Omaha daily bee., 1895-11-10

IheFc was a small chapel at Marshfcld
where webster used occasionally 10 attend
divine service. One sunday mornins tho nasl
tor failed to appear, and his little nocL in
much disappointment, was about To disparse-
when Webster volunteers. to preach them
sermon. They listened, spclbound by tho
charm of that sonorous, flexible voice. that
had all the sweetness and ~Solemuity OF organ
notes, to the wondrous handling Of a cody
theme by the most godlike OF men.
With difficulty he tore himself from his
cnthralled listeners, who, contrary to all
precedent, clamoted for more. II have cot
myself into trouble" he said to John "a he
fastened into his carriage and away. They
want me to promise to come back again and
preach tonight" On the following Sunday.
TO the iii.dissuised disgust and very apparent
disappointment Of the congregation. their reg
ular minister was on hand.
webster was familiar with the bible from
ms earliest childhood and throughout his life
ne quoted from II extensively. Nj. Lodge
gives an account Of a sChoolmastcr who
taught in Salisbury when Webster was a
small boy, and who offered a pocketkuife to
the pupil who by the next day should be
able to give him the greatest number OF
verses from the bible. when Daniels turn
came he podrcd forth such a food Of biblical
lore that the master called a halt and in
selt-defcnse held up the coveted knife.
notwithstanding that reserve which kept
the masses at a distanc, and prevented him
from being the idol Of the people that Clay
"A' NNbsNNl was lHlfI.StlN lelONeu Nv those
who came within the charmed circle Of an
intimate relationship, His home life was
one OF exquisite happiness and the gradual
dissolution Of its ties brought him the pro-
toundest anguish. His love for his first
wife, Grace Fletcher, whom he married when
he was 26 years old, was the tenderest and
strongest passion of his life. II was a case
OF that divine inspiration, love at first sight,
which, however, does not always terminate
as divinely as il did in the case of Daniel
Webster Hp first hthnll lpp og yh, Iaukpl
up to the little church at Hopkington one
Sunday morning on horseback when he. no
doubt, formed one Of that throng Of male
bipeds that seem in all ages and countries
to intest the outside Of a church before serv-
ice, and who, we presume, are somewhere
within its walls during service, else they
could not so promptly gain its outer side at
the close. She wore a tight-ftting black
velvet habit, and we have his word for it
that she looked like an angel.
Webster never punished his children either
with the rod Of scripture or with his own
eloquent tongue. He simply brought to bear
upon them the awful intensity Of that pow
erful gaze whereby he so often moved vast
concourses Of people. At such times he must
have impressed his children very much as
he did the people Of Fryeburg, Me, where
he once taught school and was called ALI
Eyes"
,Webster's home was on the soil of his
adopted state at Marshfield, whittier he be-
took himself whenever the duties OF public
life permitted him to enjoy a season Of rest
and relaxation, whittier he withdrew after
the convention Of 1852, filed with disappoint-
ment and melancholy forebodings. and where
he now lies forever at rest within sound OF
the ceaseless booming of his beloved sea.
On his route thither, just after the Balti-
more convention, he stopped in Boston and
was enthusiastically welcomed by its loyal
citizens. They paraded in his honor and
surrounded his hotel with cheers and strains
of music, Webster, all unconscious Of the
demonstration. had betaken himself early to
bed and was sleeping soundly when aroused
by his man John Smallwood. His appear
ance on the balcony. supported on one side
by his son, Fletcher, and on the other by
Mr.. Blatchford, late justice Of the supreme
court, was the signal for a prolonged cheer
ing that did much to soothe his wounded
spirit. John Smallwood, who stood in the
shadow Of his great master, is the one
humble survivor Of that little balcony scene.
As the cheering subsidized Webster's voice
II first scarcely audible above its echoes
rose gradually, gathering in volume till its
impressive tones were heard above the sub
lued din of that great street multitude. After
he few opening sentences he Strengthened
himself and stood erect, the grandeur of his
powerful form, the grace Of his impressive
gestures, and the magnetic tones of his Won
drous voice enhancing his vast audience for
three consecutive hours.
Like many another great man, Webster be-
lieved in early hours, going to bed usually at
10 o'clock and rising at 4 or s. The first
hours Of the day were spent in his library,
which at Marshfeld was apart from the
house, He cared little about his breakfast
and frequently took nothing to eat till 9 or 10
o'clock In the day. In the matter of drink,
however, he was less a~bstemiOus. but the
stimulating rotations which enabled him for
so many years to endure the strain of exces-
sive brain work, while they ultimately told
upon him physically, never dimmed nor
abated the brilliancy and persp.cacity of his
intellect.
The rod Of the fisherman had all the charm
for Webster that 1t possesses for some emf
nent statesmen Of our own day. To put out
in his yacht from Marshfeld and spend the
day in the waters thereabout was to him a
form of superlative enjoyment. Whether
luck was with him or against him, he never
came back with an empty boat. There were
always other fishermen plying the waters,
who were not encumbered with a reputation
such as Webster's skill had acquired for him
in Marshteld, who hshed for the money
there was W 1t, and to whom one market
was as good as another, and the market that
to them with a liberal hand before
they had touched shore, perhaps a little
better. When Webster's boat came in il
was invariably surrounded with all Marsh
field, to whom his good catch" was passed
around with that munihcence which WAS
characteristic Of him.
A source Of pride to Webster were his
cattle herds at Marshfeld. of which each
member had an individuality and a name. A
.eW days before he died he had his bed
placed close to a window overlooking the
lawn in front Of his house. Thither
were brought the herds, and as each animal
passed before him he spoke to it, calling II
by name and bidding 1t goodby.
He had no fear of death, and went forth
into the world beyond with the calmness and
which had distinguished him through
life.
The news OF his death awakened universal
grief, and coming as II did so shortly after
that fateful Baltimore convention, many be-
leved that he had not been able to survive
the blow that had thereby fallen upon him.
who had so much coveted the nomination
died only a few days after the election that
decided the fate Of the presidential candi-
dates.
From the cities of New York and Boston
and from the State apartment at Washing
ION were sent metallic Baskets for his burial,
that which was ssnt from the State dcpart-
ment being selected, as Webster was at the
time Of his death secretary Of state.
He lay in state on the ample lap OF mother
earth on the lawn at Marshfald, with all
yelled in the soft haze Of a late Octo-
Der day, and 50 for the last time thousands
Of people looked upon Daniel Webster.
~
DIVIDED THE DOSE.
Drank the whisky Himself and Gave