The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-05-18
Clay and Randolph.

Clay and Randolph.
A Washington letter says: Just be,
low the treasury, within gunshot Of
the White House, lives David Callan.
one of the Oldest citizens of the District
of Columbia. lie has shaken hands
with seventeen Presidents of the
United States, and he saw the flames
burst from the White House when the
British set fire to it during the war of
1872. He is a sort of living record of
the past, and his personal recollections.
include "reminiscences Of the great men
of the country, from Madison down to
to-day. | had a delightful talk with
him this afternoon. Se~venty-ive years
of age, his memory is as strong as that
of Blaine, and he talks as fluent'y as u
college boy, bubb.ing over with remin-
iscence and anec lote. A tall nan
with a high foreh aad, alarge, thin face,
silky gray hair AMI bushy red eye
brows, he smiles pleasantly while he
chats, and when l mentioned Ben
Perley PORES article on the capitol
at Washington" he said he had read
it, and commenced at once to talk.
Il knew Mr.. Randolph" said he,
"and often came in contact with him
while he was here in Washington.
But he was an austere man, cold and
uncompanionable, and he fraternized
but little with any one. His style was
harsh.
"IIow do you do, Mr.. Randolph?
| am glad to see you. l passed your
house the other day and had a notion
to go in, but l did not"
"'You did just right. Whenever
you come by, just keep right on L
don't care to have callers
alt was far different from that of
Clay, who was one of the kindest men
who ever came to Washington. Clay
had "a good word for everybody. To IA
man lie would say. putting his hand
upon his shoulder in a familiar way
Il am glad to see you to-day l saw
your good lady at church yesterday.
How is your family To a woman,
if he knew her, he would stop and
shake hands with her on the street,
and ask after her husband and to Il
young man he. would put himself on
familiar terms, and advise with him
as to his profession or plans for the
future. Clly was a philanthrop;st.
Randolph a misanthrope. and the one
was loved as much as the other was
feared and hated. The congressman
were all afraid of Randolph. They
feared his scathing sarcasm, and We're
very careful not to tread upon his toes.
Major Poore has made a slight mistake
in the story about Randolph and
Aston. Randolph had made a very
sarcastic remark upon Aston in his
speech before the House, and as they
were going out the door, Aston, in
revenge, struck n OF Randolph's
dogs. Randolph Immediately cut him
over the face with his riding-whip,
saying: You strike pup, | strike
another For this he was indict d
and fined twenty dollars"
You say Clay was very popular? 2"
Eyes, he was one of the most popular
men of the past. When he spoke the
House was generally crowded, and
men came from Baltimore, Philadelphia
and New York to hear him. He used
to live next door to me. He was
very fond of horseback riding, and
nearly every morning he would exercise
in this way. When he did not ride he
would takea walk, and early n morn
ing on walking down F street, before
most people were up, he vas attacked
by a goat of decided butting propea-
sites. The goat and Clay fought for
a long time. 1t backed him up against
a fence, and Clay caught hold of his
horns. Sometimes Clay would prove
the stronger at other times the goat
became the master, and Clay had to go
to the wall. After "a lively tussle of
about a quarter of an hour friends
came to his relief, and the great Ken
tuckian had a chance to 60 home and
change his clothes, which had become
somewhat dirty during the fray