The morning call., 1891-06-07
DANIEL WEBSTER.

Precisely when | cannot now recall, but
in my early boyhood my father retained
Daniel Webster in a case pending in one of
our State courts. The great Senator was
a guest in the AstOr House Although
quite a Lao at the time, was greatly i'm
pressed by the calm dignity, the severe
demeanor of Mr. Webster In person he
was literally imposing. of commanding
height aud we'll proportioned. His head
of great size, his eye deep seated, large
and lustrous, his voice powerful, sonorous
and flexible. his action appropriate and i'm
preSsive. The appointment he made for my
father was at the cheerful hour of o'clock
in the morning. Mr.. Webster was seated
at little table in his room when We ar
rived. His tremendous face, really leonine
in expression, was careworn, and deep cir
cles were about his eyes. The only part OF
his dress that distinctly recall was a buff
vest, and my impression is he wore a blue
dress-coat, with brass buttons. As we en-
tered the room, and father advanced toward
him, MIR. Webster partially arose, but at
fathers suggestion he kept his seat, and,
after pleasantly greeting him. turned to me
and said, And who have we hereY Mr.. Stet-
son presented me. but was not old enough
to appreciate the honor. | simply knew
that my father had promised that l should
Sc ID mel Webster. whose fiery words |
had attempted to repeat upon the scholastic
platform, and who in some indistinct way
| knew to be considerable man. The en-
suing hour was spent in consultation, dur
ing which Mr.. Webster prepared and eat an
egg and roll and drank two large cups of
coffee. He had habit when listening of
throwing his head back, and planting his
eyes firmly upon the individual addressing
him. His laugh was very hearty, but as |
recall 1t he was heavy in build and not at
all graceful, L almost SAID not at all easy in
bearing
HENRY CLAY.
Twas brought up in a Wing atmosphere,
where the name of Clay was regarded with
sentiments of absolute reverence To see
Henry Clay was dream of my early boy
hood, and when about this time he came to
New York. stopping at the Astor House /
played hockey from school, crossed the
ferry and made my way to the door of the
dining room. felt that the pr0udest mo-
ment of my life had come, and that had a
valid excuse with which TO palliate my
fathers wrath for truancy from scnool. l
had seen Henry Clay. / watched him eat,
| watched him drink, and when at the close
of his dinner he rose. and everybody in the
dining-room rose also to pay him obelsanee
as he retired he came TO the door, where
quite crowd of curious observers had
gathered, l looked him full in the face. He
bowed to us all collectively, aud l caught
the twinkle in his eye and the smile upon
his lips, and was content.
The very next day after that, at the insti-
CATION of Mr. Baruum, Jenny Lind held
reception, and l went over with Mr.
Beecher. The reception, of course, was
ve,y interesting All of which is apropos to
Henry Clay only in this, that, as the recep-
ton closed Miss Lind was escorted to her
carriage by Mr.. Barnum just as Henry Clay
passed along the street. He had been at
hel concert the night before, and, recogniz-
ing her, stepped at once to the door of the
carriage aud MIR. Barnum presented him to
the artistic. A photograph of Jenny Lind,
Henry Clay and z. L. Barnum, preserving