The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-10-04
HENRY A. WISE.
Captain Codman's Reminis-
cences Of the Distin-
guished Virginian.
Some Anecdotes Of His Ca
reor as Minister to Brazil
His Theories ofPoli--
tics, Agriculture,
Medicine and
Theology.
From the Evening Post.

J From the Evening Post.
Many years ago, when Henry A.
Wise was United States Minister to
Brazil. l frequently met him in Rio de
Janeiro. He was OF a jOvial disposition,
and often came on board our ships TO
lunch, or assisted at The dump-pitchlDg
ard spinning at Carparga's ship
| chandlery. He maintained the dignity
OF courtier ut the palace OF st. Christ
! oval, and uRbent himself when among
his own cOuntrymen. AT all places and
in all conditions ne was at home. In
discretion, however, was always part of
his nature. This trait was displayed on
u memorable occasion, when, on account
OF an arrest b. the police of some drunk
en- sailors belonging to frigate, he in
,:ructed the Commodore no. TO Join Inc
! ships OF other nations in firing salute
| Tor tho baptism OF an Imperial Prif cess.
! lie still further offended the Government
| 10 which he was accredited by instlgat-
| ing mock ROYAL christening of u baby
born on board an American merchart
| ship in the hsrbor and causing u salu,
to be fired in its honor.
1t was the custom of all the great mer-
! camille establishments in the port to keep
| open house. Their bounteouS tables were
spread daily with dinners, not only for
! themselves and their many clerks, but
for shipmasterS, strangers and whoever
chose TO avail Themselves OF an unlimited
hospitality. in this way | was one day
dining at the table of Maxwell, Wright
* Co. A whaling Captain, just arrived
from long cruise, sat ut my side. The
old skipper was naturally very inquisi-
tive about news and having recently ar
rived from New York, / gave him all the
political intelligence and social gossip
that | could call to mind.
"But how about this row that's been
gong on here about babies and saluteS?'
asked Captain Cudworth.
"Oh. that's all over now | replied.
Yes" he persisted, "but what got it
up? Come, tell US all about it,"
| touched him sharply on the knee,
under the tacle cloth, rs II hint 10 quiet
him, but instead ofsubsiding, he eXclaim-
ed with an oath or two:
"What are you punching me for? |
want to know how our minister came to
make such fool of himself"
By this time there was general roar
of laughter the gentleman opposite join
ing IN it most Justify.
who's everybody laughing at2' ex-
claimed the old whaleman, sorely puz-
lied.
"Well, Captain" l replied, a think,
for one, Mr.. Wise there before you is
laughing at you
Captain Cudworth looked ut him a
moment, and then calculated:
"HOw! Are you, Mr.. Wiser
The Minister nodded assent. The old
skipper rose from her chair to his full
height, and looking his EXcellency square
in the face, said:
"Mr. Wise, l did not know you were
here, or | wouldn't have SAID what did;
but | can't apologize, because, so far as
| know now, it was true
Wise then rose also, and reaching
across the table, said:
"Gve us your hand, my ola buck! |
| like an honest man. Come up and dine
with me tomorrow, and we'll talk over
| the baby matter between ourselves"
Cudworth went and dined with the
! Minister, and when he came rolling down
to the hotel late al night he swore that
Minister Wise was gentleman. and il
| he wasn't Just right on the subject OF ba-
bies he was sound on everything else, es.
pecislly on champagne"
From that time, twenty-eight years
ago, until lasst year | had not seen Hen
nv a. Wise, but being then on visit TO
Richmond, | could not deny myself the
pleasure of renewing the acquaintance OF
| DAVIS gone by. Considering those many
wears and their viClssitudes time had
! dealt gently with Mr.. Wise His figure
was erect. and movements active, and his
face, though thin, had healthier glow
than il had more than sqUarter OF a cen
turv ago. On my compimenting him
upon this he observed: ~ e., sir, ten
drops OF spirits OF turpentine in wine
glass of water three times day. That
did it. The greatest medicine in the
world! Quinine gives one dyspepsia; tur-
pentine cures it, Having thus cordially
received me by volunteering this gratuit-
Gus prescription, he entered upon the dis
cussion of all sorts OF subjects with an
amazing volubility. But he had nothing
to saw of his defense Of the sacred soil
Of Virginia" He better evinc ed his pa
triotism during his latter wears by
schemes to make the soil productive. he
hsd almost everything on the brain. but
agriculture pressed it most closely.
| remarked that the tobacco planters
seemed to be in more prosperous condi
ton than other farmers. mo, slr-No!'
he shouted. Tobacco has helped to ruin
Virginia. Tobacco and whiskey will
ruin any people. To say nothing of the
poison to the stomach land here the
Governor elected an enormous quid and
replenished his mouth with bite from
a plug), 'lt impoverishes the land
Then you think wheat pays better Oh
the long run?" l suggested.
Wheat? No, sir, not wheat. but tares
Tares will regenerate our soil You re-
member the parable? But things are re.
versed here, if people did but know il.
The farmers get ten or twelve bushels of
wheat from an acre, and then follow out
that old principle of burning up the tares.
They ought to sow only tsres; they make
splendid fodder, and in three years re.