Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-01-31
ANECDOTES OF WEBSTER.

| ANECDOTES OF WEBSTER.
l accompanied Mr.. Webster to Annap'
oils to inform him Of the facts Of the cast
he was about TO argue. But these were
by no means the main topics Of our con.
versation. II was not till the day before
the hearing that he seemed to address,
himself seriously to the labor Of prepare.
ton. He then shut himself up in bis
room for the entire morning, coming &C.
casionally into mine to ask about some
question Of fact, bringing half-sheets Of
common blue letter-paper, on which, he
would say, he had been making scratch.
es." They were distinct propositions
texts rather than arguments, carefully
studied. and, as was apparent from eras.
ures and interlining, labored with view
to condensation, or to satisfy fastidi-
Gus Judgment. Once, when expressed
doubt whether one of his propositions
was in accordance with certain facts, Mr.
Webster drew bis pen through it, saying
d" So, then, that cock won't fight" The
notes thus prepared were the brief Of his
argument, and he spoke from them.
That the glimpses thus afforded Of the
workings of a great intellect were extreme
ly interesting may readily be imagined.
But if the case did not engross us al
all times, conversation did not flag. Our
pleasantest talks were after dinner, when
we came back from the bar mess-room.
Mr.. Webster would then put on his slip.
pers, and tilt back his chair, with hi:
feet against the side of the mantel-piece,
on level with his head, saying, "Shall
| not take mine ease in mine inn ;" and
go off into a stream Of anecdotes. quota
tions, incidents Of his early life. and mat
tiers and things generally. On these &C.
casions Shakespeare was favorite topic,
and his familiarity wirh it was testified
by the aptness and frequency of his quo,
tations
In one of these protracted talks, which
always ran late into the night, Mr.. Web
ster detailed the circumstances Of his re.
fusal to accept the Clerkship of County
Court. as they are related in Curtis,
when the salary would have been little
fortune, and amused himself with hu.
morous comparison between his subse-
quent career and what would then have
been his destiny.
On the same occasion he described his
early practice in New Hampshire, and
told with almost boyish glee Of overtak.
ing, one bright moonlight, timber sled
at the foot Of hill on which the snow
lay deep. The driver had gone TO a
tavern ahead for an extra horse, and Mr.
Webster, hitching his own horse as ar
addition to the team, got the load TO the
summit, where the teamster presently
found it. IL had hidden behind tree,
said the narrator, " where | enjoyed the
fun, and only came forth to stay the
hand Of the owner Of the sled, who wa,
'lauupiug' his horses. because the 'tarn'
al critters had put him TO the expens,
of hiring assistance, when they were able
TO do the work themselves, and only re-
fused their load TO spite him" 1t was
Mr.. Webster's way of telling the story
and his imitation of the drivers tone anC
manner, that enhanced the drollery of III,
incident.
Upon another occasion he gave al
amusing account OF his escape through
the back window Of an old fashioned
stage-coach when the horses were run
ming away with it, and described the
amazement Of the driver, after they wer,
stopped, wnen he found a member o.
Congress st indlng on the baggage rack
and playing footmsn TO stage driver.
The interest of these anecdotes was
not so much in their matter as in the ev'
idence they afforded that neither the
wear and tear of political and profession
al life nor distinguished position had i'm
paired the freshness of early youth.
Another of Mr.. Webster's anecdote'
| have often repeated to students in m!
law Office. 1t was the inheXible rule OF
Theophilus Parsons to give no law ad.
vice on Sundsy-a rule which he persls-
led in adhering to when a client came &c
salem on that day from Boston to OBTAIN
an opinion on a matter of first import
ance in connection with business to b,
transacted ear y on Monday. Angry al
having had his journey for not ing, the
ellen, was on his way to his carriage.
when Mr.. Parsons followed him, and
asked him whether he had made up hi,
mind as to what was right according &c
the go den rule, and being answered in
the affirmative, told him to back to Bos
ton, do what he believed was '.jus'
right" and when Mr.. Parsons got to his
office later on Monday, he had no doubt
he would law enough to sustain him.
Speaking, on another occasion, about
the elements Of success in professional
life, Mr.. Webster said, "Why, there j,
-, most learned lawyer, a most
laborious man, and in all the relations
of lie absolutely unexceptionable, auu
yet, confound the fellow he never pro.
duces results.
The age of some one being mentioned
one evening, Mr.. Webster said, THE
worst standard by which to measure a
mans life is the parish clerks register.
Some men, sir, are born old; others,
again, never grow DID,; and certainly,
when | listened to his flow of animated
talk, the gleefulness Of many of his re-