Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-02-05


The consequence was that they profited very
little by their lessons, and became ungov-
ernable In their tempers. All the children,
except the oldest, were endowed with fine
minds, and in that respect the younger boy
(Ttomss) had few equals. At first Mr.. Re l.
Dali was much discouraged at the prospect
before him; but by mild frmuess, and the
countenance ahd support of Mrs. Clay, he by
degrees reduced his refractory pupils to order
and secured their respect. Through
Mrs. Clay Mr.. Kendall became acquainted
with her relatives and friends, who treated
him with the utmost kindness, and his time
passed pleasantly, not only in his little
school but in the social circle"
KENDALL AND CLAY.
An interesting feature of this portion of the
book is furnished in the extracts from Mr.
Kerdalls journal upon his experiences IN
teaching In the family of Henry Clay. In
after years Mr.. Kendall was charged with
ingrat;tude to Mr.. Clay, because of his warm
political opposition 10 the latter after hav-
ing received exceptional klndnesses in the
family of Mr.. Clay. This charge does not
seem to be well founded. That Mr.. Kendall
was kindly treated in Mr.. Clay's family, aud
especially when he was sick, is very heartily
acknowledged by Mr. X. in his Journal; bnt
as Mr.. Kendall quite evidently labored most
patiently and intslligently TO properly train
his turbulent pupils, il would appear that
The obligations were mutual. That Mr.. Clay
and Mr.. Kendall from their very natures
should become very positive political antag-
ODlStS, WEen once severed, was quite 1ueVi-
table. Mr.. Clsy's imperious nature, brook
ing DO opposition from one who had ever
been his subordinate, was no ways calcu-
lated 10 bend the quiet but iron persistence
with which Mr.. Kendall held TO his political
convictions.
THE FASHIONS IN 1914
The following curious entry in Mr.. Ken
Galls journal while at Lexington shows that
the eXigenc!es of fashion were quite as severe
ard unreasonable in 1914 as in 1876:
with the dress OF the ladies here, es-
pecially that of the most fashionable class
EEG The same fault as with the ladies of
NashiDgiOn,-th have mouS'rOus bosHms
behind. The shoulders sra 81 bound back
With corsets that the skin is wrinkled, and a
huge valley appears between them far from
lovely CT agreeable"
KENDALL. AS A POSTMASTER EDITOR.
Mr.. Kendall gave up his tutorship at
Clay's TO enter upon the practice of the law
but his carly leaning towards political
writing soon brought him into journalism,
ard he became Identified as editor and half
owner with paper published al George
town, Kentucky, bearing, according to the
habit OF country papers. high sounding
name, The KHGrd Press. Richard NJ. John
son also had an Interest in this paper. It's
business affairs becoming entargIed, or
rather having been so before Mr. Kendall
became connected with it, he finally con
Guided 10 stop III and start a new paper, TIE
~.
ownership, but edited il on a salary of $50
per year. At the same time he acted as
postmaster. tSS do some editors nOW,) but hi.
net income from this Office, after deductinS
percentage paid To the postmaster who re
tired in his favor, was but $50 per year; so
that IL would appear that both positions
editor and postmaster combine1 did not
afford a living salary, and that other ways
yet of eking out livelihood must be sup
piled.
The FIRST "BAcK-PAYr CONGRESS.
History repeats itself, we are tod, though
the politicians DO not always profit by the
fact to derive useful lessons. Thus while
Kendall was editing this little newspaper 10
Kentucky in his early career, there arose
that storm of public wrath over the act OF
the Congress of that period in voting itself
extra compensation and back pay tina: ought
to have been warning to all future Con
crosses. AS told in the Autobiography:
Congress had passed an act changing the
compensation of the members from q per
diem OF eight dollars during the session TO
an annual salary of fifteen hundred dollars,
with retroactive provision by means OF
which member received a considerable sum
beyond the lawful rate Of compens alton
when The services were rendered. Colonel
Richard NJ, Johnson had introduced the bill
AID Ii had been voted for by the entire kel
lucky delegation, with perhaps one eEcep
tol. This act was seized hold OF by poliu-
cal aspirants as a lever with which 10 Op5r
ate against the sitting members, and its re-
tTOactive feature made IL powerful instru-
ment. There was at once general uprising
of the popular mind against this measure,
and kentucky was in ferment before the
mem berS reached home. Col. X. NJ. John
son called on Mr.. Kendall soon after his re-
turn and enquired what was his opinion and
the opinion ofthe people. He was told that
the opinion OF the people and Mr.. kendalps
opinion were against the retrospective fea-
lures ofthe act, and that the only safety ofthe
members who voted for II was In promising
to sustain its repeal. Colonel Johnson took
the stump and made a resolute effort 10
justify tho measure; but he soon found IL was
all I'm VAN. II was amusing to hear the
Colonel, who was not an eloquent man,
make a passionate speech in favor of the
| measure, and conclude by promising TO vote
for it's repeal, because sucn was the will OF
the people. While Mr.. Kendall maintained
position Of neutrality in the paper he edited
ard disapproved of the Compensation Bill,
he openly declared his purpose to vote for
Colonel Johnson, on the ground that a man
of his patriotism and usefulness ought not 10
be thrust out of public life for a single error.
every member OF Congress from Ken
lucky who had voted for the Compensation
Bill except Colonel Johnson and Henry Gag,
was defeated in this election, and these teyo
were spared only On their promises 20 vote
for the Iepe al OF the obnoxious measure. on
tie first Day of the next session of Congress
Colonel Johnson obtained leave to bring in
bill 10 repeal the act in question, an II
passed with little or no discussion"
MR.. KENDALL COMES TO wAsHIyGToN.
Mr.. Kendall had made himself q cool deal
OF power in Kentucky and the south vest
by the vigor OF his pen, aud after the cleo lion
Of Jackson 10 the Presidency he was invited
by tie latter 10 take government position
at Washington. II would seem that there
was the same cutlery in those "go0t old
days" about he wickedness OF the time. that
there is now, for we find Amos Kendall writ
ing from Washington in 1879, that "if there
is more extravaganza. folly, and corruption
anywhere in the world than in this city,
do not wish to see the place"
Mr.. Kendall was appointed Fourth Aud
tor, and was afterwards made Postmaster
General In place of Mr.. Barry, and for some
time he was kept busy with the task OF recti-
lying abuses and bringing order out of the
chaos existing in that department.
AN OLD TIME MAIL CONTRACTORS RING.
Mr.. Kendall seems to have discovered very
much such ring combination between con-
tractors and certain employees OF the Post
Office department as was recently detected
and broken up in the same department. He
ascertained that "a few powerful mail con-
tractors, through favors TO the officers and
more influential clerks had really controlled
the department, and for their own selfish
ends had been the cause OF all its embar-
easements" Stringent measures were found
m lSf a to t.rSr, oharf pafp 1T.