Arizona weekly enterprise., 1882-08-05
WEBSTER.
4 "Reminiscences of the Great statese
 man.


 man.
 Richard B. Kimball, in The Dartmoutb.J Shortly after Fenimore Cooper's death there was Q meeting of literary men in the city of New York, in the Governors room at the City. Hall. Washington Irving presided. 4 committee was ap- pointed to make arrangements for suitz able recognition of the event. and fur ther to raise funds for the erection of < monument to the memory of the de- ceased velist.
 At our i-st meeting Mir. Bryant was elected to deliver the eulogy, and his &C., ceptance was speedily obtained. After various propositions, Dr. Rufus Gris- wold, who was the leading spirit through out, suggested that We should, if pos sible, get Mir. Webster 10 preside on the occasion. Mr. Webster was soon to pass through New York on his way to Wash cunlstance to see him personally on the House and stated ny eirand- He seemed somewhat taken back at the proposition, and asked me if I thought it would be quite appropriate.
 "I am not a literary man." he said '' It seems to me you should select one for this olfice.'
 ''Mr Webster" Freplied, ".we cef- tainly claim you as such. You will be judged by your printed works, and printed works constitute literature"
 He considered moment and then said ''I have engagel to deliver dis course before yolr Historical Society il.e last week in February; If you can ar- range your meeting about the same time will preside at it.
 At the appointed hour I drove to the Astor House for Mir. Webster and brought him to the hall On the way he repeated twice to himself:
 The applause of listening senatcs to command Turning suddenly to me he exclaimed Youngster, what Is the line immediate ly succeeding that :? ?
 The question came so unexpectedly that I could not answer 1t. We hap pened to be just opposite Randolph's book store. Stopping the carnage, | 1 jumped out and procured a copy of l" Gtay's Elegy, came hack and real the lines MT. Wssster wished for, and we proceeded on our way.
 An amusing incident occurred at th3 opening. Mir. Irving, whose duty it was, as Chairman Of CHE eoinrnitfee to an- nounce Mr. Webster, came forward iu lis shy, frightened manner, to go through with his task, when some one Aseated exactly in fro..t of him among the audience rose, and, before Mir. Irving could get cut a woesi, shouted at the top | of his voice: rbree cheers for tho; author of the s5teteh Bool,.. - Threo cheers were given to Mir. Eging's utter dismay and discontinue. He stam- ner q out Mir. Wahsfer's k name and so,ne inarticulate words about Hpresiding." then, quickly retreatiug, he seated him l self quite away from observation: 1 Mir. Welster's epening remarks, tke eulogy ef Mr. Bryant, the brilliant speeches which followed, and Nr. Web ster's closing sentences. were carefully reportcdin lie daily journals. Iobserved that he usAd ihe quotations from ss ssGrey's Eieg-yn eslla3o speaking, showing that his mind was oceupied with the subject as weTode along.
 l The assembly broke upsatIa late hour. I had engaged to bring Mir. Webster i5 inc Century Club after We had coneludz ed, where 6 handsome collation. had a been prepared. The cilb-roonfs, at that time. were near bY in Broadway. We found 2 large gathering already assem- bled. and aftsra ioar; address of well. come by tho venerable Chief Justice of tie Supporter Corrt, Samuel Jones: general intro;iuctions followed. hIr: Webster relnsil.ed iJl the time stand ing near the head Of the table. After some pleasant observations, he re- marked that lie D rceived there were several artists in tie colnpaBy.
 Perhaps, gentlemen, ycu are not aware, he said, H tii.f many years ago we had in this county two famous pics- ures by Vagdyke, naming them.
 At this announcement some. oi the artists e-scha gcd giaDces with eaelt other, as much as to say, q He is out of his reckoning this tin9e.''
 "The circumstances. were these.'' continued Mr. Webster. There was a wealthy Hollander gho, shortly after the beginning of the present certui-y. came to Alce,ica and took up 1lis res5s esi dence about fourteen miles from Hzslz ington. He ~as the owner of fka z575 pictures I have mentioned. 4 laaz tisz<1 of his family rcmaihad ill Hollana 4< his death, Ill dividing his propeszYz la left to q daughter ii Kew York fIzez3 two paintings, or certain runslseE eI guildcrs, as she shon:d elect. Nov, gentlemen" continued a!r. Webster, with an ar of intense disgust, .' tlis lady's husband WAS in trade, and he took the guiliers, and the ra'ntings were packed up and sent back to Holland. l was in Congress st tue time, and went with q friend to see them before they were carlied away.