The banner-enterprise., 1883-05-24
Clay and Randolph.

a W dohtuSbUu ICulCl odyo. u uSJ Ut-
low the treasury, within gunshot Of
the White House, lives David Callan,
one of the oldest citizens of the District
of Columbia. Ike 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 delightful talk with
him this afternoon. Seventy-five years
of age, his memory is as strong as that
OF Blaine, and he talks as tluenty as a
college boy, bubb,ing over with remin-
iscence and anec lote. A tall man
with high forehead, large, thin face,
silky gSay hair and bushy red eye
brows, ne smiles pleasantly while he
chats, and when | mentioned Ben
Perley PORES article on the "Capitol
at Washington" he said he had read
it, and commenced at once to talk.
II 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.
"How do you do, Mr.. Randolph? ?
| am glad to see you, Ipassed | your
house the other day and had notion
to go in, but did not. :"
"You did just right. Whenever
you come by, just keep right on |
don't care to have callers.
at was far different from that of
Clay, who was one of the kindest men
who ever came to Washington. Clay
had good word for everybody. To
man he would say, putting his hand
upon his shoulder in "a familiar way:
Il am glad to see you to-day | saw
your good lady at church yesterday.
How is your familyY To Il woman,
if he knew her, he would stop and
shake hands with her on the street,
and ask after her husband and to
young man he would put himself on
familiar terms, and advise with him
as to his profession or plans for the
future. Clly was philanthrop'st,
Randolph 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 were
very careful not to tread upon his toes. .
Major Poore has made slight mistake
in the story about Randolph and
Aston. Randolph had made very
sarcastic remark upon Aston in his
speech before the House, and as they
were going out the door, Aston, in
revenge, struck one OF Randolph's
dogs. Randolph Immediately cut him
over the face with his riding-whip,
saying: You strike one pup, strike
another For this he was indict d
and fined twenty dollars"
You say Clay was very popular?'
"Yes, 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. lie 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 one morn
ing on walking down f street, before
most people were up, he was attacked
by goat of decided butting propen-
sites. The goat and Clay fought for
a long time. 1t backed himup 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 60
to the wall. After lively tusSla of
about a quarter of an hour friends
came to his relief, and the great Ken
tuckian had chance to go home and
change his clothes, which had become
somewhat dirty during the fray