The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1872-05-10
CRITTENDEN AND WEBSTER.


In her life OF her father, the lat
Il Hon. J. J. Critenden, Mrs. Co.ema,
, thus describes visit which he re
+ ceiyed from Daniel Webster:
A., In 1886 Mr. Webster visited the west
n and came from Lexington to Frank
!. fort 10 see Dir. Crittenden. He was
his guest for some days ct that time
and received from the yeomanry o
: Franklin County tie usual compli
: ment paid to distinguished visitors il
r that locality, ga barbecue or, IS i
! was called at that time, ia bergoo.'
q This was regarded as Al unusually
+ great occasion, and extensive prepa
rations were made to do honor tC
a Mr.. Webster. The men were rallied
E far and wide, and mighty gathering
: was the result. The place honored
( by custom for this Kentucky festivity
was about seven miles from Frank
fort, on the farm of Mrs Innis, the
mother of Mrs. Crittenden. A TO
: mantle little stream called Benson
wound about through the woods neal
I the house, and in the dense forest
' along its borders the Kentucky host
q assembled l cannot explain the
origin of the word "bergoo;' the
!, feast differed from barbecue" il
that it was more primitive. I'm
mense iron pots were kept on hand
in some secluded spot, ready for
such occasions, and each man was
expected to bring his own tin cup
and pewter spoon. "Bergoos' were
always the order of the day when
summer vegetables abounded; only
one dish was prepared, but it was
savory as The mess brought by Essu
to his father, the blind patriarch.
All the birds and squirrels round
about were shot, prepared, and
thrown Unfortunately into large
pots then all the farms and gardens
in the neighborhood were put under
contribution, and young corn, toma-
toes, peas, beans-in short, every
vegetable that could be found was
added. All this boiled away vigor-
ously till the salutations OF the day
were over, family news told, and
kindly questions asked and answered.
The business of the day (which was
making spec ches and listening to
them) concluded, then all present
gathered around the steaming pots,
cup aud spoon in hand, to receive
their portion. don'tremember that
ever tasted this famous broth, but
it perlumed the woods, and l know
that every one ''asked for more.'
There was no distinction OF persons
on these occasions, except that the
orators of the day and the visitors
were first served; but tin cup and
a pewter spoon were the only ipple-
ments. Mr.. Webster was accompa-
MED by his wife and daughter Julia,
siterward Mrs. Appleton, and on the
great day of the feast we drove out
to Mrs. Innis' After resting at the
house, we walked over to the camp
ing ground. Mr.. Webster was re-
ceived with shouts that almost rent
the heavens. He was welcomed in
the usual form, and called upon for 3
speech, which lie made 10 his inimita
Bile style. Mr. Crittenden, know
ing his boys of cid, feared that
he also would be called upon for
speech. Before Mr.. Webster coa-
cluded, he was seen quietly and steal
thily Withdrawing to the outskirts of
the crowd and cOncealing himself st
last behind q tree.
One amusing feature OF this occa
sion was seeing Mr. Webster accom-
modate himself to stump. This
was not the kind of platform he was
accustomed 10, bat lie would not have
been equally acceptable in any other
position. l suppose he had never
ielt his footing soinsecure, but, being
quiet speaker by nature, he got
through like q man and Kentuckian.
After the conclusion of Mr.. Web
ster's speech, a great shout arose TOR
"Crittendenl Crittenden Critten
den." The crowd swayed backward
and forward, the merry laughter OF
those near bis place of coneealment
betrayed him, and he wss literally
dragged out and passed over the
heads of the people to q tall stump,
and put dOscn gently. Such a tri-
umphant shout of victory was rarely
heard on any battlefield as arose
when this was accomplished. Mr..
Crittenden was laughing so heartily
that it was some time before he could
utter a word. / shall never forget
Mr.. Webster's expression on that
J day y amazement and amusement
conteuded for the mastery. Those
who are acquainted with Mr. Critten-
den have not forgotten the intensely
humorous expression OF his counte-
nance when hearing or relating a
good story. On this occasion his
mirth was contagious. He peremp-
toriiy declared he would not make
speech, made comIcal appeal to
'.his boys" not TO hold up his little
lights while greater lights were shin
ing; he declared that "there was not
q stump within five miles that did
not bear the marks OF his footsteps
Thi. plea seemed to touch s'the boys'
they behaved well, letting him off
for that time, though verify believe
they would rather have heard him
speak than Demosthenes or Cicero.
Before leaving the ground, many
pressed forward 10 take MIR. Webster
by the hand, and to say word on
the great political questions OF the
day. Every man in Kentucky was
politician, and those mass meetings
were political schools for uueducated
men. They listened with intense In
terest to public speaking, and wtre,
many of them, natural orators. In
returning to town, one OF my sisters
and myself occupied the same car
riage with Mr.. Webster. During the
drive he spoke almost exclusively OF
Mr.. Cri.endep, snd pronounced an
eloquent eLlogy upon him. Among
other things he said, "Mrs. Coleman,
your father is great and good man.
Great men are not difficult to fad,
but a great and good man is rarely
seen in this world. Mr.. Cri,tenden
is a great and good man."
TIE Prussian artisan combination,
which is struggling for the attain
ment Of an exact regulation OF the
hours Of work and the rate OF wages
for lahor, bids fair to inaugurate
troublesome crisis between the inter-
ests of handicraft industry and capi-
tai in Berlin. The masters of three
leading sources Of employment-ma-
sons, carpenters snd buIlders-have
joined in the lockout movement
agains. the men. Thousands of ope-
ra.ivcs have been thrown out of en-
ployment in consequence Troubles
have ensued in the streets. The
discharged workmer have issued a