The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1874-02-26
TWO sIGULAR CHARACTERS.
The Author Of the Little Hatehet Story and
His Eccentric Son.

|
To the Editor of the SKn:
SIR: / noticed in q recent number of yonr pa
per an extract from Weems' Life of Washing.
ton" and quite fiatterirg account of the author
| You did not name his other productions two OF
| which were thought by his friends to surpass his
history of Washington. / refer to his Life OF
| Marion" and his {" Drunkard's Looking Glass -
| The latter is inimitable, and ought to be rspub-
lshed BY some of the temperance societies to pro-
mote their cause. Being intimately acquainted
with the Weems family for the past forty years,
| have thought that further account of ParsOn
Weens might be interesting to the million read
| ers Of the San.
Mason Lock Wsems was born in Anne Arundel
| County, Maryland, at the old family mansion
| called Lock Eden. Lock was the name Of his
maternal ancestors, who emigrated from Scotland
| In the early settlement of this country during
the reign of Charles III. His paternal ancestors
enigrated from Scotland at the same time, and
settled in Anne Arundel County. Mason l..
| Weems being second son, his father, who IA
| vored the English notion of primOgeuiture made
| him parson, and being intimate with the Wash
ington family, he was through that means in
stalled at Pohiek parish in Virginia. 1t was
| there he wrote his lives of Washington and Ma
rion, and his "Druukard's Looking Glass" 1t
| was customary with him to make long journeys
| through Virginia in his coach, which was gener-
ally filled with books, which he offered for sale
He dealt not only in his own works, but also
those of many Others, including the infidel writ
ers, Thomas Paine and Voltare. On one occasion
he was chidden by a friend for selling such poi
soncns literature, whereupon he replied: "lf
sell the poison sell the antidote too for here is
BaXter's Saints Rest"
Parson Weems was an excellent performer on
the violin, and be always travelled with his tid-
die. When called upon to marry a couple be
would afterward play for the dance, and it was
his delight to see the young people enjoy them
| selves IN innocent amusements. He was an ex-
ceedingly handsome man, as is shown BY his por-
trait now in the picture gallery of one of his de-
sceDdants, great favorite with the ladies, and
was welcome wherever he went.
Parson Weems' son, the member of Congress
mentioned in your article, knew personally
He has been dead many years. He was greater
oddity than his father, and only served one term
IN Congress, being politically killed by John
Randolph. Weenis made every effort to be init
mate With that eccentric Virglniau, but was in.
variably met with haughty reserve. Finding his
friendly advances constantly rebuffed, he made
1t rule to oppose Randolph in debate, aud to
vote against every measure he brought before the
House. One day Randolph offered some amend
ments to q bill, and stated he would withdraw it
if opposed by "either a friend or an enemy"
Weems jumped to his feet Immediately, and in
his usual impetuous style opposed the measure.
After he had exhausted himself Randolph rose
in his seat and In his usual squeaking voice said:
"Mr. Speaker, / said wOuld Withdraw my
amendment if opposed by friend or an enemy
The gentleman is neither, sir-I shall therefore
let it stand" This brought down the house, and
efectually extinguished poor Weems.
After his term in Congress Weems thought he
had call to preach. He commenced by preach
ing at the funerals of his deceased slaves He
tried his hand at the camp meetings, but being
known as the hardest swearing man in the coun,
try, he was invariably led out of the ground and
ordered of. He spent the latter part of his lif.
in quiet on his farm; preaching to his negroes,
marrying them, divorcing them, and bapiizing
their children. His manner of divoreine a conn
lie Was peculiar. He would stand the candidates
In the middle of the road, and in the presence of
bis other slaves order them to walk of in oppo-
site directions until ont of sight by the turn of
the road. If neither looked back 1t WAS perfect
job, and the separation was declared complete;
but II there was lingering look behind from
either OF the parties they would have to come to-
gether again and try to be reoonciled.
good story was told of the ex-Congressmau.
One day he was correcting one of his negro men
for some offence He had the offedsr tied up, and
between the stripes inflicted long lectures on the
slaves misdeeds. At last the negro got tired of |
the process and petulantly exclaimed, "Massa, if |
you whippy, why, whippy at once; ifyou preschy, |
why, preachy, and please do it quick"
Weems was considered by his neighbors def /
eient IN mental capacity. He entertained pecu- |
liar views, especially on religions matters and |
was iudiorously aristocratic in manner ana SEN |
timent, resembling his father only in eccentric
ity. SER
Matthews Comfy, Va, Jan. GO, 1874.