The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-04-11
..wAklng Up she Wrong P...enger.n ~

taoilowlng story OF an incident OF young
disputant, who unoonsciously sought to
annihilate Captain Matthew F. Maury.
IN an argument on scientific question:
When Captain Maury, the distin.
guished savant. was in England, just
alter the war, he was dining one day
with distinguished party. During
dinner the subject of induction" came
up, and young gentleman, fresh from
the university, plunged enthusiastically
into the discussion, taking issue with
points with considerable warmth. Cap
tain Maury, who is as modest as he is
learned, skillfulIy and kindly parried the
argumentative thrusts of his Young
antagonist by suggesting, in mild way,
his views on the subject, which the
young university man strove to demolish
with his own opinions, dogmatically de.
llvered. After dinner the young gentle.
mans uncle said to him: II say, Charley,
what an ass you made of yourself at
dinner, to argue about induction with
Captain Maury." "Why, my dear
uncle, said the astonished university
man, ''you don't tell me that that little
man was the great Maury' 'Itis quite
true" said his uncle. Whereupon the
horrifled youngster, with admirable
irahkness. hnstoned to apologize to
Captain Maury for having made such 'sa
benstly fool" of himself, the Captain
receiving his protestations with smile.
and telling him that there was no harm
done, adding, "You are very young, my
dear young gentleman"
Morai-Be sure who you argue with ut
dinner parties.
There ism striking indentity of this
incident with a similar one which occur
rod In regard to another eminent South
ern savant. It happened in the year
1887, when President Van Buren, had
convened nn extra session of Congress
to consider his new financial scheme of
the sub-treasury, and the country was
greatly excited on the subject, and espe-
cially by the sudden announcement of
the support of that measure by John G.
Calhoun. Previous to that, Mr.. CAL
honn had become one of the idols of the
Wing party, on account of his opposi-
tion to General Jackson in the removal
OF the deposits and the State bond sys-
tenn. He had always been, too, the Bit
ter opponent of Mr.. Van Buren,, even to
the point of withdrawing from all per-
sonal intercourse with him. These ncts
and his great talents made him im.
mensely popular with the Wings of that
duy. Corresponding virulent and bit
ter were their indignation and un bound
ell their denunciations of him when his
celebrated Edgehil letter proclaimed
his sudden adhesion to tho sub treasury
system. Calhoun, the traitor! John
Catnline Calhoun, were the phrases ap-
piled by all the Wing partisans to this
great man.
1t was when this feeling WAS at it's
height that the vacation at the Univer-
sity Of Virginia occurred, and number
OF the students, on their way home.
having TO take the stage at Charlottes-
vile, found themselves intermixel with
number Of Congressman on their way
to Washington. In one of the stages
there were an equal number OF students
and congressman, and very quickly tho
young gentlemen fell into conversation
with their seniors. Ono Of these exhi-
bited special interest in the yonng
men, and propounded great many
questions in relation to their studies
and by his kind and captivating mnn ner
induced the youngsters to very free and
frank utternnce of their views on oil sub
]ects. Among these, of course, politics
and the characters Of the eminent men
in public life were discussed with that
freedom and frankness of young stu
dents.
Now, it happened that one of the most
talkntive and brightest Of the youths
was tho son Of Il father who was vio-
lent Wing. The son faithfully reflected
the fathers views and prejudices, and in
his answers to the elderly gentleman,
who had taken so great an interest in
tho students, remarked that the preyu-
lent political sentimental the University
WAS that John G. Calhoun, of South Ca
rolina, WAS tho greatest traitor and most
dishonest politician that had ever dis
graccd our political history. 10 this
very emphatic remark Of the fiery young
Wing, tho elderly gentleman lemu.rcd
in very kind aud sunvo manner, and
invited the young assnilunt Of the great
South CaroliniGu TO al expression OF tho
reasons for his belief in the unparalleled
wickcdncss of that statcsman; tho two
wero soon engaged in n very animated
argument, to which the other passengers
ali listened with great interest. The
yonng man was very bright, ingenious
and fertile. and the elderly gentleman
was evidently most accomplished logi-
clan, and OF most winning manners, cal
cu!ntcd to mako Il very deep impression
upon youthful minds. Never, perbnps,
was tho course of Mr.. Calhoun SO effect
lively and luminously explained and de-
Tended as in this familiar Il iS on o.;on wit