The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-05-30
.eWaking up the Wrong Passenger,


tant who unconseiously sought to annihilatc
Captain Matthew F. Maury in argument on a
scientific question :,
When Captain Maury, the distinguished
savant, was in England just after the war, he
was dining one day with a distinguished party.
During dinner the subject of Induction" came
up, and a young gentleman, fresh from the
University, plunged enthusiastically into the
discussion, taking issue with Captain Maury,
and arguing several points with considerable
warmth Captain Maury, who is as modest as
he is learned, skilfully and kindly parted 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 dog
matcally delivered. After dinner the young
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 nee that that
little man was the great Mauryp' ut is quite
true" said his uncle. Whereupon the horri-
fled youngster with admirable frankness, has
tened to apologize to Captain Maury for having
made such "a beastly fool" of himself, the
Captain receiving his protestations with q
smile, and telling him there was no harm done,
adding: "You are very young, my dear young
gentleman"
Moral: Be sure who you argue with at din
ner parties.
There is striking identity of this incident
with similar one which occurred i'll regard to
another eminent Southern savant. 1t happen
ed in the year 1887, when President Van Buren
had convened an extra session of Congress to
consider his new financial scheme of the sub
treasury, and the country was greatly excited
on the subject, and especially by the sudden
announcement of the support of that measure
by John c. Calhoun. Previous to that MIR.
Calhoun had become one of the idols of the
Wing party on account of his opposition to
General Jackson in the removal of the depos-
its and the State bond system. He had always
been, too, the bitter opponent CT Mr.. Van Bu.
rem, even to the point of withdrawing from all
personal intercourse with him. These facts
and his great talents made him immensely pop
ular with the Wings of that day. Correspond
ly virulent and bitter were their Indignation
and unbounded their denunciation of him
when his celebrated Edgehill letter proclaimed
his sudden adhesion to the sub-treasury sys-
tenn. Calhoun, the traitor John Cataline
Calhoun were the phrases applied by all the
Wing partisans to this great man.
1t was when this feeling was at its height
that the vacation ct the University of Virginia
occurred, and a number of the students on
their way home, having to take the stage at
Charlottesville, found themselves intermixed
with number of Congressman on their way
to Washington. In one of the stages there
was an equal number Of students and Con-
gressmen, and very quickly the young gentle
men fell in conversation with their seniors.
One of these exhibited special interest in the
young men, and propounded great many
questions in regard to their studies, and by bis
kind and captivating manner induced the
Youngsters to very free and frank utterance
of their views on all subjects. Among these,
of course, politics and characters of the emf
nent men in public life were discussed with
that freedom and frankness of young students
Now, it happened that one of the most talka-
tive and bigoted of the youths was the son OF
a father who was q violent Wing.
The son faithfully reflected the fathers views
and prejudices, and in his answers to the elder
ly gentleman, who had taken 30 great an inter
est in the Students remarked that the prevalent
political sentiment at the University was that
John G. Calhoun, of South Carolina, was the
greatest traitor and most dishonest politician
that had ever disgraccd our political history
To this very emphatic remark of the fiery
young Whig, the elderly gentleman demnrred
in very kind and suave manner, and invited
the young assailant Of the great South Caro-
linian to an expression of the reasons for his
belief in the unparalleled wickedness of that
statesman. The two were soon engaged in
very animated argument, to which the other
passengers all listened with great interest
The Young man was very brig ght, ingenious
and fertile, and the elderly gentleman was
evidently a most accomplished logician, and
of most winning manners, calculated to make
a very deep impression upon youthful minds.
Never, perhaps, was the course of Mr.. Calhoun
so effectively and luminously explained and
defended as in this familiar discussion with the
Young student, which lasted until the stage
arrived at the railroad station at Louisa. Then
one of the companions of the elderly gentle
man, who had maintained studious silence
during the whole conversation, descending
from the STAGE remarked, Don't trouble your
self, Mr. Calhoun; will look after your bag
gage" "Thank you, Genera"
Alas our young student heard the fatal
word, and, jumping from the stage, made for
the baggage car, accompanied by his young
friends. But here he was sought out by the
great South Carolinian, who insisted that he
and his friends should join them in the gentle
mans car; and during the rest or the journey
Mr.. Calhoun devoted himself to the task Of
soothing the modification of the young man
who had given such hasty expressions to his
political prejudices, and in impressing his
mind and those of his companions with so
deep an admiration and respect for the illus
trious statesman and philosopher of the South,
that not one of those young men ever yielded
up his conviction that of all men of his age
John G. Calhoun was most pre-eminently, In
every quality of true greatness greatness Of
intellect, of soul, of patriotism, of heart.-N
o. Picayune.
= Since whatever is is right, it doesn't nec'
essarily follow that whatever isn't is wrong.
What is it that has three feet and cannot
wnll, sixteen nails and cannot scratch a