strange it is with all your
preferment, that, surrounded as you are
daily with men whose position infiu-
ence and profession would seem to sup
plant me in your regards you still seem
to retain for me all the ferVOr of old
friendship Grasping my hand warm
ly, he replied, mo marvel at all Mark.
Your friendship I know to be sincere,
for it sprung when both Of us We're boys
in poverty aud obscurity, and neither
of US could possibly anticipate the fu-
ture.'
This little incident gives us q clue to
the head and heart of Mr. CoIfaX' It is
a clue to his inner life. 1t discioses to
us without reserve, the generous iunpul-
ses, the unswerviug fidelity, the genial
nature, and the unerring sagacity of
this noble man. Amid all his honOrs
he has lost nothing Of his chiidIilSe sim
PIiciJy, his Christian integrity his pat
riotic faitE. 30
Schuyler Colfax is one Of the few Of
our national dignitaT'ies who ever car
ries the head of a man and true heart
OF guiIeless boy. Such man can
never be corrupted even by the wiles
of politics
Though this little incident was not
designed for newspaper pRrag raph,
yet as it is so illustrative of the high
toned nature of Mr.. COlfax, we trust
our neighbor McCIeIland d will pardon
us for giving it publicity"