New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-18

In spite of politics not of the ceanest and of aspi-
rations not of the highest, and maugre all that he
had missed through unworthy indulgence and self
ishness which was the fault of others rather than
his own, Mr.. Webster retained to the last large
ways OF thinking, and grand carriage which
reminded men OF the gods. 1t great deal that
nature was always so much to him. and that his ap-
probation OF natural beauty and of rural recrea-
ton remained unspoiled, so that he pined in WASH
ngton for the coasts of Massachusetts and for tba
| hills OF w-Hampshre. The yeoman blood in him
never lost Its virtue, and born and nurtured in q
FARMHOUSE he always, in his best mood estimated
at ther true value the luxuries of cities and the
uehcacies OF artificial life In this autobogra Inv
| Cnere is nothing more touching than the story
winch MIR. Webster tells of his anxiety that his
| oIother Ezekiel should also enjoy the benefits of
college education. "For myself" he SAYS. Il saw
| my way 10 knowledge. respeetability and self
projections; but as to him, all looked the
other way" Il am unhappy" so he said
10 his father, at my brothers prospects.
Will keep school, and get along as we'll as l can-be
more than five years in getting through college.
| provided he also can be sent to study" And
| Ezekiel was 50 sent; March, in the year 1901 saw
him i'll the Freshman class
After graduation, the necessity of the casa y
| as Mr. Webster tells us, required that I sbonld
then go somewhere and gain a little monevo So he
| went 10 fryeburg in Maine, to keep q school and
there made some money!" the first earnings of NV
me-, which had the pleasure of putting into my
! brothers hands for:his college expenses" Having
enjoyed this sincere pleasure" he went back to his
SCHOOL, Here was first indication of that gener-
GUS nature which made Mr. Webster all his life
careless, not merely of his own money but of that
VI others. one who was so willing to lend was
never ashamed to borrow, and perhaps did not sul-
gently comprehend the moral Importance of repay
ing. He had so little money when young that
when he became older and had more of it, he did
paradox in this leave the sagacious reader TO find
it out.
AT fryeburg Mr.. Webster read if not for the rest
OF MS lie, ut least good, solid books sucb ~
Auillss defence OF the American Constitutions
MoShelms Ecclesiastical History" "Goldsmith,s
History of England" and he borrowed and read
also BiackstOne's Commentaries" He committed
TO memory Fisher AmesA celebrated speech on the
British Treaty He studied law in the old way.
the hardest books first, and lost much time" He
brushed mp his Latin and translated Horace "into
poor English rhyme" Even then he fishcd and shot
aud rode without companion. 81 loved this oc
casional solitude" he says then and love il still
ne was partial to it, because "when thinking is to
be done, one must, of course, be alone No man
knows himself who does not thus sometimes keen
his own company" In note Mr. Webster man
uohs that the argument in the Dartmouth College
case was mainly arranged during journey ON pro- |
feSSiona business from Boston to Barnstable and
back; tina John Adamss speech was composed not |
IN fhiladeIphia, but in Massachusetts,, in "A New
England chalSe The address for Bunker Hill was |
IN great part, composed in Marshpce Brook
In 1904 Mr. Webster narrates that with money he |
was helnonsly unprovided." He went to seek his |
fortune In Boston, and with his usual generosity |
found school for his brother Ezekiel to keen He |
when he had earned little. sent for Daniel TO |
co me and study law The summons was obeyed |
lie knew hardly anybody in Boston, but then he |
and lia1,tI
place IN the office of Mr. Gore, who had Just returned
from England lie managed to get into the presence
OF that great man, ard explained his circumstances
ana wishes. lie said that he could write to New
hampshire 1of letters OF recommendation; hut Mr.
Gore. at the end, answered pleasantly: "My younp
iiehu' you look as II you might be trusted. You
say you came to study and not waste time will
take you at your word. You NAV as well hang nm
your nat at once 90 into the other room take your
DOCK and SIT down 10 reading il, and write at your
convenience to New-liampshre for your letters
90 DANIEL Webster became the pupil of Christopher
TORE IL was "A notable conjunction. Sometime
was sure to come of 1T. Certainly n good deal of
nara legal study came, for were not turned ont
then readymade lawyers in "A few weeks or montbs
as they sometimes are now. No student now GOES as
MI WEBSTER tells us that he did through "Saunders
reports, abstracting and putting into English. ont
oi Lath and Norman French, all the peadinCs
Headings, alas! III their strict sense are obsolete
justice by abolishing them shall not undertake TO
decide. But when read of young Mr. Webster dig
ghg through Viner and Bacon, Pufcndorf and
Roccus | understand why the Webster of later
years was great lawyer.
While Mr. Webster was in Mr. Coro,o ocaoo A.
CleIk Oh the Court of Common Pleas for the Comfy
OF hlllsDorough resigned. The place was offered to
MT. webster by his father, who was the Judge of
the Court ana had the power of appointment He
MI Webster would have taken the place if Mr.
gore mad not strenuously dissuaded him. The
salary was $1,000 year, and the young man chad
ieit the res on0aStie till his bones achedn When he
told his father that he meant to be a LAWYER and
could not take the place, the old man seriously
angry, cried: well, my son, your mother alwovs
SAID you would come to something or noth,py sbo {
was not sure which; l think you are now about
settling that doubt for her" SO he was only NOT
IN the way w hich was uppermost in the old mans
nlnd The law studies were continued and in |
lSOI MI. Webster admitted to the New-Uoinn
smre Bar. Soon after began the happy wears in | !
happy years." says Mr. Webs
ter though there were only nine of them IJpon
me whole, am disposed to regard them an alto
&c ther the happiest of tho great mans life Practice
aihc III plenty sufficient for the modest wants of
lie, though not lucrative. He was married in 1908
20 the wife whom he loved 80 well and | /
or whose death he incurred so long and c
10 oitterly. Ills letters to her do not seem to | !
AVE been preserved; there only three of them :
fletcher Websters collection, but all three begin
MY Dear Love-" There are only two letters of her !
wrtlng, but these are beautifully atfectionate =
"Hely ana 1uiI OF maternal grief for our santed .
itue DOy." When she died in ,Jauuary 1903 Mr. L