The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-11-14
Anecdotes of Public Men.
GEORGE WASHINGTON.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.
One day, in a fit of abstraction the
juvenile George cut down Bushrod's
favorite cherry tree with hatchet. His
purpose was to cut-and run.
But the old gentleman came sailing
round the corner of the barn just as the
future Father of his Country had
started on the retreat.
"Look here, sonny" thundered the
stern old Nirginian, "whO cut that tree
down."
George reflected a moment There
wasn't another boy or another hatchet
within fifteen miles. Besides, it Oc-
cured to him that to be virtuOus is to
be happy. Just as Washington senior
turned to go in and get his horsewhip,
our little hero burst into tears, and,
Nesting among his fathers coat-tails,
| exclaimed: Father, cannot tell lie.
1t must have been a frost"
MY son, my son." stammered the
fond parent as he made pass for his
| offspring, "when you get to be first in
war and first in peace, just cover your
back-pay into the treasury, and the
| newspaper press will respect you -
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Early in the war a party of distin-
guished gentlemen from New England
called on Mr.. Lincoln to urge the APP
pOintment of certain Mr.. Brown to
the post of quartermaster. The presi-
dent, who was amusing himself by
splitting portions of the staircase of the
White House into rails, received them
cordially. They stated their errand in
an earnest but respectful tone, and
calmly awaited his answer. Mr.. Lin
coin, drawing himself up to his full
height and clapping the spokesman of
the party on the shoulder, began to tell
a story about a dog-fght he once saw in
Kentucky.
BY and by it had gradually grown
dark several hours had passed away,
and neither dog appeared to get killed
or to gain any advantage over the
other. One by one the party had
dropped out, till the leader (who did
not wish to disturb Mr. Lincolns hold
on his shoulder) was left alone, trying
to conceal a yawn and to look inter
ested. Suddenly Mr.. Lincoln, with
that peculiar smilo on his countenance
which Mr.. Carpenter can talk about,
but can't paint, remarked, by the way,
my friend, I'm sorry for Brown, but I
gave that Appointment to the other man
yesterday"
DANIEL WEBSTER.
The following anecdOte of the great
Massachusetts, statesman has never be-
fore appeared in print: One day Clay,
Webster and Calhoun met upon the
steps of the capitol. Mr.. Clay ven
tured to remark, in his most affable
style, that it looked like rain. Calhoun
looked wise, but said nothing. Evi-
IDENTIFY he took in the whole situation at
a glance. 1t was crisis for Webster
Carefully laying his thumb behind the
third brass button of his blue coat, he
gazed from out of those cavernous eyes
and grandly uttered these prophetic
words: "No, gentlemen, the American
people will never forsake the corstitu-
tion. We shall have fair weather"
And so it proved.-Lippincott's.
Silver Coin.
Two thirds of the entire capacity of
the Philadelphia mint is to be used in
the coinage of silver, until otherwise
ordered, by which between 1000, 900
and 81, 800, 900 in silver can be coined in
a month. To facilitate the project of
the treasury department for silver re-
sumption, the assay officer at New York
has been instructed to make the bullion
fund of his office available, as far rs
practicable. In that fund there are
about 81 900, 900 in silver.
The secretary of the treasury will, in
his report to congress, recommend the
repeal of the section of law which al
lows the expectation of United States
silver coins to South American coun-
tries. Since 1865, the greater portion
of all tha silver coined nv the TTnita1
States has found its way to the South
American States, where it is circulated
at a premium. As stated by the direc-
tor of the mint, silver coins in this, rs
well as other countries, are Overrated
for the purpose of rendering tin EN- in
eyportable.
The fiftieth session of the university
OF Virginia opened last week, with 427
students.