, 1884-02-28

aloud. His voice grew faint with emotion
and he gushed out in a peculiar whisper the
last words His hearers needed not to hear
them. There was not a dry eye in tho whole
assembly. Each man wept, conquered by
the eloquence and pathos. Yes, he was tho
greatest orator of Ohio. I know Of no
such man nowadays.
"His oratory was wonderful. Every lin
eament Of his face seemed to convey a
thought j remember once when be was a
critic at the old Mechanics institute literary
exercises in Lebanon, he made a remark
that l have always thought applied to him
self. 1t was: The true, great orator talks
all over. He oven speaks from the back of
his neck
LITERARY TASTES.
Besides, Corwin was so wen read In
poetry and history that he was apt in
quotation. Even when a senator, years after
his school life. he quoted Latin poetry easily.
soften has he sent for me on his returns
from Washington City and taken mo out for
a drive through the country. Then we would
talk, not on politics alone, but on literature,
poetry and the beauties around us. Corwin
had fine conceptions of the beautiful in poetry
and nature. l think his favorite poet was
Walter Scott. He often quoted from Scott,
and l well remember once how lie used
RCkeby's words in reference to his own
career. Perhaps you know the lines:
"'And now my race of terror run,
Mine be the eve of tropic sun.
No pale gradations quench his ray,
No twilight doth his wrath allay.
With disc like battle target red,
He PUSHES to his burning bed,
Dyes the wide wave with bloody light
Then sinks at once and all is night
A DREAM
al think, however" continued Gen. Ward,
"that my tenderest recollection of Corwiu
was some time after his speech at Lebanon.
We went to Richmond, where he made n
speech, and then drove ovor TO Dayton. On
the way he fell asleep. 1t was a beautiful
day in Indian summer, and we all remarked
the charm Of the atmosphere.
But Corwin, tired out with official cares
forgotten, slept. When be awoke he said:
i have bad q funny dream; l thought l was
a boy again out gathering w~alnuts, and l
thought the trees were 800 feet high Then
laughed. 1t was then we first heard of the
great trees OF California, which caused that
part OF his dream. But to me it was a pleas
ant thought that he, a senator, famous in all
lands, should sleep aud dream, not of the
busy life he led. but that he was a boy again,
with ali the trials of official life forgotten"
H END
allow did he die, generalF
"You know Corwin went as minister TO
mexico IN lSOU. why he did so L never
knew. He resigned his seat in congress. He
remained during the war and came back in
1sG5. He came back broken down and dis
couragod. He said, 'Durbin, the public l
once loved is no more. The times have
changed. The whole country is going to the
devil Some time after he came back he
was in Washington. An Ohio mani for
get his name, but he was a pension agent
sent by the state, gave a great
dinner to Ohio men. There never
was such q gathering OF noted men
from Ohio. All of her distinguished
sons were there. Corwln was there, witty
and cheerful. In fact, I never knew him to
be more brilliant in his humor. At supper he
sat next to Monroe, Of Oberlin, who had Just
returned as minister from Brazil Corwin
poked fun ut Monroe and kept tho Who'll
table In a roar. But in the midst OF his
humor he suddenly stopped. A sudden change
took place in his countenance. He jumped
up, put his hands TO his head and exclaimed;
Its very hot here
abe started to go down stairs to the sit
ting-room. 1 started to help him, but my
arm was in a sling and l called on Garfield
TO help me, as l found Corwin was falling.
Whitelaw Reid aud Garfield then carried
him down and laid him on a lounge. He
could not speak. He was paralyzed. asked
him il l should send word to his folks at
Lebanon. He nodded. He never spoke
again. He fingered until the next day, and
died. He was taken home to Lebanon and
buried in the old cemetery. A simple head
monument, but Corwin needs no