Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-12-05
Jack MaiiOcks.

!
Among the old volumes in my library,
| "nGe priced and studied, but now neg. c.
ted or half forgotten, is a book of the auto.
graphs Of The members of the 9th con
gress This was Il distinguished body OF
men, and have again to-day looked over
th" pages of this old book, and recalled
with pleasure mingled wi h sadness the
memory Of those early d,vs. see in the
long list the names OF C,lhoun. of Choatt
of Benton, of John Quincy Adams-al
iInsIrens men NIangam of North Car,
ma, Clayton o. Delaware, SilaS Wright O.
New York, Fessenden and Evans oi
Maine, Gov. Briggsan Speaker Winthrop
oi Massachusetts, the eloquent Tom Mar
soalI Of Kentucky, Gdhings, the ch I'm
pion of he slave, Levi Woodbury. of New
ilamlshr' Presidents Buchanan and Fill
norc, ahh the erratc but talented !lenr,
a. Wise Of Virginia, have here recorded
their DISTINGUISHED names among many
ttlers now fast sinking into oblivion.
As look over these autographs, | have
asked myself if the penmansnip of thes,
il'ustrinus men gives any indication O.
their character and talents. Bat nothing
is more evident to me than the fact thai
no such indcaion is given The two men
in that congress who possessed lhe keenes
inle Iects were probably Cholte and ca
houH but their penn tnshlp seems to inai
cate no noble traits of character whatever
/ 1t iss-sareless and unsymnelrcaI the
| letters are hall formed; and the names
SC Freely legible. Indeed, it is said of Mr.
Cno,te that once being invited to deliver
an address, his reply could not be read,
and when this reply was carried to him to
decipher, he could neither read it nor
remember whether it was an affirmative
or II negative reply.
i On, would suppose tn 1t Dtniel Web ter, i,
for example, would exhibit penmanshp
marked by clearness, strength and decis-
ion, but we find in it none of these quail
ties. Why does Sllas Wright give us an
elegant copy" hand, while the iMpetu
Gus Gov. McDutfpe writes in the most
eileminale style? 1t is hardly pleasant to
dispei the illusion in which everybody
INDUCES, that in the bold signature of the
puncliiious Gov. ii ,ncock to the declara
tion OF Independence there is splendid
illustration oil the spirit of 16," but |
verify believe that he signed his name
with equal boldness to the note (if note
WAS sen) which he addressed to Washing
ton when in Boston, IN which he lnsn-
cerely assures HIM that he had not called
upon him because he was attl cted with
the rheumatism.
The question was, YOU see, JUS. then
and there, which WAS the greater man,
the president OF the country or the "chief
magistrate" of the state. But the name
in this old book which wish especially to
refer to is that of Gov. Mtltocks OF YER
mont. 1t was he who kindly procured the
signatures Tor me, and with whom l once
enjoyed friendly acquaintance. The
governor, when IN congress, used to boast
to me that he could beat them all in
writing bad My book helps confirm the
boast. His penmanship especially e1celled
in wandering from II straight line. Gov.
Mnttocks was ftmlliary known as Jack
MattGcks," and was distinguished Tor his
shreWdness and his ready VIII. 1t was
said that when he addressed II lury he
gaHed on vacancy, using no arts OF oratory;
but he possessed II wonderful power OF
persuasion. He never made speech
rhe nearest ever knew OF his making Il
political harangue was when his Fl ends
gathered around him to congratulate him
upon his nomination rs governor OF The
state. lie WAS in tight place tor ne wa'
compelled to reply. His speech was AS
follows: "Boys | thank you and now,
il you will elect me governor, | will tell
you what will do will! appont two
ThankssIvings and no fast. rod bye.
One evening after his return from con
gress, was taking tea ut his nous" and
the conversation turned upon John Qnln
cy Adams, who IN that congress made
such u noble fl hit for freedom and the
right # petition. Up,n my asking the
governor If Mr.. Adams, in his old age,
WAS not becoming Il little petulant, his son
AS ked his father if men, rs they grow old,
are not apt to grow petulant. 1t was now
the g)vernors's turn TO speak. He turned
upon his son IN u second. and said: 81
have ived 4 good many years Bill, hut
have Observed that ii is Tot half so apt to
be the case tIia. old men are petulant, as
it is that young men are saucy.'
Bat | will add only one more anecdotc.
On the very last Of The year, the governor,
being on II journey, spent the night at the
hos spitabe house of II friend. On the
~ orning of New Years day, as he was
thing and preparing for breakfast, he
unfortunately eauod against a door at the
head OF the slars leading to the kitchen
The door gave way and tho maids OF the
household, while busy preparing the
morning meal. were astonished 10 see,
rolling and tumbling into their presence,
Il chubby, fat old gentleman in most
unpresentabic attire. But in this hour OF
dismay the governors ready wit came
promptly to his aid for politely excIain
ing Ladies, / wish you all happy new
year" he hasLened back to his toilet.
Jack Mattocks was SHj generls and
belonged to that class OF seit-taught and
peculiar men whose number is rapidly
growing less. Our schools and railroads
and newspapers affect and modify the
characters of all, taking from men what is
by nature. peculiar to them. and making
every one like his neighbor. In tins
tendency there is perhaps much gained,
but surely there is something lost-C. G.
G. IN L0,OtU Courier.