The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1869-10-15
Webster's Advice to Fessenden.

4
A writer in the Portland { Me. Ar
gus concludes a notice of the funera
of the late Senator Fessenden as fol
lows:
Some thirty-five years ago-and
J perhaps more there were many O
number of our Western States
md Territories, which he had never
visited. The great statesman felt
inclined to have some talented young
man to accompany him, and in look
ting over New England for such o
companion his attention was attract
ed to young Fessenden, and he ex-
tended to him an invitation to travel
with him. The young man gladly
accepted the invitation, for he was
ambitious, and felt that it would be
IN honor as well as an advantage to
accompany in his journeyings such
! man as Daniel Webster, whose
fame, both as lawye er and a states
man, was fast looming up before the
American people, il it had not already
reached its height Young Fessenden
did accompany him, and never had
cause to regret it.
Many time and often the young
man has told us how much he enjoy
ed the journey, and what advantages
he derived from it; for Mr.. Webster
treated him with great kindness, and
ave him much good advice, which
be treasured up in his memory.
Webster told him how hard he had
studied, and how careful he was in
making out papers when he COM
menced the practice Of law. He said
he never let writ or other legal
document pass from his hands until
he had read them over three times
at least. And he further remarked
that while many young men were
idling awsy their time, he was trim
ming the midnight lamp.
."Now," said Webster, al have ac-
quired some fame both as a lawyer
and an orator, and have made speech
es in which have occurred some fig
ures and illustrations often quoted
and which have already passed into
notices. And now, do you suppose
these terse sayings were msde from
the spur of the moment2 BY no
means they we're the result OF pre-
vious study-and close study, too
Some of my best illustrations OF
thought have been studied and trim
med down when the fishing rod was
in my hands. The words which so
s.lv Eearesent Eugland's power, so
nay p MATS II, ATfSSfsjSSsfd, sSsf!d,
were strung together while l stood
on the American side of the st. Law
renee river, near Niagara falls, and
heard the British drums beat on the
Canada side.'
Many other statements he made to
young Fessenden which we recollect,
but which we have no space to make
a record Of now, all OF which prove
pretty conclusively that there is no
royal road to learning. Young Fes-
senden has often told the writer that
his journeying with Daniel Webster
was the best school he ever attended.
And the lessons he received from
that great man were never forgotten;
hence we come to the conclusion that
William Pitt Fessenden was hard
er stadent than many have supposed
him to be. 1t is not too much to
say, perhaps, that his keen logic, his
terse language, his power of condens-
alton, his clear statements and sharp
ness in debate. may be traced 10 the
lessons which Webster gave him
while journeying with him to the
West. Young men who are ambi- {
tious to excel in their professions
will do well to make a note of these
things, and govern themselves &C.