The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1894-12-21

discuss 1t, denounce it and doom IT,
SAM P. JONES
THE ELOQuENCE OF SILENCE.
1t Is Well Illustrated In the Story That
Follows.
"Soon after / had commenced the
| practice of my profession in Boston,
said Mr. Webster, "a circumstance &C.
Cured which forcibly impressed upon
my mind the sometimes conclusive elo-
quence Of silence, and l wondered no
longer that the ancients had erected a
statue to her as to divinity.
"A man In New Bedford had insured
ship, lying at the time at the wharf
there, for an amount much larger than
its real value, in one of our insurance
offices at Boston This ship had sud-
denly taken fire and been burned
down to the waters edge. 1t had been
insured in the Massachusetts Insur-
| ance company, of which Gen. Arnold
Wells was president and myself attor-
ney.
"Gen. Wells told me of the misfor-
tune that had happened to the company
in the loss Of q vessel so largely in
sured, communicating to me at the
same time the somewhat extraordinary
manner in which it bad been de-
stroyed.
"'Do you intend asked him, to
pay the insurance.
81 shall be obliged to do so,' replied
the general
| Isl think not, for I have no doubt,
| from the circumstances attending the
loss, that the ship was set on fire with
the intent to defraud the company of
the insurance
| But how shall we prove that? and
what shall say to Mr.. Blank, when he
makes application for the moneys?
Say nothing,'I replied, but hear
| quietly what he has to say
.Some few days after this converse
ton Mr.. Blank came up to Boston and
presented himself to Gen. Arnold Wells
at the insurance office. Mr.. Blank was
man very careful of his personal APP
pearance and of punctilious demeanor.
He powdered his hair, wore clean ruff
fes and well-brushed clothes, and had
gravity of speech becoming a person
Of respectable position. All this de-
manded civil treatment, and, whatever
you might think of him, you would
naturally use no harsh language
toward him. He had a defect in his
left eye, SO that when he spoke he
turned his right sound eye to the per-
son he addressed, with a somewhat
oblique angle of the head, giving it
something such a turn as hen who
discovers hawk in the air. Gen. Ar
mold Wells had a corresponding defect
in the right eye.
II was not present at the interviaw,
but have heard it often described by
others who were. Gen. Wells came out
from an inner Office. on the announce
ment of Mr.. Blanks arrival, and fixed
him Ito use French expression) with
his sound eye-looking at him seriously,
but calmly. Mr.. Blank looked at Gen.
Wells with his sound eye, but not
steadily-rather if he sought to turn
the generals right flank.
"They stood thus, with their eyes
cooked at each other, for more than
minute before either spoke, when Mr..
Blank thought best to take the initia-
tive.
"'It is pleasant day, Gen. Wells,
though rather cold
at is, as you say, Mr.. Blank, q
pleasant, though rather cold day. re-
piled the general, without taking his
eye down from its range.
"'I should not be surprised, general
continued Mr.. Blank, If we should
have fall of snow soon.'
"'There might be more surprising
circumstances, Mr.. Blank, than fall
Of snow in February
"Mr. Blank hereupon shifted his foot
and topic. He did not feel at ease, and
the less SO from his desperate attempts
to conceal his embarrassment
"'When do you think, general he
replied, after a pause, that congress
will adjourn
att is doubtful, I should think, Mr..
Blank, when congress will adjourn;
perhaps not for some time yet, as great |
bodies, you know, move slowly
"'Do you hear anything important
from that quarter, general?'
Nothing. Mr.. Blank
''Mr. Blank by this time had become
very dry in the throat-a sensation. I
have been told, one Is very apt to feel