The Greenville times., 1874-09-12
Happy Hits.

Orleans, though one Of the kind
est and most amiable Of gentle-
men, possessed a keen and graceful
wit, by which he often hit of very |
happily the foibles of gentlemen
with whom he was brought into
contact. In 1874 he paid of the
mortgage upon Ashland, the home
Of Henry Clay, and the distin-
guished statesman, to his dying
day, did not know the generous
hand that was stretched to relieve
him. An illustration of the humor
Of the good old philanthropist has
recently been related, to the great
amusement OF gentlemen who
were familiar with the character
istics Of the gentleman who was
the object Of the Doctors raillcry.
II was during his last illness, when
the Doctor was wont to converse
very freely with his old friends,
the companions of his carly days.
Ono Of these, happening TO refer
with much feeling and grateful
pathos to the Kindness manifested
to him by the Doctor, when he, tho
visitor, was . boy, tho old gentle
man, In . feeble voice, remarked:
"Oh, yes, remember D.,
when you and your brother were
little boys, and used to come to
sec INC very often, and | always
had . large nice apple for each of
YOU"
"Well do I rccollect IT," replied
the Doctors young friend, with
much emotion.
"And do you also rccollcct, D.,
that you used to cat half Of
Georgc's apple and hide your
own2"
Tho gentleman interrogatcd was
not 20 distinct In his "reminiscences
on this point nor 90 dcmonstrativc
In his rcgretfnl emotions.
And, }" continued the venerable
gentleman, shave you not, D.,
through life been consistent with
this juvenile exhibition Of your
leading trait2"
There was perfect silcncc---no
rosponsc-and the old gentleman
passed to other subjects.
During tho occupation of this
city by General Butler, DR.. Mcr.
cor was tho only ono of our rich
citizens who refused to take an
oath Of fidelity aud loyalty to tho
United States, and yielded to tho
alternative demanded by Butler
Of surrondering his whole estate
to Dutlcr's quartcrmastcr. In this
surrender he stated that being
very old and inilrm, hc had retain.
cd two thousand dollars, which he
pctitioned General Butler to allow
him to keep for his personal wants.
Butler published this letter and
his reply, Wherein he expressed
his deep regret that he could no,
consistently grant the request even
to SO good and originally strong d
Union man as DR.. Mercer. Tht
familiar friends Of the Doctor
were wont to rctaliatc upon hin
for his frequent satiricnl hits a,
them, by inquiring what he had
done with that two thousand dol
lars in gold, which Butler had al
lowed the Doctor TO keep in spit,
Of his letter refusing his reques
to that effect. Ono of them,
healthy, vigorous young man, VIII,
had belonged to one of our hom
guard military organizations, an,
had always been q very ardent SC
cessionist, meeting the Doctor o.
Canal street one day, asked him
there was any Of that two thous
and dollars left?
"Oh, yes! replied the Doctor
"there Is a small sum laid by fo
Especial purpose"
And may l inquire" said th
young gentleman, "what that spc
cial purpose ISL"
"To buy fine sword and Con
fcdcratc uniform for you, so tina
you may go out and kill all thos
Yankees whom you have SO ofte
promised to slay for your countr
and freedom"
There was no reply, nor was tn
Doctors special fund ever draw
on.
The relator Of these incidents |
the life of DIR. Mercer recalls I
mind the only instance of q satirI
cal, and Of practical jocularity. {
that other vcneratcd philanthrt
pist Of our city, Judah Touro.
II happened once that . wandc
ing Oriental missionary visited 0,
city with o view Of obtaining gu,
scriptions to erect . Christia
chapel in Jerusalem. The SUI
scription paper contained o prin
ed appeal to all good Christian
setting forth the prosecutions