The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1884-01-04

such like conversational garniture wherewith
the young gentlemen deckcd the exposition
he was making for Mr.. Calhoun's benefit.
Mr. Calhoun courtesy never failed; yes,
yes, We could hear quickly aud quietly
uttered, all through what must have been,
to him, the young mans ti-csome monoloeuc.
At last the welcome tca-trays appeared,
and the young man was presently so busily
engaged in absorbing tea and dcmulishng
bread and butter, as to neglect even Mr..
Calhoun.
Adjoining Mr.. Calhouu's room in the
boarding house was room, large, airy aud
comfortable, occupied Sy genial, jovial
gentleman, an NJ. G. from n. c., whose fund
of humor and anecdotc, was incxhaustible.
Not only 'i'ty himself, he was cause of
wit in others IA fellow of infinite Jest"
ln this room every evening gathered many
Of the gentlemen, residents in the house
for the nonce, to enjoy at once Mr.. VS.
anecdotes and their after dinner cigars
Among them was, usually, a noted member
oi Congress from Louisiana, whose stories
OF humor aud anccdote cqualcd, if they did
not excel Mr., VS. From this room came,
every evening" floating across the hall aud
into the parlor, roars Of laughter, so full of
genuine mrth and So continuous that We
women-folk We're constrained to laugh II
little, in sympathy, we knew not why. Mr..
Calhoun, whose health was even then fails
ing, usually retired early but one evening
when the "mirth and fun grew fast and
furious" he was tempted from his r,tire>
mcnt by the contagious mirth next door,
and entering Mr. VS. room, made some
slight remark about wishing to enjoy the
good things that were going An attempt
was made by the gentlemen rdcontcurs, to
keep the jest and quip and humorous story
flying around tho. circle as before, but they
failed. Like schoolboys in presence of =
prcccptor, though beloved and rcvcrcd.
they could not fnrgct themselves in the
whm Of the moment, aud little by little
the conversation assumed grave and quiet
tone, aud Mr. Calhoun present., withdrew
Such was the jnh"encc invc!uutarily exer-
I'd over others by this truly good and
great man.
Though his d,mcanor showed not trace
Of austerity, his air of gentle quiet dignity,
which, being an integral part of himself, he
could not lay aside, their sense of his ex.
alted character and great INTEL ct produced
in them feeling of coustraint, which they
could not overcome.
The people Of South Carolina have often
been ridlcul ed that they worshipped Mr.. Call
houu. They could afford to let such ridi>
cule pass unnoticcd. 1c was to them the
living embodiment of "all things pure and
high," faith in which "bcat with their
! blood"
As the winter advanced the cold became
severe and Mr.. Calhoun's health failed
rapidly. Only one more utter; nee of that
vigorous and incisive intellect was to be
given for the welfare of the people who
! loved him so we'll, whom he had served
Sc long and SO ably Too feeble to deliver
his last speech in the Senate hmsclf, it
was arranged that Mr. Mason, Senator from
Virginia, should read the manuscript to the
Senate. The day appointed 70. this was
widely known and the galleries of the Sen.
ate Chamber were so crowded that one
man was taken out fainting from the close
atmosphere. Seats were brought in and
the main aisle Of the Senate Chamber, the
open area in front of the Vice Presidents 5
Chair and the lobby, was filled with crowd
consisting, principally, Of ladies'. Mr.. Cal
houn sat in his usual place. Evidently
feeble, his attcnuatcd form clad, as usual.
entirely in black, his mass of IL hite hair
framing his pale. thin face, his eye St.l
bright and clear and his old countcnancc
aglow with the light ofan intellect vigorous
AS ever, he formed a striking lure N,ar
HIM sat Mf Mason.
Presently, over that dcnscly crowded
chamber fell profound hush, and Mr.
Mason, rising slowly, in clear, s,norous
tones, read through he whole speech. Ins
tense unbrokcn silence rcgncl in the Sens
ate Chamber, throughout the reading Of tho
manuscript; every word was listened to
with rapt attention, even to the close and
many hearts w,:c doubtless Saldcncd a.
they thought that never again would they
listen to words of weight and wisdom from