The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-04-01


Of her beauty-a superb brunette tall, slender
and graceful. with the finest shape, features
and complexion She was the daughter OF an
other celebrated beauty. Mrs. Ashley, who be
came Mrs, Crittenden, for many years fea
ture of Washington society. Miss Wilcox sub
seuuently married Mr.. Cabell, of Florida, ant
has recently died.
The swift from A. street, was Chas. March
OF New Hampshire, a man we'll deserving tilt
title. He was great pet OF Mr.. Webster sane
subsequently wrote book about him. Bu
Charles March's wit was Of the evanescen
kintl-it did not bear the cold steel of the prin
ting office. 1t flew about the table, almost Il!
impossible to catch as the perfume of the flow
ers.. 1t was delicate, scholarly and wonderful
Nv quick. A flash of lightning alone conlt
symbolize it. 1t was like Saladin's cimetar
and cut through the heaviest substance. None
who ever heard Charles March talk at dinner
has ever forgotten him, but very few coule
quote or remember one of his good things.
Miss Susan Benton, the daughter Of the Sen
ator from Missouri. was one Of the guests. Sht
was q witty and accomplished talker, and +:
favorite Of Mr.. Webster's. She married Mr.
Boilleau, afterward the French Consul. She
closed her mortal career, a few years since
amid the darkest clouds of misfortune, mourn
ed, honored and loved by all who knew he.
Among the guests was George Sumner, O.
Boston. full of wise, witty and unusual talk
Tt was sometimes urged against this gentleman
that .she drew on his imagination for his facts
but it was universally conceded before MS Ia
mented death that he was generally right -on
ly that he knew so much more than his hear
ers that he seemed to be playing the Mnnchau
sen. Count Gorowski, whose name sounds like
a growl, who was not the most amiable of men
had an especial spite against Sumner. and once
spoiled an anecdote of his at dinner party
thus
'sWhen was in Odessa, I received from the
governor an invitation to the grand opera,
said the count.
II have been in that town; there is no opera
house in it, said Mr.. Sumner.
I believe Mr.. Summer was right and tht
count wrong; but the count had had his oppor
tunity, and used it.
But the hero of this breakfast from which
constantly wander) was Mr. Webster himself
He talked so delightfully."- that we could not dt
much instice co Monica's good oysters and 9th
er delcacies.
Sir Henry Bulwer reminded him of the fact
that alta dinner party in England. he had talk
ed with a friend about Watts hymns, and tina
she was amazed at his memory OF them.
:sWe always knew that he knew achot'!
achat,'' whispered Charles March.
Mr.. Webster then began and quoted or refer
red to some twenty or thirty Of Watts hymns
His memory of them was simply surprising
He then branched off into literature generally
showing how genuine was his knowledge Of ant
taste for poetry. He referred to Cowper. whose
poem Of sThe .Iackdaw' he afterwards quoted
on his death bed Never shall I forget hi
enthusiasm for Cowper's hymn
"God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform"
And he told lis with great particularly OF the
,,la,y1 y1,i nj
Macauley's 'sHistory Of England had just
appeared. ;,
SIT is as fine as one of Scott's novels" sal,
the ssDefender.'' .
ssShall report that to Macaulcy as a compli
ment?'' said Sir Henry Bulwer.
Sir Henry Balwer was then sil@ht man
with that appearance OF ill-health which &c
companied him through life. He was man
singular tact and good breeding-so good {
dinIomatist that YOU never thought Of him as
diplomatist. He enjoyed very much this infor
NAL entertainment. and often referred to 1t
quoting it as refntation of Carlyle's remarl
that ssno man could be as great as MIR. We5ste
locked"
And, indeed, it was on these occasions, as il
his playful and beautiful letters, that Mr.. wen
ster showed his unequal power OF memory, ian
cy, grace and accomplishment the gTea
mind which devined the secrets OF Statemal
shin had an ethereal lightncss about it. FL
loved the incxtinguishabe laughter OF the god;
he was one of them himself, worthy to ban
unet with imperial Jove. His smile was espe
cally beautiful, she wing JWo rows Oh perfcc
tceth-ssthe large, Webster smile, )" rs Mrs. Ed
ward Curtis called it.
ssWhere do you live now, Charles MIR. Wen
ster said to Mr. March; your uote was returnc
to me from Fonr-and-a-half street."
ssWell. sir, I am social bandlt,'' replle
u AL:
when I cannot Get invited out to dinner. al
haunting the departments trying to put :hlnSS
through. and quoting you largely. One OF tn
moral men told me that he had heard that
liked to look on the wine when it was red, bl
fold him that reconsideration like an ange
came and whipped the offending Adam out G
me.'' whereupon he withdrew with the remark
at is matter Of patience, philosophy, an
long suffering to catch the ear OF secretary
But have heard Il railing accusation agalns
YOU. sir, such as we are given to understand tina
the angels never prefer against man, a genccs
ity on their part [ aim truly sorry to perceive
the present instant wholly neglected by erin
man. They say you are for giving the Ierr
tories a military government, anu that you WI
ruin the country"
Mr.. Webster was extremely indulgent
March: lie loved him like son, and always Ii:
| tened to him with his ''large smile.'
III
| should be talked at his breakfast, so he change
the subject to some literary one, or social one
| forget which. ! am reminded, however, tina
conversation in Washington took on, at thu
time, very much the complexion that it ha
| lately taken on in New York about Louisian
and its troubles. Mr.. Ciay's famous compron
! ise measures had just been proposed, Mir. WEI
ster's 9Th OF March speech was III the ar. III
| ly, history repeats itself.
The friends Of Charles March always regre
! ted that so bright u genius, so truly original
mind. informed, too, witlst highest cultur
and lighted up by the most vivacious wi
should not have bnilt to itself some permanel
monument His letters were clever, overflow
! ing with original and pretty conceits. He W;
full Of observations somewhat sardonic on HI
man nature. but always keen and appreclatiy
Here is one of them: II am afraid yol
| friend Mrs. Smith will not get foreign mi
sion; the chances are deadly against her. St
fails. however, from no untried cXertion, fro
no misuse of her varied powers; she was for
doomed On Thursday morning she beats
retreat for Borrioboola Cha, going off, l,oweve
with all the honors Of war. She, like the gre
clnieftain under whom she serves, ''never su
renders,'' and if she retreats she is like II
Parthian, most to be dreaded in flight. 81
might 60 very far before thought Of folowir
herr
What description, that, Of a female offic
seeker.
TO pretty widow, many Of whose admire
started for the thennewly discovered mines
California, he wrote
'.Batle adieu to-day to the lieutanant. l
has gone to the Peruvian mines, destined by
singular fatality to be the Botany Bay OF
many of your admirers. They can hardly