Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-07-16

ly So" sai1 l. "As, for instance" lie
continued, Gin The case of old John
Brown" GA case in point exactly"
was my reply.
sEwARD's OPINION OF JOHN BROWN.
There was then pause which did not
regret, as the colloQuy was taking tarn
that was not agreeable. After silence
of some moments Mr.. Seward renewed
the conversation by stating that he had
once visited Harper's Ferry and that
though much pleased with the scenery, he
could not agree with Mr.. Jefferson in the
cxtrayagant assertion that it was worth
voyage across the Atlantic to see it.
"However," he added, ''the associations
connected with it now, consequent upon
the recent event there which has made it
so well known to the world, will, dare
say, induce many persons TO go there,
and perhaps, to come as pilgrims from
beyond the sea-" j made no reply to this
remark and there ensued another awk-
ward pause, during which Mr.. Seward
slipped his wine abstractedly, evidently
thinking of something else besides the
bouquet of his Burgundy: Presently he
asked ME somewhat abruptly: did you
see John Brown" eyes, " was my mon
osylabic reply. "Ah!" he exclaimed;
"pray tell me under what circumstances.
81 saw him captured said /, 'and l saw
him condemned to DEATH Then fol-
lowed succession Of questions 'On the
same subjec: continued" which | answer
ed politely, but in as few words as posi-
BILE. At the close of his inquiries he took
occasion to tell me that he never had but
one interview with Brown, who impress
ed him then with the idea that he was R
monomaniac, and that his ''mad attempt"
at Harper's Ferry had tended TO confirm
the impression. "No worse time" said
he, "could have been chosen for such an
expedition, the effect of which has been
to intlame the minds of Southern men and
to give them Il colorado preteXt for much
imprudent language and many improper
acts. Look" he continued, sat
the open rebellion of South Carolina and
the States that have followed her exam
pie. Their madness and folly are infinite
" greater than Browns. ii is 2l.ari,y 10
say they are insane and / am sincerely
sorry for them, for there are many points
of character about the South Car0llnlans
which / admire and which make Inc all
| the more regret their reasonable conduct.
! They are brave, generous, hospitable ana
! warm-hearted, but too impulsive, too pep
! perry entirely and altogether perverted In
! DO YOU know I'd rather see ten heads of
! Union men roll in the dust than that one of
! those hot heads in South Carolina should
be hurt just now" | must have looked
surprised at this remark, for he repeated
| it with additional emphasis and then con-
tinued: Eyes, sir; for lis it not better
there should be ten martyrs in 4 good
cause-in the cause of the Union-than
| that any further excuse should be given
! for such outrageous violations of the law
! as we now see down South, threatening
| the most disastrous consequence: I
! then said to him: "Mr. Seward, it is be-
| leved by many that it is in the power of
! one man, who is in position TO speak 10
| the whole country 'aS one having author
! ity' and one whom the whole country Is
anxiously waiting to hear, to prevent,
! by few timely words, the dreadful con-
sequences YOU seem to anticipated He
! looked at me intently for a few moments
| and said: ''lf you refer TO me the many
! you speak Of greatly ovcrratc my influ-
! ence." Then with Il smile he asked-and
| | thought it a very strange question:
''Havc You ever travelled in the Alps?"
and on my replying that that was a pleas
ure hoped Yet To have ne went on to say :
"Well, when you get there you'll find it
Il difficult task, with the aid even of your
Alpin stock and rough-calked shoes, to
climb the slippery surface of glacier,
but a far more difficult undertaking TO
carry your travelling companions up It's
CLASSY slope securely to the top" TRUE"
| I replied; but don't you think, sir, that
| when one has himself attained the top and
| from his high position sees a yawning
! chasm in the path it is his duty to warn
! his companions of the danger ahead and
make them change their coursc?"
"Make them" said he, "why when men
! have decided on their course and made up
! their minds to follow it they are slow TO
believe in dangers which they do not See
! and warnings are in vain."
| A TOAST TO MRS. DOUGLAS.
Then, leaning forward, he addressed
! the French Minister on my left: "Mr.
MERCER, is it customary in your country
! to drink tOasts anG sentiments on occa-
sions of this kind:" sometimes, Mr..
Senator" said the diplomat. "With Mrs.
Douglas permission them" said he. 81
will offer a toast" Whereupon there
was general call for Mr.. Stewards toast
and pause of expectation for its an
nouncement. The Senator deliberately
filled his glass and Nhen the company had
charged theirs, he said: "Here is TO the
destruction of every politician, of every
platform and Of every party that stands
in the way of a speedy, peaceable and sat-
! isfactory settlement of the unhappy diff
culties now alternating the two sections Of
our country The toast was drank with
enthusiasm and Mr.. Crittcndcn, when lie
had emptied his glass, replaced it with
such emphasis that it was shiycred 10 frag
mentS on the table. Every glass was
drained but that of Senator Douglas, who,
with his untasted in his hand, rose slowly
from his scat and coming round the table
TO where we were sitting stopped by the
side Of Mr.. Seward aud said to him in q
tone and manner most impressive: "Ab,
Mr.. Senator, don't forget in the morning
what YOU drink at night Judge" re-
piled this eEigmatical man of mystery,
Judge, you give your guests such glo-
rious wine that its aroma will linger on
the palate when .jocund day stands tiptoe
on the misty mountain top" Mr..
Douglas gravely shook his head and re-
turned to his place, while We sat in silent
wonder ut the scene we had witnessed.
Soon afterwards the company left the
table and we repaired 10 the drawing
room Driving home that night with Mr..
Crittenden he seemed greatly puzzled to
understand what Mr.. Seward meant by
volunteering his toast and wondered if
the toast itself could be relied on as an
indication of his course. But subsequent
events soon diSpelled all doubts on that
point and made it abundantly apparent
that the Senator from New York did
forget IN the morning what he had drank
at night.
Wbitewnsh brushes, paint brushes, boiled and
raw linsesd oil, zinc dryer, putty, turpentne and
paints In ci, also Brandon's ana Venetian red.
Steel shovels, Jingle and double.
Vanilla and cocoanut waters, lemon, ginger,