Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-10-29
From the New York Times.
Food and Intellect.

| From the New York Times
| Food and Intellect.
TWAS mistake to suppose that Immediately
after the Ohio election Mr.. Stanley Matthews took
to his bed and died Undoubtedly some men in
like circumstances would have promptly died, and
il is quite possible that Mr.. Matthews wished that
he were dead; but, nevertheless he continued to
live. His conduct in this matter should be judged
with charity. Extreme sensibility is rarely
found in connection with a really gigantic intel
lect, and Mr.. Matthews chief characteristic is
intellectual and moral greatness rather than deli
cate sensbty. That he is alive is proved by the
fact that when newspaper correspondent recent
ly made mention that Mr.. Chandler had paid
large bill for Mr.. Matthews board and lodging
the latter sent for the correspondent and informed
him that he was liar and scoundiel, but did
not mention that he had repaid Mr.. Chandler.
| When the Electoral Commission was about to
meet in order to ascertain whether democrat or
a republican had been elected President, Mr.
Matthews volunteered his services counsel for
Mr. Hayes. Mr.. Chandler, the Chairman of the
Republican Committee, accepted MIR. Matthew
offer, and promised that his personal expenses
while attending the sittngs Of the commission
should be paid. Mr.. Matthews thereupon went to
Washington, assisted for four weeks in supporting
Mr.. Hayes claims and sent to Mr.. Chandler a
hotel bill for $500. which the latter paid out of his
own pocket, the Treasury of the Republican Gen
eral Committee being empty. This is the story
which has finally found its way into print, and I'M
I'll its truth OF fasehood is thoroughly ascertained
there is no man on this continent who will be able
to sleep or eat
If we assume for a moment that the story is
strictly true, it cannot be denied that the bill
seemingly large one. Mr.. Matthews personal
expenses included his board, lodging, washing,
and cigars. Now, if we suppose that he was
washed to the extent of twelve dollars per week,
and that he smoked within the same period thir-
teen dollars worth Of cgars-both OF which esti-
mates are certainly very libersl-he must have
eaten and slept at the rate of two hundred dollars
per week. If the Washington hotel-keepers fol-
low the usual method of making up their bills,
one fourth OF this sum represents the cost of Mr..
Matthew room, leaving the remaining Slj0 as
the cost of supplying the eminent Ohioan with a
weeks food. That Western statesmen should
eat one hundred and fifty dollars worth OF pork
and corn-bread per week would be regarded BY
most people a. Incredible; but it must be remem.
bered that Mr. Matthews is not an ordinary man.
A giant intellect needs proportionately large din
ners An amount of food which would be sufli.
cieut to enable an ordinary man to sustain an
average amount of intellectual labor would be
mere mouthful for man like Mr.. Matthews.
Daniel Webster had a large BRAIN and il Is a mat
ter OF history that he ate large dinners. but TO at
tempt to keep an intellect like that of Mr.
Matthews in running order upon amount of
food that would have been sufficient for a mere
Webster. would be as foolish as to try to drive the
engine of Cunarder with single scuttleful of
COAL The cost Of Mr. Matthews food, as shown
by his Washington hotel bill, may be thus readily
explained. One hundred and fifty dollars
per week is nearly twenty one dollars and for
ty- FIVE cents per day. The latter is, then, the
precise cost of working Mr.. Matthews intellect
up to Its highest horse-power-if the metaphor
may be used without any Infringement of the
rights of other animals. Who shall say that this
sum was excessive, or that Mr.. Matthews ate more
than WAS absolutely necessary to repair the con-
sumption of tissue caused by the tremendous eff
forts Of bis colossal mind 1t is Unnecessary to
argue that no man ever did or ever can eat over
twenty-one dollars worth OF pork and corn bread
in single day. Those that take this ground will
please explain how 1t came to pass that if Mr.
Matthews did not eat to the extent above set FORTH
his bill could have reached the enormous sum of
$500.
~ 10 tiuc tudt tueTe are persons VINO alIege tnat
Mr.. Matthews brought his family to Washington
with him, and that IN the bill which he sent to Mr..
Chandler the expenses Of his family included.
This is one of those libes which should be in
stantly repealed with scorn nailed to the counter,
and subjected TO other contemptuous processes
Did Matthews family volunteer to act as counsel
for MIR. Hayes and did Mr.. Chandler accept this
extraordinary offer and guarantee to pay the fam
llys expenses Of course, no such offer was
made or accepted, and hence Mr.. Mathews could
not possibly have sent Mr. Chandler a bill
for the expenses Of his family. The bill which he
did send was for his own private, individual, and
strictly personal expenses, and hence it follows
That he must have eaten tweniy-one dollars and
forty-three cents worth OF food per diem, lncred-
ible as the statement may seem to ordinary West
ern statesmen, whose intellects can be worked at
full pressure on two dollars worth of pork aud
corn bread.
But did Mr.. Mathews send such a bill TO
Mr.. Chandierf 1t is doubtful Il we shall
ever certainly know. MIR. Chandler has
never adopted the principles aud policy of
his political opponents, and hence is, accord
ing to the modern definition, a bitter
and brutal partisan. Being TINS corrupt to the
hearts core, his word is worthless. What if he
does publish a copy of Mr.. Matthews billl How
can we know whether the copy is true one, or
whether 1t II is forgery, such a bitter partisan
would naturally make I And yet the matter must
be settled soon. If the public mind is to preserve
It's balance. There eau be question OF more
| transcendent importance than the question who
paid Mr.. Matthews hotel bill, and that states
mans wel-known patriotism will doubtless prompt
him to tell the truth without delay.