Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-28

OF the Supreme Court. The two Sherman
brothers, the general and the Senator, were
Bob Schenck and Phil Sheridan. We had then
some Of the strongest men in Congress from
Ohio, and all the Ohio members Of the House
were there, and among them James A. Garfield,
Sheallsbarger and Bingham. These and many
Others were chatting together id different knots
about the room when Tom Corwin walked in.
He had stayed at home AZ long as he could, but
his old colored servant woman, knowing he
would want to come, had laid out his clothes
for him, and - the time approached she told
him to get up and 60. He was lying in his bed
reading Cicero de Senectute,' or Cicero on q
Happy Old Age in the original. and no laid the
book face downward on the bed and dressed
himself and came. As he entered the room q
cry went around, There is Corwin! Corwin!'
and everyone rushed forward to greet him. 1
can zee him now as he walked through that
room, his face shining and his eyes glistening
and 1 can almost hear his voice as il
rang out when he said Gentlemen, we are all
boys tonight, and made an apt quotation from
Cicero. caught hold Of him and asked him to
take my seat. He resisted. but got in front
OF him and slowly but surely forced him back
into it. Then the crowd gathered around him
and he began to talk. In three minutes the other
corners Of the room we're deserted and the party
had all gathered around and were listening
to him. Men were down on their knees to get
to hear him and to let those behind them see
over their heads. This was the case with Gar
held and Schenck and later in the evening l re-
member that Ben Wade stood Just behind Gar
field. Corwin had recently returned from
Mexico, where he had been minister, and in re-
Spouse to questions he talked for an hour or more
about the country while these people hung on
his every word. In poetic language he de-
scribed the beauties Of the Mexican country
and he gave glowing pictures of the beauties
and graces Of the senoritas. He curded our
blood with his tales Of the brgands and he
kept the crowd laughing most of the time and
once or twice moved their tears. When he was
in the midst Of his testing Ben Wade, who had
been listening intently and now and then burst
ing into horse laugh after all the others were
through, suddenly asked:
They say, Corwin, those Mexicans want to
be annexed to the United States. What do YOU
think Of that ideal?
"Corwin's face changed from gay to grave, his
eyes became serious, and every one bent onward
to hear what he might say. He raised his hand
and attempted to speak. His lips moved.
but no words came, though his hand ,tili
moved in gesture. Then it was seen
that something was the matter and we
moved back to give him air. He raised HIM
self suddenly from his seat, reached forward
his hands and fell into the arms of his friends.
we carried him into the next room and laid
MIN upon bed, and be never spoke again. He
had been struck with paralysis and that night
ne died. He was great man and we all loved
him and admired him. He was one of the best
classical scholars of his time and he was fond of
reading the classics in the original"
As Mr.. Hayes thus chatted of Tom Corwin's
last words death seemed to be afar off from
him, and l recalled the fact that Corwin had
that night told the story Of a man who died. as
ne did an hour later, of paralysis Of the heart.
Now Hayes tells the story of Corwins death,
and within few weeks he falls in the same way
from almost the same disease, neuralgia of the
heart. The condolences of the story of life
and death are indeed strange!
FRANK G. CARPENrER