The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-10-14
Anecdotes OF Noted Person

On yesterday $3.50 our mess, in COM
pany with fifteen or twenty others,
dined at the Presidents. The dinner
was French. The plateau which adorned
The center of the table had been ordered
for Napoleon, but did not arrive in Paris
until poor Napoleon was safe at St. Hell
ena. The government would not pur-
chase it, and some Amer lean gentlemen,
under the advice of MIR. Crawford, Of
Georgia, purchased it for the President s
house. The numerous candles and the
glass chandelier above shed intolerable
day upon Us, and almost burned out
my eyes; nevertheless l spent pleasant
two hours with Mr.. Clay and Nh. Van
Buren,, between whom L sat. Some very
spirited badinage took place across me,
between the President and Mr.. CLAY.
Mr.. Clay, in a somewhat melancholy
mood, certainly in a moralizing one,
said that he felt il would be q luxury TO
go home quietly and nurse his planta-
tion, watch his horses, plant shrubbcry,
build fences, etc. Mr.. Van Buren, re-
piled that there were times when all pub
lie servants felt as bIr. CLAW had Just ex-
pressed himself, but If they were to try
it they would be miserable; that in this
life we must either kick or be kicked
and that the excitement of kicking was
most pleasant. However, Mr.. Clay
thought he was an exception, and that
he would be happy in his Kentucky
home. To which Mr.. Van Buren, re-
piled, We'll, Mr.. Clay, if you insist
upon 1t, have no objection to your re.
firing for the next six or seven years. "
1t surprised Mr.. Clay to hear Mr.. Van
Buren, talk SO, in his own pleasant and
impudeut vein, and he reioined, Il don't
like, Mr.. President, TO be behiudhand in
good nature, suppose y on try the retire
ment." II don't sigh for privacy. but
take things as l find them in this White
House" Mr. Van Buren, answered.
Mr.. Clay alluded TO his daughters very
touchingly, and to his wife's being sup
ported under her heavy aflliction, BY her
piety. After taking five or six glasses
of wine, he became excited and said
very severe things of Mr.. Calhoun,
which l did not hear without raising my
dissenting voiCs and giving Mr.. Calhoun
his due. Mr., Clay became more and
more bitter, and repeatedly said, Mrs.
-, it is because / know him better
than you 10, that l say he is the worst
public man in the United States except
Jackson, and that he'is the most purely
selfish man alive" AT least, Mr..
Clay" said j, in an earnest voice. Mr.
Calhoun is not gwen TO harsh structures
ON others. / was for three years in the
time heard him speak Of any one as
harshly as you have done of Mr. Cal
houn during this dinner" He felt the
rebuke, but took il good naturedly.
March 16.-To-day Mr.. Calhoun re-
piled to Mr.. Clay. The whole House
galleries and doorways presented a mass
of human heads. Mr.. Calhoun made a
grand display; occasionally his voice so
choked with passion that you could
hardly hear what he said. There was
nothing personally Insulting. but some
times Mr.. Calhoun twittad Mr.. CLAW as
Mr.. Clay bad Mr.. Calhoun. Dir. Claws
reply was, for the most pat loose and
disjointed. how ever his blows were every
now and then both heavy md keen. The
sympatEies OF the galleries were with
him, for they laughed ar all his Jokes.
Mr.. Clay wautor Y al.acked notification
and Mr.. Preston, weak as he Yves from
recent sickness, arose and replied in the
most earnest manner.