The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-08-02
A REMINISoENOE OF WEBSTER.

mouth, says: Shortly after Fenimore
Cooper's death there was meeting of
literary men in the city Of New York,
in the Governors room at the City
Hall. Washington Irving presided.
A committee was appointed to make
arrangements for suitable recogni-
ton of the event, and further to raise
funds for the erection of a monument
to the memory of the deceased nov
elist.
At our first meeting Mr. Bryant was
selected to deliver the eulogy, and his
acceptance was speedily obtained. At
ter various propositions. DR.. Rufus
Griswold, who was the leading spirit
throughout, suggested that we should,
if possible, get Mr.. Webster to preside
on the occasion Mr.. Webster was
soon to pass through New York on his
way to Washington, and / availed my
self of the circumstance to see him per-
sonally on the subject. / called on
him at the Aston House, and stated my
errand. He seemed somewhat taken
aback at the proposition. and asked
me if I thought it would be quite APP
propriate.
''I am not literary man. he said.
sit seems to me you should select one
for this office"
''Mr Webster replied, 1--WE cer-
tainly claim you as such. You will be
judged by your printed works, and
printed works constitute literature.
He considered a moment. and then
said, 81 have engaged to deliver dis
course before your Historical Society
the last week in February If you can
arrange your meeting for about the
same time, I viii preside at it"
At the appointed hour drove to the
Astor House for Mr.. Webster, and
brought him to the Hall. On the way
he repeated twice to himself:
ssThe applause of listening senates to com
mand."
Turning suddenly to me, he ex-
claimed, 'tYoungster, what is the line
Immediately succeeding thatg"
The question came so unexpectedly
that / could not answer it. We hap
pened to be just opposite Randolph's
bookstore. Stopping the carriage,
jumped out and procured q copy of
ssGrays's Elegy,n came back and read
the lines Mr.. Webster wished for, and
we proceeded on our way.
An amusing incident occurred at the
opening. Mr.. Irving, whose duty it
was, as chairman of our committee, to
announce Mr.. Webster, came forward,
in his shy, frightened manner, to go
through with his task. when some one
seated exactly in front of him, among
the audience, rose, and, before Mr.. Irv-
ING could get out word, shouted. at
the top of his voice, s'Three cheers for
the author of the Sketch Book" The
cheers were given, to Mr.. Irving's utter
dismay and discontinue. He stIm-
mered ont Mr.. Webster's name, and
some inarticulate words about ''presid-
ing then quickly retrealing, he seat
ed himself quite away from observa-
ton.
Mr.. Webster's opening remarks, the
eulogy of Mr.. Bryant, the brilliant
| speeches which followed, and Mr.. Web
s5er's closing sentences, were carefully
reported in the daily journals. L OBJ
served that he used the quotation from
.'Gray's Elegy" while speaking, show
| inc that his mind was occupied with
| the subject as we rode along.
The assembly broke up at a late hour.
| / had engaged to bring Mr.. Webster to
| the Century Club after we had conclud-
| ed. where a handsome collation. had
| been prepared The club-rooms, at
| that time. were near By. in Broadway.
! We found large gathering already as
sembled, and after long address of
welcome by the venerable Chief Justice
| of the Superior Court, Samuel Jones,
| general introductions followed. MIR.
| Webster remained all the time standing
near the head of the table. After some
pleasant observations, he remarked
| that he perceived there were several
artists in the company.
Perhaps, gentlemen, you are not
aware he said. ''that many years ago
we had in this country two famous pic
lures by Vandyke,' naming them.
i At this announcement some OF thu
artists exchanged chances with each
other, as much as to say, ''He Is out o.
his reckoning this time"
1.-The circumstances were these, con
tinued Mr.. Webster. "There was
wealthy Hollander who, shortly aftel
the beginning of the present century
came to America. and took up his res
idence about fourteen miles from Wash
inoton. He was the owner OF the Two
pictures / have mentioned. portion
of his family remained in Holland. A
his death, in dividing his property. he
left to daughter, who lived in New
| York, those two paintings, or certain
number of guilders, as she should elect
Now, gentlemen" continued Mr.. Web
ster. with an air of intense disgust
''this lady's husband was in trade, and
he took the guiders, and the painting:
were packed up and sent back to Hol
land. / was in Congress ut the time
and went with friend to see them be
fore they were carried away"