The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-09
Che 8utlama daily Glohe.
THURSDAY, MARCH 0, 1876.
Correspondence OF the Graphic.l
BELKNAP's RISE AND FALL.


BELKNAP's RISE AND FALL.
His Private and Official Life-How He Yield
to Temptation.
WASHINGTON, March 3.
Where we look for combustion there is
not even smoke behind us is the volcano.
1t is Belknap who is LAGOON.
This man seemed to be person of hon
or, though he was always voluptuous,
vealy sort of man, who leaped from deep
melancholy to matrimony, and had self
loving, Flemish nature. He was of rich
tints Of floridness, in worm hair and beard
and blue eyes, and could cry, or swear, or
laugh easily, and was disposed TO tell broad
anecdotes, and listen to them, officially.
He drank and ate very much, and often in
his Office yawned and stretched and post
poned official duty, even to the writing of
his reports, until memorable necessity drove
him to his chief clerk, when the report
would come out, half digested, thrown to-
gether, and do not think that any of his
WORK ever attracted attention. He had lit
tie or no professional pride, and, like all
discoveries, thought every new duty would
take care of itself. He had done nothing
to become so celebrated, and respected the
VI HIS pEOtnOllOh. lnty lUNuCu LII
to address the Princeton alumni and his
army society, and he did it in strain of
weak rhetoric, although he could write well
when he tried. He never did try. Food
and drink and ladies were his ambition. He
was a sort of woman's prince.
FEAsTIsG.
Less than two years ago went to Welck-
er's restaurant one night and asked for a
room. They had none empty. ''We'er
full up" said Jack Welchor "I'll have to
give you a table. But bring your ladies in
here, and I'll show you dinner | have
spread for Gen. Beknap."
In one of the dark walnut rooms of this
large house was scene to make the mouth
water. A long table with ~ plates was
spread; at every plate was a card with a
name and nOsegay, and in the ceuter, in
silver vases, bloomed the richest winter
flowers. The menu was extravagant, of
course-$10 a head-and cspon, canvas
back, terrapin, soup, q Ia dique, and wine
to every course were component of the hos
pitality. The names of the guests gener-
ally recognized-giddy girls and stock
beaux around town, none of them with
either rank or desert, just fit to eat ,criticse,
and kill time. Two or three of the ladies
had beauty winter bellies, they were stop
ping in Washington to catch man and
ruin him with matrimony.
My mind passed through that series of
feelings we all have when we see fine
dinner and know the giver. First, we mad
not been invited; next, public officers have
good times; next, little Jealousy and self
shrinkage; fourth, sense of its cost; last.
where the deuce did he get the money and
habits =?
RETROSPECTIVE.
Then recalled for a moment this man
when had seen him first-a carrot out of
Iowa. He came on with his second wife
the same, they say, who suggested the
Indian contract to the eXhalation of man
they call Marsh Belknap and this tall,
liquid-eyed, frail young wife boarded then
in the old Seward mansion. | went there
with Judge David Wilson of Dubuque, and
spent an hour, and the modesty of the wife
and the good nature of the new secretary
The aged De bO yss hega s %s t. visit
Rogers about 1916, was not very strong
and full OF ghosts. There Seward had been
stabbed, Philip Barton Key had groaned
his laet, and several other tenants had come
to evil luck. The jam at the reception
was such that some said the walls settled.
remember old Senator Nye, full of punch,
telling Il rather loud story to Schuyler Col.
fax, who smiled as usual, and fled from the
PROCLAMATION like Joseph from Potipher.
! Alas. alas the host and Colfsx were to
come out at the same place, but Belknap
preferred the role of Washington to that
of Schuyler. He said: "Uncle Sam, l
cannot tell lie. | did it with my little
Ratchet" People are saying Belknap was
fool to own up; what's the use OF not
| F., tbotiu ba chnrt nlf
BELKNAP AND HIS WIFE.
He moved to Mrs. President Madison's
former residence in the course of year
but think his wife died before that at
child. birth OF consumptive aiing. She
had become favorite, and was both affec
tionate and shy. | remember that she tolt
me once about certain female reporter:
''l'm afraid of that woman; I'm afrai(
TO offend her for fear she'll abuse me, an(
when she comes here | feel as If l sat OF
needles"
| Is it possible that the Marsh contrac
Z had then been made
. The Tomlinson sisters were kentucklan
of much personal beauty and fond OF out
rivaling people. They held themselVe
e highly and worshipped what money woui
: bring. | suspect that they considere
|
= cumulations. 1t has generally been sal
that Belknap's first preference was Mrs
h Bowers, but that be failed TO get her an
e then addressed her sister. 1t was so man
+ fest that the widow attracted him that put
= lie opinion alleged they would be marie
y the moment Mrs. Belknap died. That qua
ity in tne secretary of war never like
his overmanifest nervousness. 1t was M
l. mere superstition that made the la
- against marrying deceased wife's sister
Ie but Belknap has been three times marie,
y though still Il young man-only Al /
q lamented his second wife deeply, but n
A. long; in few weeks or months he WI
counting again. append letter where
he refers to his deceased wife, who di'
,E two days after he penned it;
CT | had stenographer, poor blunderli
Irishman,' who could not make hvll
even for himself; and one summer, as
nd was going to the country, saw his woef
N: mug, and he told my wife "God kno'
al madam, what I'll do for bread this SUI
an mer."
~ stated the case to Belknap and
promptly replied:
lat MY DEAR SIR Your note just received.
he can nix your man Off temporarily, and VIII
ge with pleasure. II do not see MN wn ne !,
IL calls VIII leave orders when NIL sev ,r
use weeks. WILLIAM W. phLhNAi
lea This was in July. The poor devil {
." work as sort OF library indexer, and
about six weeks owed his bread to the
rotary of war. On December 81, folio
ing, Mr.. Belknap addressed me the follc
ing letter, which speaks of his wife's
preaching decease as well as my ben
ciary;
'. THE HUSBANDS LOVE.
s. MY DEAR sIR:-I have no more work for
O'kourke, ana hence he VIII DC ulecnsr
January |. As l have kept him longer tn.