The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-11-29
GOVERNOR sRwARD's VALET,
lNew York Graphic. l

There iS a colored barber, writes Frank Carpenter, working at chair nearest the window in shop on F street, not fal from the Ebbitt house, whose talents and education merit better position. He is about forty years of age, nearly six fee, tall, and his features are of the Caucasian type. His negro blood is shown only in his complexion, which is dark mahog- any. As to his manners and his Ian guage, they are as good as those of any man in Washington, and his sum of in- formation is equal to that of many a man who ranks high in official life. Since his beybood he has been closely asso- ciated with prominent men. He went round the world with Secretary Seward as his valet, and he occupied the same position in regard to Elihu .Washburn while MT. Washburn was our minister to Paris. There is hardly a country with which he is not familiar, and he has wis., ised the different parts of Europe more than once. When he was a boy he shaved the senators of the days of I8so, and later at the old Kirkwood house, and his razor has often caressed the shaggy chin of Sam Houston, smoothed the cheeks of Andy Johnson, and wandered gently over the faces of a score of other noted men who have since passed away. As sat in his chair to-day asked him a question or two about ex-Secretary Seward. He said "My brother was Senator Stewards servant at the time he was about to start out on his travels, but as he had ust been married he did not wish to go with him and he got the sen- ator to take me in his stead. It was a pleasant trip throughout. We had our own cook and were well supplied with all of the necessaries. MT. Seward was a gentleman and he always treated me very well. His health was not good much of the time, and this of course kept him from always being in the best of humor., Secretary Seward did not like doctors, however, and remember an incident illustrative of this which oc- cured while we were stopping with Lord Napier, the governor of Madras. One morning when Mir. Seward was feeling especially bad, the doctor called at the governors house to see one of Lord Napier's family. His lordship, hearing MT. Seward complain of feeling i'll, asked him if he would not like to see the doc tor. MT. Seward replied, "No, governor, l cannot meet doctor to-day. am not feeling well, and hope the doctor will excuse me-" Mir. Seward never fully xe- covered from Payne's assault. It shat tered his nervous system, and he bore the effect of it to the day of bis death.
 By the way, a curious example of efhce-seeking was that of the servant who let in Payne that night. He after wards applied for a position under the government and alleged as a reason why he should have it that he had been work ing at Secretary Stewards at the time the assassination was attempted. He failed to get the office.
 Did not Governor Seward write a book of travels during the tour?"
 "Yes, or rather his adopted daughter wrote much of it at his dictation. It was largely her enterprise, you know, and Governor Seward gave her all of the profits of it's publication. It sold we'll and must have netted her many thou sands of dollars. During his travels the governor worked a part of every day. He wrote some and read great deal"
 Governor Seward" continued this man, twas 6 man of wonderful informa- ton on all subjects, and he was always willing to impart it. If wished to know anything about subject during my ser vice under him l went to him and he always gave me the knowledge desired.n
 Do you think he ever got over the presidential fever ?" asked. {
 "No," was the reply. "He never did. He was greatly disappointed when Lin- coin was nominated over him, and think he did not give up hope of getting to the White House even during his later years. He still clung to the idea that presidential lightning might perhaps strike him. But it never did"
 :" Have yoa any idea what his foreign trip cost him ?"
 "l think it was over $Io,ooo. But he could afford it. He was wealthy, and when he died he left fortune of half million. This was divided among his two sons and his adopted daughter. One of his sons is now.a banker at Auburn. This is William. de not know what Frederick is doing"
 You were in Paris during the Franco Prussian war, were you not2"
 "Yes, but onlySthe latter part of it, and at that time the American legation had plenty to eat. At Minister Wash burns there was always plenty of beef and we did not dine on horses. While I was with MT. Seward, in Canton, China, remember going in one day to get something at restaurant. MT. Seward and his party were along. There was bill posted in front of the restaurant and onr interpreter read this to as. It was, Black cat soup, fresh everyday In the market at Canton the rats for sale are strung like herring, and you will see the bodies of dogs quartered and hung up like sheep. At Mir Washburn's had a pleasant service. He was very kind i'm deed, and l have standing invitation to come and stay at his house when go to Chicago"