Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1877-03-06
EYE ON WEBSTER.
An Iseidsss In sho Career or the
Late asnasor from Nevada.

lcslonei Deneeace In the 81. Louis olobe'
Democrat
Some years before Daniel wsbster's
death. o dinner was given to him In
Boston, at the Revere House. / think.
and Nye--who, though then a young
man, had already gained considerable
reputation a. u speaker-was invited.
and selected to reply to n toast. follow
ing Edward Everett. Webster was
then Mt the hight OF his famo, as Everett
was, and idolized by the "Hub." which
was proud to name him the god-like
Daniel.
The gentlemen having charge Of the
dinner were deeply impressed with their
responsibility. They were extremely
anxious that everything should go
smoothly. and spared no pains TO dis.
charge their duty 10 the fullest. Hav-
ing heard. after Nyo's appointment that
he sometimes drank too much. they be-
came solicitous about his condition. and
the afternoon Of the evening Of the din
ncr two Of them called at his hotel to
look after his condition. They learned
that he was in his room. and going up.
they found, TO their horror, that no was
still In bed. recovering from u debauch
Of the previous night.
Feeling that It would lever answer to
have Nyc appear. still half tipsy, in that
august assembly. and trembling at tho
narrow escape they had made, they tried
to persuade him not to keep his engage
They said they thought the af-
fair wouldn't be very pleasant anyhow,
and they had nearly decided to stay
away themselves.
Nys, who had risen, and was dressing.
told them-seeing their object-that
they needn't be afraid Of him. "L't
me assure you, gentlemen, that ! never
get drunk above my ears. Ill take q
battle and n drink, and DO all right. /
to 90 to the Webster dinner. ind
TO that toast"
Unable TO dissuade him. they deter.
mined to stay with him 80 as to prevent
from another excess. They waited
until he had bathed. dressed aud swal-
lowed n glass OF brandy /; then they
proposed that they should take tho air.
Ito graciously consented. and was
through the streets fer IN hour
between his guardians, holding each
arm, and steadying his pace. They final.
accompanied him to the Revere, and
him to another OF the CON-
while they slipped of to dross.
The dinner began. The most distin-
Bostonians wsro present, and
Nye, looking a little disordersd. sat near
The much.honored guest. In due time
the toasts were introduced. Evarts re-
spoudsd In the cold. exact. polished ar.
manner for which he was remark
and which the Bay State no great.
~ admired.
Then II was Nys's turn. He roso
unsteady. the eyes Of the
members Of the committee hxed n
iously upon him. lest be should dis
grace them, the occasion, the State and
the immortal Webster himself. lie had
some trouble ut frst In arranging his
thoughts. and his words halted for a
But very soon no warmed TO
his subject, aud tho natural sloquence
OF the man flowed forth. He apostro.
Webster in some noble and strik.
ing passages. and then drew from his
waistcoat pocket q silver h~alf-dollar. |
/: 81 trust ! shall DO parionsd
for referring to an incident Of which, /
am sure, our distinguished guest has NO
recollection. but which I shall remember
to my dying day. This coin he gave
me for some triiing service when I was
u small boy. I recall the circumstance
As IL il were yesterday. II Was an era
In my life. Ny heart swellsd with pride
aud Joy. that had a personal msmento
Of the greatest man Of his time. i have
tho coin ever since, and treasured
il most sacrcdly. ! resolved never to
part with II, and have kept my resolve.
| have been hungry and cold more than
oncs since that day. This little coin
would have given me food and shelter,
but I would not spend u. When I felt
L In my pocket; when ! pressed II with
ny fingers; when I remembered the
man who had given II to me;
when I thought Of his shining face, his
iesp, lustrous eyes, I was no longer
hungry and cold; the force and maguet-
SIN Of the mighty wsbster were COM
through his little gift. and,
poor and insignificant . I was, I ceased
o feel my vulgar needs. His memory
,ams back to me like a glorious pres
,nce, and In its light I stood exalted,
dealizsd, transmitted to myself. Such
A the effect Of o great soul and over
mastering genius" i
This was turbid and hypsrbslicl
but Boston did not believe
Webster could 10 ovsrpraissd, and as
Sye delivered the words, they sounded
nsanihcently. and awoks high snthu-
Iiasm. amid the expressions Of which
10 sat down, glowing and triumphant.