Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-01-08
WHOLE NO. 2.353.
rnE DEATH or sErFEasON.
An Interesting incident Related
BY the Hon. Alexander ~. 81.
alunrf.

An Interesting incident Relates
by fhe Hon. Alexander ~. ~
@taaTt.
The Hon. A. ii. II. Stuart, Of Vir.
gIHia, has written an Interesting
! letter giving an account of the ceIe-
bration Ia Stanton, Va, of the fil-
tieth anniversary Of the Declaration
Of independence. He says:
Among the guests who as
sembled at the celebration held at
the Eagle Tavern on the Fourth of
July, 1926, were most of the promi-
nent If1en of the town and county.
/ well remember that Daniel Shelf
fey, Chapman Johnson, BriscOe q.
Baldwin, Thomas j. Niche, Will
liam Kinney, n. G. Kinney, and
other citizens of the town were of
the number, and, / think, Gen.
Robert Porterfield, James Bell,
Charles A. Stuart, and others of the
same class from the country were
present. The occasion was marked
bvhilarity. Thespeeches We're brief,
spirited, and appropriate. Anec-
dotes were told. There were bril-
liant flashes of wit and fancy, and
all were in good humor and SEEM
ed to enjoy themselves. In this way
the day was passed until nearly
sundOwn, and the company were
preparing to separate, with mutual
fluctuations on the pleasure which
they had enjoyed, and the expires
sion of hope that they might meet
to commemorate many returns of
the auspiciOus day. At this stage
of the proceeding some one came
into the porch, and in a low tone
communicated to Mr.. Chapman
johnson something which seemed
to make a deep impression on him. |
/, who was then a youth preparing
myself to enter the university, sat,
with a few other young compan-
ions, near the foot of the table, and,
being on the opposite side from Mr.. /
Johnson, had a full view uf his face,
and, although / did not know the
nature of the communication, could |
not fail to observe the grave ex-
preston of his countenance.
The mystery was soon solved.
Mr.. Johnson rose, and in fitting
terms announced to the company
that news had just reached him of
The death, near noon on that day,
Of Thomas Jefferson. After few
remarks on the life, character, and
public service of Mr.. Jefferson. Mr..
Johnson requested all present to fill
heir glasses, as he desired to offer
This was done. He then
lesired that the company would rise
md remain standing. While we
hus stood, deeply impressed with
he sOlemnly of the event which
lad been thus Unexpectedly an
Mr.. Johnson offered the
sentiment: THE memory
If Thomas Jefferson, author of the
Declaration of Independence I
Though the mortal man may never
witness another celebration of the
lay which his pen has so much
his immortal spirit will
)e present and inspire the last an
hem which hallows its memory
Fhe sentiment was purely inn
,romptu. He did not take time to !
ommit it to paper. He gave it to
Is as it came gushing up, like liv-
ng waters from the fountain of his
'reat heart, and ii found a reponse
n the heart of every one who was
resent. AS for myself every word s
hat he uttered became, as it were,
on the tablets of my
memory, and, after the lapse of [
nGre than 54 years, feel that am !
bic to report Mr.. JOhnson's toast I
Ot only with substantial, but with
Iteral, accuracy"