The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-12-29

| lnet tulS cuilucut duu NtutldOle
statesman at q dinner party the other
night, and had the good fortune to sit
next to him for some three hours. 1t
was a great intellectual treat, as be is
not only full OF humor, but brings it to
bear in recalling historical "reminiscences
of the most entertaining sort. What
a noble head he has. There is not
only intellect in every expression, but
the highest integrity shown in every
line. i saw him here last winter, and
we came to bevery intimate. He had
with him daughter, in whose beauty,
innocence and fascinating spfightliness,
his whole heart was wrapped. 1t was
touchingly beautiful to see the affec-
4 tionate intimacy between the grand
old man and his lovely, graceful
daughter.
| Well, since / saw him death had
interviewed and took from the old tree
the tender shoot. She had fed. =
alike some frall exhaIation which the
| dawn
Robs in the golden beams-ah Thou hast
The brave, the gentle and the beautiful
The child of grace and genius" ..
The loss nearly proved his death.
For while he bowed down as if hope
lessly heart broken. But his nature is
too strong for that He Strengthened
again, folded his cloak over the cruel
wound, and marched on in this, to him,
now cold, cherries and dreary world.
when we met" said a dear friend,
after the event, the news Of which l
received by letter from him, and read
through tears, we did not once refer to
the sad event. Once we approached by
accident, then both hastily retreated in
opposite directions, well knowing that
on that subject we could not trust our
selves. On the contrary, we talked and
laughed more heartily and louder, feel.
ing instinctively that we were so near the
graveyard that if we stopped for an in
slant voices would be heard"
Among other "reminiscences illustra-
ting the change Of time, he related one
concerning man that it is common at
the north now to abuse as a traitor to
his country in its hour Of extreme
portland that is James Buchanan.
We were talking about the present
administration using all that is left OF
our navy for pleasure trips, and having
messengers of the departments used as
domestias, private soldiers as coachmen,
and officers Of the army as doorkeepers
and clerks.
Times have sadly changed said
the old man, looking into his glass OF
hook wine as if striving to read the
reason for the change, like an old
astrologer with his drop Of water. II
remember once while was in the cab
met OF Mr.. Buchanan, The Harriet
Lane was finished and furnished, and
her captain, very proud OF his beautiful
little boat, called on Cobb and proposed
that on her trial trip a party should be
made up OF distinguished people, in
GLIDING Miss Lane, and he, the captain,
would see to the entertainment. Cobb
thought this was a superb notion, and
the party was invited. 1t included the
members of the cabinet, their wives,
Miss Lane, and others. 1t was thought
beneath the dignity of the President to
90 on such spree. | was invited, but
declined. The day before the vessel
sailed, Mr.. Buchanan said to me, in
his querulous, complaining tone:
"Well, Black, you are going to leave
me, too%
mo, l said, l can't 60; but I'll make
merit of necessity and stick to you"
81 doubt it. III tell you what I'll
do; I'll make you come here and sleep
with me, then I'll have you"
did as requested. The next day
the papers had an account Of the
affair; at least of the departure Of the
party with all the preparations, and
the President reading it, asked me who
was to pay for that party. l told him
that in my private opinion the secretary
would have the trial trip Of the Harriet
Lane paid for by the government.
HE shant do it. I'll stop that" he
exclaimed. I'll issue an order at
once" l demonstrated, telling him
that such an order was entirely out OF
the line of his duty, would create a
scandal, and he had better let Cobb
alone. bad some difficulty in quiet
ing him down. But he came round at
last. and declared that ne would pay the
bill himself l told him that the
strictest construction OF the constitution
did not prohibit that.
"Some DAYS after-indeed at the
next cabinet meeting-the President
asked Cobb if he could give him a bill
of the extra expenses attending the trial
trip Of the Harriet Lane. Cobb said
promptly that he could. After sep
arating Cobb followed me out, and
touching my elbow said: What the
devil does the squire mean by that bill
of expensesT l told him OF what had
passed. He INDUCED in a prolonged
whistle and departed. At our next
meeting of the cabinet the bill was pro,
duced. What's this-what's this Z
asked the President. Why it's
receipted.' Certainly, responded Cobb
Il paid it, of course-who should pay II
but meY The President smiled
NAV saw, the administration smlled--all
save the treasury; for we all knew that
Cobb hadn't anticipated treating himself
to such a disagreeable surprise. 1t
ended excursions on the Harriet Lane
and in every other way. -! az
Times are indeed changed. a mag
nificent Gothic cottage ornee stable Is
being completed within stones throw
of the new State Department, where, II
is said, are ample accommodations tor
thirty horses, no one Of which but is q
gift or a government contract. Inc
finest, or one of the finest there was