Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-12-14
WEN OF THE PAST AGE.


John w. Forney tells the following
story:
Once on a time, many years ago, l saw
Webyter, Benton, John N. Clayton,
James Buchanan, Judge Douglas and
William X. King a. dinner. was s,ort
Of David COpperfietd among them-6
minnow among TritOns. But / never
shall forget their conversation and their
humor. Buchanan was a capital host.
He did not tell good story, but he en-
loved one: and when Webster was reused
he kept the table IA a roar. Clayton was
fgil Of fun, and Colonel King,n as they
used To call the bachelor Senator from
Alabama, was amusing in his dry way.
Douglas was almost unrivaled. His
repaTtee was a flash, and his courtesy as
l-nightiy as if he had been born in the
hest society But none of them could
-urpass Sam Ward either in giving a
good dinner or in seasoning il with Attic
Wit and Chesteriieldian politeness.
Rough John c. Rives, of the Globe
was a different character. His anec-
dotes always had j special flavor, and
never a sting. One day, when Douglas
and few of US were standing IN 'the
h0l. in the wal, - a celebrated resort for
Senators and members, Rives came in
aud Joined Us. Ii was ia 1854, just after
Douglas had introduced his bill 10 repeal
the Missouri compromise line. Rives,
ike his partner, Francis p. Blair. was
opposed to il, and made 40 hesitation IN
saving 50. Douglas twitted him about
acting out Of the party lines, and tried
% convince him that his measure was
glght. II don't like il, Douglas, and
never can like il. Ii is unCalled for. 1t
,,-mlnds me Of the fellow who, having
g,Ue pretty nearly through all the
foliey OF life, took it into his
neal 10 hire a bully to do his fighting.
He made a contract with the stOutest
I,r,iispr he could find, and they started
ON tb.-ir journey dOyTn the Mississippi.
At el erv landing the quarrel was picked
Iv the. one aud the b attic fought by the
other. IL was tough work sometimes,
nut rather enjoyable. At last they
reached New orleans On the levee
they found a stotyt, brawny steVedOre,
and after some chal Ding, a row was start
ed, and the two bega u TO pummel each
other. They were " ell-matehed, out,
aided by his experienc,A = the bully beat
the stevedore. Il say, boss, SAID MS
il ighting man, Il give up this job; you is
too much for me. / dOn'.' see any fea-
son IN that ere last fght1 vi course
fhe laugh was against Ju 7ge Douglas,
and none relished the In more thSh
himself.
But perhaps nobody at dhlL er-taoie
Of the present day is 50 welcome as
James ". Nye, Senator from NevA'da. !
wish / could congratulate him upon MS
certain reelection, though Ar. Jones'
who will probably succeed him. IS him
s, II a character and will make ijs mark:
80. vernon Nye will always be = noted
per, onage. His memory is prOdigious,
i,ig wit electric. 4 face of singular
r.,seiu. 9tiOn, and a manner de6Oandtr, IN
bis Sen atorial seat he recalls the best
ilsa3s ot the past. Social, genial, gen
..rous. he takes possession Of a dinner
M al on ce. His magnetism seems TO
.,ervade IA e whole company, and when
ke tells a $50 ~, always relating to some
inc ident fapa liar to the guests, and IL |
instrofed bv q uaint expressions, with a
brighteye and musical voice, the gravest
must bow to His irresistible influence.
He dimes with sam Ward frequently,
and ID Is worth much to be present when
he does.