Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-07-13
Stories Ah0nt Webster.

W. c. VinSt0lC IN Boston Transcript.
Mr. Chester Harding, noted artist of
Boston, was, during the latter part of
| his life, most intimate with Webster at
| Washington, Boston and Marshlield. a
strong tie between them being their
| love for the sports of the rod and gun.
Mr.. c., intimate with Mr.. Harding, and
now a resident of Boston, is authority
| for whatever | here say IN reference to
these mutual friends, and his address is
at the service of those who seek it from
me for private use.
MIR. G. once, when dining, with Mr..
Harding IN Boston several years after
Wehster's death, asked him, "What
sort of man was Webster?" "What
sort of a MANI" replied Harding. "He
was mau that l had rather drink a
| tOddy with than any other man." Added
| G.. Are the stories about WebSter's
habits true?" "False, sir, falsel' reioin-
ed Harding. II knew Webster for over
twenty years. have fished with him.
| have shot with him, we Rave camped
together; l was intimate with him at
| WashlngtOn my daughters have
visited his daughter Julia. And. sir,
| never at any time saw Web
ster the worse for liquor" "The
worse for liquor is rather an elastic
phrase, said G. II mean" replied
Harding, "that | never saw him tipsy or
tight, or under the influence of liquor"
At another time Mr.. Harding said .
Gone winter, at Washington, George
Ashmun, Charles March, Mr.. -, and
took a house together opposite Mr..
Websters. Not an evening passed but
at least one of us went to his house or
he came to see US. Whatever our habits
were-and God knows l am no saint
Mr.. Webster never exceeded two or
three glasses of wine at the table or
elsewhere. He retired early, usually at
nine o'clock. for he was an early riser.
Harding and Allston were intimate
friends. Once he loaned his studio in
Boston to Allston for the winter, and on
returnir z from Washington was sur
prised to find that Allston, disappointed
at the results of his winters labor, had
destroyed them completely. Besides
painting Webster several times, Harding
took the portraits of various eminent
men, Calhoun gave him a sitting On the
day after the famous reply to Hayne.
"Well, Mr.. Calhoun" said Harding,
"what do you think of Webster's
speechH' With great emphasis Calhoun
replied, "Mr. Webster is a very strong
man." and relapsed into sileuoe,
Here is a postscript to the Bunker
Hill Grafton of June II, 1849, by Web
ster, super p0olta. 1t is given me by
DR.. George Z, Ellis, Of Boston, whose
accuracy in historic statements is pro-
verbal.
1t was day that tried mems bodies;
and when the distinguished guests and
citizens repaired 10 e'aneuil Hall at the
conclusion of the Grafton, there were
many wearied and faint among them.
1t was period Of cold water or anti.
liquor excitement, and emo strong pota-
tiOns' gTaeed or disgraced the festal
board. On the right of Mayor
Brimmer sat President Tyler, and
on his left Webster Next to Web
ster sat DR.. Ellis, and next to him
Secretary pPshur. On taking their seats
the Georetary remarked that he was ex.
hsusted and very faint, and on being
told that there would be nothing stronger
than coffee and lemonade to drink, ex-
pressed an emphatic regret. Webster
glanced at Upshur, turned to waiter.
and said: Take this money and get me
a bottle of bradny as soon as you can"
Webster handed the bottle to Upshur,
who returned 1t to Webster, under the ia.
bic. with the request that he take some of
Its contents. After drinking some Webster
poured more into his glass and SET it by
his plate He then passed the bottle
back. 81 was tiFeG and faint, says DIR.
E., 'spa some brandy would have been
y9Ty acceptable. 1t was a sore tempta.
ton, but ! resisted the temptation. "
Soon after Webster noticed that Upshur
had eurled napkin about his glass to
screen it. Reaching forth, he deity
twitched off the napkin, saying, "Show
your colors, UpshuTP
His carelessness and foTgetfulness of
his own trivial obligations, or of others
Indebtedness to himself, are well authen-
tlcated. The late Samuel Thatcher, of
Boston, called on Webster to collect a
Dill. Webster, absorbed in study, said:
Very well; there's box with money in
it. The Marsh6eld pastor said: "Mr.
was a remarkably kind neigh