The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-09

in few days by d. Appleton q Co. From
the narrative Of Mr.. Curtis we make the fol-
10 wing extracts with regard to the last mo-
rAents of Mr.. Webster
Interview with Professor FELTON,.
Rhortly before his death he had a visit from
Professor FELTON,, who afterwards published
she following account of it,
On the most beautiful day of the moet beanti-
ful month in the year, Saturday, September 1S,
Mr.. Webster drove his guest attended by one of
his men on horseback, over the estate. The air
was soft and balmy, and seemed TO bear healing
on its wings. The great statesman was physi-
sally weak, having suffered long from his an
nnal catarrh, and from another more obstinate
complaint, which was slowly but surely under
mining constitution once gigantic in its
strength. But the genial breath of heaven, and
the sight of dear and familiar objects unvisited
by him before since his return from Washington,
soothed and revived him. His eye wandered
over his extensive domain with brightness un-
dimmed by age or disease. Each point sng-
gested some memory, pleasant or mourRtu
which he recalled with unfaltering precision,
and related with that rare felicity OF phrase
which marked the most familiar conversation OF
Daniel Webster. The history of the former
owners of the soil, the circumstances under
which he became its purchaser, the improvements
he has made upon It, the trees he had planted,
the cattle and sheep he had imported and intro
duced there, were dwelt upon with clearness
and interest which sank deep into the listeners
heart. Some of the "reminiscences these scenes
and objects recalled moved the illustrious narra-
tor to tears; for he brought before him the forms
of beloved ones, associated with his earliest resi-
dence here, and now sleeping the long sleep of
death, on the spot which his name has conse-
Grated to the deathless memory of his country
men and the world. His voice became tremulous
and low, his hands quivered as he held the reins,
and for moment 1t seemed as If that mighty
heart would break. But the sad vision passed
MI Anha rflth thntt toht
resumed their place. His tlocks and herds were
driven up to the carriage, and he spoke OF them
and commented on their several qualities, not only
with the knowledge of farmer, but with the
feeling of one to whom every creature of God is
dear. After having pointed out, at some length,
the characteristics of the different breeds, he
checked himself with smile, and said, How
can he get wisdom that holdeth the plough and
that glorieth in the goad that driveth exen and
is occupied in their labors, and whose talk is of
bullocks 2" After a few moments pause, he
added, 81 do not believe that passage is in any
of the canonical books; it does not sound canoni-
cal; 1t certainly is not canonical." Mr.. Webster
was right. The words occur in the thirty-eighth
chapter of Eccleslasticus, as the writer was
amused to find ON his return. From time to time,
on meeting his rural neighbors, he would stop
to talk over with them the subjects of agricul-
ture in which they had common interest; and
1t was pleasant to witness the kindly and affec-
tionate intercourse between him whose fame
filed the world and the homely neighbors and
friends who
"Along the cool, sequestered vale Of life,
Had kept the noiseless tenor OF their way"
To one who anxiously inquired after his
health, he said, II am not good for much. My
strength is nearly gone am no match for you,
now. / am scarcely match for your grandson
yonder." To the question, whether the love of
nature grew stronger in him with the progress
of time, he answered: undoubtedly. The
man VINO has not abandoned himself to SEN
suality feels, as years advance and old age comes
on, greater love of mother earth, a greater
Willingness, and even desire, to return to her
bosom, and mingle again with this universal
frame of things from which he sprang." AS he
spoke these words, with slow and solemn tone,
he seemed to look upon the face of nature as
upon the face of a living being to whom he was
bound by the ties of a conscious friendship and
immortal love; and the soft wind, breathing
with warmth like summer through the un-
changed leaves of the neighboring trees, whis-
pered an audible answer to the voice
and look of love of the dying statesman. He
had dawn his health from these scenes
and these pursuits; constitution naturally
feeble had grown into heroic proportions and
gigantic strength as he walked and worked, in
the intervals of public business, beneath the
open sky and had taken this heavenly bath,
the air, without measure and without stint. "
His conversation was deeply interest
Ing throughout-mostly serious, earnest, some
times pathetic, sometimes lightened with playful
touches of humor, always full of kindness and
clothed themselves in sublime expressions, in
language radiant with poetical but unaffected
beauty suggested by the surrounding objects,
or by the themes that spontaneously sprang UP
in a conversation of three memorable hours
Moral, literary, religious topics were touched
upon, but politics not at all. To the question
what had been the studies by which his style was
formed, he said:-''When was young man, 6
student in college, / delivered Fourth-of-July
Grafton. My friends thought 80 well of 1t tina
they requested copy for the press. 1t was
printed, and / have a copy of it now-the onl,
one in existence" Qn this he was mistaken.
Joseph Dennie, writer of great reputation a
that time, wrote review in literary pape
which he then edited. He praised parts Of th
Grafton as vigorous and eloquent; but other part
he criticised severely, and said they were mer'
emptiness. thought his criticism was just; ant
resolved that, whatever else should be said O
my style, flom that time forth there should b.
NO emptiness in it. / read such English author
as fell in my way-particularly Addison-witl
great care. Besides, remembered that l hat
my bread to earn by addressing the understand
ing of common men-by convincing juries--ant
that must use language perfectly Ineligible t,
them. You will therefore find In my speeches
10 juries, no hard words, no Latin phrases, NJ
feri fdoidS; and that is the secret of my style
II haze any" He spoke of Kossuth's elo
quence, with admiration of its beauty and inge
nuity. He thought "his genius wonderful, an
his resources extraordinary, but that he wa
rather an enthusiast, possessed of the idea tina
he was born with mission to fulfil, than states
man; that his political ideas were not well do
fined, nor fixed, nor consistent; that he wa
doubtless sincere lover of his country, but wa
a poet, rather than sound reasoner O
affairs of state and the condition of the world
He stopped at farmhouse near his estate
and calling the farmer to the door said, "Wel
Mr.. A., you are engaged to work for Fletch,
to-day hear" 'Yes, SIR" ''That's right no
do you come over to my house, take my gun, an
go out and shoot some of the plovers ju
-. nd oh
will pay you for the days work, and will pa
you for the birds" Such pleasantries seasone