Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-06-14
With Alexander Stenhens.

Gov. Stephens had an especial fond
ness for young folks, and he was partie-
ularly kind to reporters who dealt fairly
with him. One thing that he always in-
sisted or was that, he alone should sup
ply the news of the Executi,e office.
Soon after he went into Office, the Con-
stitution's young man noticed things re-
markably dry about the Executive of
ice, and after few queries learned that
the Governor had ordered that no news
be given to the press That night the
Constitutions young man was in the
office at the mansion. The young man
was feeling little blue, because all i'm
porLant source of news had been taken
away, and in a voice that showed his
anxiety remarked:
Governor, l believe you have instruct
ed the secretaries and clerks in the Exc
cutive office to tell me nothing?
Il have was the reply. my first order
is that no person connected with the
Office shall comment on anything that
is said or done there.
But Governor, asked the reporter,
how am to get my department news|
Turning around to the young man, the
face of the Governor lighted up with
smile as he answered almost with a
shout:
Come to me! I'm bossr
He was rs good as his word. After
supper the reporters would drop around
and the Governor always kept them well
up with the news. Sometimes he would
throw in 4 good story for their amuse-
ment, as seven o'clock was bis leisure
hour. One night three of the boys
were there, scattered around the room,
one young fellow leaned on the mantle
piece, another on an easy chair, and the
third sat over by the seeretary's desk.
The Governor told them the news of the
day. and as they fingered he began to
talk of times that were bfore the re-
porters knew of this cline.
Said Mr.. Stephens:
Il shall never forget my first trip
away fIom home, nor the impression
made on me. l was quite young man,
and some business fell into my hands
that carried me north. l had never
been so far as Washington before, and
Of course l wanted to see what there
WAS to be seen. l went into the Senate
gallery and took my seat. could easily
pick out the prominent men by the pic
L udu ocCu VI oOOh
a question cams up, and the President
of the Senate announced that Mr.. Web
ster was entitled to the floor. OF course
was very much gratified that was to
hear him. He arose and began speaking
in an ordinary conversational way. l
think he took his snuff occasionally. He
never made gesture from the time he
opened until he closed. l thought it
was all sound doctrine, but l was con-
WINGED that | knew dozen college boys
who could have beaten him speaking.
The next morning picked up = paper.
There was isspesch headed: 'Mr. Web
sters Great Speech on the Finances
Pshaw they don't call that a great speech
do they? l saw another paper. There
it WAS again headed Mr.. Websters great
speech on the finances. | went to Baltl-
more. There they had Mr.. Webster's'
great speech on the finances. reached
and everybody was talking
about Mr.. Webster's great speech on the
6nances. got to New York. There
everything was in ferment over Mr..
Websters great speech on the finances.
1t was the same way in Boston. SO
concluded that it must indeed be great
speech. 1t put me to thinking, and
made up my mind that it was not the
way a man said anything, but what he
said made him an orator.