The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-06-21
Political Fame.

The retired politicians can truly say,
in the language of Rip Van Wrinkle !:
Chow soon we are forgotten" Yes,
and in less than the third of century
after the grave incloses them there are
but few persons ON earth who are ap-
prised of the fact that they ever lived.
These reflections were fastened on our
mind by reading in the Congressional
dictionary brief sketch of the life and
public services of General Sam Smith,
of Maryland. He was a wealthy mer-
chant of Baltimore, once or twice mayor,
and contributed much to its growth and
prosperity-more, perhaps, than any
other citizen. The good people of
Maryland exhibited their appreciation
of his talents and personal worth by
sending him to Congress for u longer
period of time than the average life of
man. He served them as u Representa-
nine years. He was made chairman of
the finance committee of the Senate,
and discharged the duties of the posi-
tion with marked ability. Fe was q
warm supporter of Jackson's admins
tration, and on more than one occasion
was elected Vice President, pro ten
He had right to think, and doubtless
did think. he had achieved fame that
would live after him. He died about
thirty-seven years ago, and now let us
ask, how many of the present generation
ever heard of him We venture to as
sert that could he now arise from the
grave he would find three-fourths of the
citizens Of Baltimore entirely ignorant
of his long and useful career as Balti-
more's public servant. Such ia life and
such is the ephemeral character of politi-
cal fame.
We cannot close this article without
telling one of Daniel Webster's anecdotes.
1t is decidedly to the point. After Presi-
dent Tyler's second veto of bill to
charter bank of the United States,
every member of his cabinet, save Mr..
Webster, Indignantly resigned. The
Wings tried their level best to loosen
his grip on the State department, but
all their efforts were unavailing. Then
they came down upon him like a thou
sand of brick. They denounced him
with the variations. About this time an
enthusiastic admirer called to see him.
Finding him in a gloomy mood he ex-
claimed: Mr.. Webster, you ought not
to be gloomy about anything your fame
is made" "Fame," replied Webster,
"and much for fame" Whereupon he
told the following story He said he
was travelling in railroad car on GER
tain occasion, and it so happened that he
was seated by the side of very old
gentleman. He soon found out that
this old gentleman was citizen of New
Hampshire, and lived in Mr.. Webster s
native town. He asked the old man if
krew the Webster family up there.
ooh, yes" responded the octogenarian.
cold Mr.. Webster and I were bosom
friends in his lifetime" "Well, what
has become of his children?" inquired
Mr.. Webster. The old man answered
"Why, there's Ezekiel, he's the greatest
lawyer in New Hampshire, and one of
the greatest in the country" He then
took up the daughters and told whom
they married, and finished his account
OF the family without mentioning the
name of Daniel. "Were those all the
children ?" asked Mr.. Webster. The
old man answered in the affirmative.
"Are you sure there was not boy
named Daniel ?'' inquired Mr.. Webster.
"Daniel, Daniel, Daniel" soliloquized
the old man for few minutes, and then
broke out with this reply: "Oh, now
| do remember. There was one by the
name of Daniel, but he went down to
Boston, and / have not heard of him
since. "-LOuisciUe COurier-JOurnak.