Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-09-26

Hon. John Bassell Contributes Some In
terssting "Reminiscences.

teresting "Reminiscences.
Hon. John Basel, who was class
mate Of the late Henry 5. Walker,
makes the following Interesting contrl-
button to the "reminiscences Of that dis
tlngulshed man In the Clarks6urg Nel0s;
AsI was for many years acquainted
with Mr.. Walker, who so suddenly
passed away in Philadelphia last Sat
urday, an acquaintance that began in
the Academy at MOrgantown and was
continued at Washington college, Pa,
where Mr.. Walker entered the junior
class in the fall Of OF 1861, as we'll as
through his subsequent life, 1 feel that
some tribute is due him from me. That
he was gifted and brilliant will be read
fly acknowledged by all those who only
heard him upon the stump, or had the
pleasure Of reading some Of his inciSlve
and singing editorials he could so easily
indite. But IL was 70 those who knew
MIN as a student that the shining nat
ural qualities of the man were most
strongly shown. He was always at his
best In the recitation room, especially
in the classics. His rendering OF the
most difficult latin authors, that or Tao
lLuS 4OE luSbdlNUa was
smooth and easy, owing TO his line COM
mand Of language, and the ample Voca-
bulary he acquired by wide acQuaint-
ance with the best English authors.
His literary ability In prose was OF high
order, and he had very fair ability In
poetry Of light and fugative character.
During the time he was in college, two
of the students took a buggy trip over
into Ohio to see a young lady who had
been a student at the Washington Sem
mary kept by Mrs. Hanna, and one OF
them had rather amusing experience.
MIR. Walker heard Of it and to the hor-
ror OF the students at the next meeting
Of a literary club to which they be-
longed, he read very clever poetical
description Of the trip to the great en-
joyment and delight Of all his auditors,
except the parties concerned.
At the quarter century reunion OF his
class at Washington college In 1883
sketch of him was read by the class his
torian, Rev. Dr.. John Henry Sharpe, OF
Philadelphia, a class mate, from which
l make the following extract:
an Henry S. Walker, lawyer, journalist,
pOlitician. and gentleman farmer, we recog-
nize our former honor man and class vale
dictorian. Remembering his short, sIgnL
but not ungraceful figure, his lame limo,
and his swaying almost painful locomouon,
he was fine instance Of triumph or nina
over body. His strong well shaped anu
finely moulded head, his clear cut features,
and above all, his full dark eyes betokened
a nervous endowment that would have
adorned a physique Of far ampler proper
tions. Not only in scholarship was he easily
first, but his general reading had been null
hilarious. He had a phenomenal memory,
and vet a Unbalanced Judgment, and su-
perior literary instinct and style. His ora
toricap powers, also were of high order, in
spite of his unimpressive figure. His eye
was always his one great instrument OF
power, and he used IL with much effect.
The verdict that gave him the first honor
was unQuestiOned on the part OF any. what
he was outside Of the recitation room, am
not well able to state. But L am OF the
opinion that, were he broughtto confession,
we should hear many fine story OF un-
written history as to what transpired at
sundrv times between bedtime and the
dawn of light the next morning. / am not
sure but that he could Guido McClung in
Calculating certain dark passages Of college
history whose mysteries befogged the col
lege faculty, and left all Washington in
wonderment. Tradition will have IT. that
sin ways that are dark, and tricks that are
vain" our Henry excelled the heather
Chinee."
As a politician he was too eager for
preferment TO await the climbing pro-
cess TO success. Had he not Quarreled
with his party, and been content to let
others have their turn in the political
arena, he might easily have had seat
in the lower house OF Congress, and not
unlikely in the Senate Of the United
States. AS il was, he missed the latter
by only few votes.
Notwithstanding his mistakes in the
larger field OF politics, he had great
practical sagacity in q political contest
especially in obtaining what his OPP
pOnentS were doing. In the recent con-
test at Charleston, he rendered great
service 70 his party by his shrewd Sug-
gestiOns and cOunsels in the practical
management Of the struggle, as we'll as
from the fact that in some way he had
avenues of information as TO the plans
and intentions Of his political oppO-
nentS that were open to no other per-
son. / am told there was not caucus
or secret meeting of the Republican
members Of the Legislature whose pro-
ceedings were not in some way known
to him almost as soon as IL adjourned.
Among the brilliant men that Clarks-
burg has produced it can be justly said
that Henry S. Walker will stand in the
front rank. That he had faults goes
without saying, and his faults were
rendered the more conspicuous by rea-
son Of the commanding ability Of the
man. But "give US our deserts and
who shall escape a whipping" is the
reminder of the great tragic poet, and
we trust that whatever faults he pos
seSSed will be forgotten In the remem-
brance Of his superior mental gifts, and
that there will only be regret that he
should be cut of at time when he was
still capable Of so much useful service
to his triegds and his State.