Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-01-07
JACK MATTOCKS.

book of the autographs Of them mem
bers of the 9th congress. This was
a distinguished body of men, and |
haze again to-day looked over the
pages of this old book, and recalled !
with pleasure mingled with sadness
ths memory of those early days. |
ses in the long list the names of Cal
houn, of Choate, of Benton, of John
Quincy Adams-all illustrious men.
Mangam of North Carolina, Clayton
Of Deleware, Silas Wright of New
York, Fessenden and Evans of Maine,
Gov. Briggs and Speaker Winthrop
of Massachusetts the eloquent Tom
Marshall of Kentucky, Giddings, the
champion of the slave, Levi Wood
buy of New Hampshire, Presidents
BSshanan and E'lilnsofe, and the <er-
ratio but talented Henry A. Wise of
Virginia have here recorded their dis
tinguished names among many others
now fast sinking into oblivion.
The question was, you see, just
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
I wish especially to refer to is that of
Gov. Mattocks of Vermont. 1t was
he who kindly procured the signatures
for me and with whom | once enjoyed
a friendly acquaintance. The gov
ernor, 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 excelled in wandering from
a straight line. Gov. Mattocks was
familiarly known as "Jack Mat
tocks,' and was distinguished for
his shrewdness and his ready wit.
Tt was said that when he addressed a
jury he gazed on vacancy, using no
arts of oratory, but he possessed Il
wonderful power of persuasion. He
never made a speech. The nearest
/ ever knew of his making political
harangue was when his friends gath
cred around him to congratulate him
upon his nomination as governor of
the state. He was in a tight place,
for he was 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 appoint two Thanks
givings and no Fast. Goodbye"
One evening after he returned from
congress | was taking tea at his
house, and the conversation turned
upon John Quincy Adams who in that
congress made such a noble fight fol
freedom and the right of petition
Upon my asking the governor if Mr.
Adams, in his old age, was not be
coming petulant, his son William, il
roguish and significant way, aske(
his father if men, as they grow old
are not opt to grow petulant. 1t wa:
now the governors turn to speak
He turned upon his son in secont
and said: Il have lived a good man,
: years, Bill, but | have observed tha
it is not half so apt to be the cas-
that old men are petulant as it i
that young men are sancy."
But | will add only one more anec
dote. On the very last of the yea
the governor being on a journey
spent the night at the hospitabl
house of friend. On the mornin;
of New Years day, as he was bath
I ing and preparing for breakfast h
+ unfortunately leaned against doc
at the head of the stairs leading t
o the kitchen. The door gave way
D and the maids of the household, Will
Il busy preparing the morning meal
were astonished to see, rolling an
tumbling into their presence a chut
!, by, fat old gentleman in most Ill
j, presentable attire. But in this hou
e of dismay the governors ready W
came promptly to his aid; for, Pc
% litely exclaiming ''Ladies, | wis
# you all happy New Year." he has
a ened back to his toilet.
II Jack Mattocks was sui generis, an
belonged to that class of self taugl
and peculiar men whose number
- rapidly growing less. Our schoo
20 and railroads and newspapers affe
e. and modify the characters of all, tai
If ing from men what is by nature p
st culiar to them and making every ms
y, his neighbor. In this tendency the
Y is, perhaps, much gained, but there
. surely something lost.-C. G.
LoaceU Courier.