Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1886-12-23

that little children should be seen and
not heard had confirmed him in what
he had then thought was a bad habit
While he was at Ghent, making the
treaty of peace in connection with Henry
Clay and Albert Gallatin, he made an after
dinner Speech in which he accused Clay OF
trying to kiss a chambermaid. This is the
only instance in which | remember he at
tempted the frivolous, and this time he was
wofully worsted by Clay. Clay sat directly
opposite him at the table. 1t was at the din
ner given i'll honor of the treaty after its con-
ditions had been decided upon. Clay was
astounded at Adams speech. 1t came FROM
a source entirely unexpected, and during il
he felt at a loss as to how to respond. As he
looked into John Quincy Adams cold face,
however, and noted a tear trembling upon
his eyelid from his constitutional infirmity Of
sore eyes, his reply flashed across his electric
brain. AS soon as Adams had taken his seat
and the laughter had subsided he arose and
said: II plead guilty to the gentleman's in
dictment. What Mr. Adams has said is all
true. but it is only part of the truth. 1t is
true that the chambermaid was pretty. 1t is
true that her eyes were diamonds and her
lips were cherries 1t is true that, filed with
admiration, attempted to embrace her and
offered to her five francs for single kiss from
her rosy lips. But it is also true-and this the
gentleman has not told you-that she rudely
repulsed me- and asked me whether thought
she was fool to let an ugly fellow like me
have kiss for few francs when the nice
little gentleman across the hall-and here
Clay pointed to Mr.. Adams-had just offered
her four times es much"
The joke was upon Adams, and he took it
so much to heart that he would not speak to
CLAY for days. He became reconciled, how
ever, before the commissioners left for Amer
lea, and ten years later we find Clay his Sec
retary of state.
Speaking of John Quincy Adams diaries
and bis habit of saving everything for future
use an incident occurred at Ghent which
illustrates this attribute Of his nature The
American commissiOners-Adams, Bayard,
CLAY and Gallatin-met with closed doors in
a chamber of the hotel, and before proceeding
to business they agreed that every proposition
should be in writing and that the mover
should sign his name. After several days OF
conference the provisions Of the treaty were
decided upon and the session came to close.
As the commissioners were about to leave,
John Quincy Adams, looking at the paper
scattered about the room, said 1T was pity
to lose so much stationery, and that he would
gather it up" The others went out, Clay re-
marking as he did so: LET the Yankee in
dulge his economical propensities." But
Adams had far different idea than was sup
posed. lie wanted the notes, not the paper.
He saved them all, and when he came back
to America he knew more about the treaty
than all the rest Of the commissioners put
together.
Clay had a great fear of Adams magazine
of facts. He once said that "a man is born
fool who engages in controversy with John
Quincy Adams on question of fact. doubt
whether he was ever mistaken in his life
And then, if he happens to be in doubt about
ANYTHING, there is his inevitable diary, in
which he hes recorded everything that has
occurred since the adoption OF the federal
constitution.
Clay wept rs lie stood holding the hand Of
John Quincy Adams during one of his last