Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-02-03
DEATH OF JEFFERSON.
Gloom II Cast Over the Fiftieth Cele.
bratiOn OF the Fourth of July.

An INTERESTING INCIDENT RELATED ny nos.
ALEXANDER II. II. STUART CHAPMAN
JOHNSON INrRoNPTU AND MEMORABLE
SENTIMENT At srAUSToN. VA, PRO.
SoCNCED on THE AUTHoR oF Tug
DECLARATION OF iNDEPENDENCE.
The Hon. Alexander II. II. Stuart, OF
Virginia. has written an interesting let.
ter giving an account of the celebration
IN Staunton, Va, of the fiuirth ami
yersary of the Declaration Of lndeI end
ence. lie says
Among the guests who assembled
AT the celebration held IN the Etgle
tavern on the Fourth OF July, lS96,
were most of the prominent men OF the
town and county. | we'll remember
tha. Daniel Shetiey, Chapman johnson,
Brlscoe G. Baldwin, Thomas j Mitchie
William kinneT and other citizens OF
the town were of the number, and, |
think, Gen Robert Potteriield. Jane,
Bell. Charles A. Stuart aud others Of
the same class from the country were
present. The occasion was marked bY
hiiarity. The speeches were brief and
spirited and appropriate. Anecdote,
were told. There were brilliant flashes
W VIII hllfl talltN Alt'l All were tii Ettfti
humor and seemed TO enjoy themselves.
In this way the day was passed until
nearly sun down, and the company
were preparing to separate. with mutual
fluctuations on the pleasure which they
had enjoyed ard the expression ot hope
that they might meet to commemorate
many returns of the au-picious day. At
this stage of the proceeding some one
came into the porch, and IN low tone
said TO Mr. Chapman johnson some.
thing which seemed to make deep
impression on him. ], who was then =
youth preparing myself to enter the
University, sat with few other com
panions near the foot of the table, and
being on the opposite side from Mr.
johnson had full view Of his iace, and
although did not know the commune
cation, could rot fail to observe the
grave expression OF his countenauce.
The mystery was soon solved. hr.
Johnson rose, and in fitting terms an.
nounced TO the company that news had
just reached him of the death, near
noon that day. of Thomas Jefferson.
After few remarks on the life. chsrac
ter and public services of Mr.. Jefferson,
Mr.. johnson requested all present to-
fill their glasses as he desired to offer
sentiment This was done. lie then
desired that the company would rise
and remain standing. While we thus
stood, deeply impressed with the solem.
nifty OF the event which had hecn thds
unexpectedly announced, Mr.. johnson
offered the following sentiment: "The
memory OF Thomas Jefferson, author OF
the Declaration of Independence
Though the mortal man may never wit.
ness another celebration of the day
which his pen has so much illustrated,
his mortal spirit will be present and
inspire the last anthem which hallowed
its memory" The sentiment was pure.
ly impromptu. lie did not take time
to commit it to paper. lie gave it 10
ia IA 1t came gushing up, like living
waters from the fountain OF his greet
heart and it found a response IN the
heart OF every one who was present. As
for myself, every word that lac uttered
became, "a it were, ingrossed on the
tablets Of my memory, and, after the
lapse Of more than forty four years, !
feel that | am able to report Mr.. John.
sons toast not only with substantial,
but with literal accuracy"