Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-09-23
Mr. Pendleton at Home.

Mr.. Pepdleton's home, in Clifton, is
precious to the sight and dear to the
hearts of the Democracy. 1t has be-
come a shrine, as it were, and Pilgrim
ages are made thither by devout Demo-
Gratis, who, returning, never weary of
telling of its gorgeous interior and inn
posing surroundings.
Of course, all this comes OF the fact
that George is the favorite son OF Ohio,
aud the chosen leader ofthe Democracy.
Far be itfrom US to intimate that the
sturdy Democracy cares straw for the
upholstery or the marble finishing, and
the gliding and carving. Were George
dwelling in a log cabin the pilgrims
would abound-Only there would be less
TO describe and talk about in the sur
roundings. Your true Democrat scorns
the fringework. Of course he does.
1t was, therefore, in excellent. taste
and well.fittmg these surroundings, that
Dir. Pendleton should call about him q
select circle of friends, such as tire mu-
nicipal statesman William Glass, the
t;oliah of corners, Bart. Smith, Esq,
and others, and deliver to them a speech
that, being set forth in choice phrase,
should 20 out through the press to the
thousands of friends vino cailiot well
make pilgriinages TO the shrine and lis-
ten To the oracle.
This was in the better way, because,
Mr.. Pendleton having lately been
thrown frsIn his buggy, suffers from a
,iisiocated ankle, aud, as the sour old
romkins says, is as weak at one end as
at the other. This is not said with truth,
however, as Georges oratOrical effort
testIfies, and the intense satisfaction of
ills political friends demonstrates.
This manner OF s-umping, however
appropriate, is not so original but that
one may have heard of it before. The
diplomatic Seward, when Secretary of
state, used to retire to his town OF
Auburn, where it was supposed an en-
chusiastic body of personal and political
friends lay in wait and insisted upon his
views. The honorable William always
had his views. Waken him at midnight,
al any date, and before encasing his dj-
plomatic legs in the male garment, he
would let loose his opinion. He was
never at q loss-not even when Payne's
knife was at his dignified throat; only
at that time he did not let loose his
opinion, but rolling out on the floor
brought diplomacy to bear and pretend
cd to be dead.
Thus, every few months, voice was
heard in Auburn, and The nation list
ened.
But some curious reporter, without
fear of William or the Lord before his
eyes, let the cat ont by informing the
pepsiye public that the honorable Will
liam had no friends. especially in Au-
burn, who were dying for his views
Au contrdire, the pensiye public learn
ed that the old Secretary of State retired
to his library and there with feet upon
the mantle-piece, and a good glass OF
stiff toddy in his diplomatic hands, did
utter, in a conversational tone, his
views, and prophecies and dennucla-
tions. And shorthand writer took
down carefully and with rapidlty the
eloquent utterances. When William
paused to take a drink, the reporter put
in "cheers," and when he coughed he
threw in daughter"
How much better was this than the
brutal noise and confusion of a popular
meeting. William had bad voice for
public speaking, and a worse Manner
He escaped criticism on both by this
way of doing it. 1t was charming, and
worthy all admiration and imitation
Let it be general.
1t is true that if this mode becomes
the practice, we will lose our Cary
What were care without that fearful
voice and wonderful head-of hair?-
What?
The truest test of mans brain is to
put pen in his hand. Take from the
popular orator the excited crowd, the
roar of his own voice. the glare of lights
and the music, and VIII t, in nine cases
out of ten, will be left? This were a
cruel test, and it will come, if the poll
tician is pinned down to the reporter.
aud forced to utter things to be read and
not heard.
William NJ. Cory, of the Conanaoner,
when a member of the Ohio Legislature,
established the tribune. He got the de-
luded members to consent that, when
one spoke. he should go, iu- French
style, to the Clerks desk, under the
speaker and address the House. 1t at
once killed off two thirds of the takers.
What became of a man, after such a
note of perpetration, il he had really
nothing to say? The noodles abolished
the tribune.
And so the noodles will attack the
home oratory. II will be a cruel death
to the stumpers generally so the stump
ers will none of it. More's the pity
Gin. Com. .-s