The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1897-04-22
webster at school

II /. doubtful il, smong thst group OF
intellectual prodigies whose efforts 10 the
coorts OF justice aud in the national balls
Of legislation have been materislly felt
duriug our career as nation, there eau be
foupd one whose early school days were
sssociated With such humihetins and m
favorable circumstances as were those OF
Daniel Webster, the foster father Of our
American ustionslity. Sach is an opening
sentenoe OF an article by Forrest Prescott
Hall in the Arena, The observation is
amply justified by the facts that follow
concerning Webstsr's school days and biz
difficulties in masking speech aud even
10 recihug his lessons.
Daniels parents were humble folk 10
strsitened circumstances, 10 what is now
called Salisbury Center, n. II. II took
considerable soDtriving to enable him to
ee, the education for which he had pas
.lonsts longing, but on May %, 1870, be
and bis father set ou. for Exeter, where he
was plsoed 10 school kept by Mr.. Clif
ford.
When Daniel wss given 10 charge OF the
worthy Mr.. Clifford, it was the first time
he bad ever been away from home and his
feelings cannot be better described than
by himself: The change oyerpowered
me. hardly remained master OF mylown
senses among 80 boys who had seen 80
m uch more end appeared to know 40
m oh more than did.
II is not wonder that the change over
powered him, = rough, unframed country
bov, at IA years OF age.
II 10 said that Webster. upon leaving
80 ,uis pputioufsn 4 a ~ ub must tescu Dsh
lei to hold his knife and fork, for he
knows no more abont il than COW sboui
holding O spade. II seems that the com
psrison was good one, for his manners At
the table were 90 rude that the other
studsnts requested the lsndlord to send
him away. But tie kind hearted man
| would not consent TO this and refused even
to remoustra'e with Daniel, for be knew
that the boy sensitive and knew no better.
BE bit upon plan, 80 the story goes,
which resulted In teaching the boy how
TO use his knife and fork. Webster was
accustomed TO hold them in bis 6sts. Mr.
| Clifford one day held bis in the same way
and continued to do so until Webster saw
how upgrsceful it was and corrected him
self.
As TO his studied, bis success at Exeter
was rot great He hims II says so. He
see N ed unable TO reclie in room filed
with boys aud though he studied hard
aud was far from stupid he could never
make good recitation, But whst is to
be wondered at most OF sll is that be
coul not be- induced 10 speak in public,
Wnen the day came on which the class
was TO declaim, slthouzh he bad learned
his piece, be was utterly incapable OF ri
ing nom MS ttht Nutu Ilh ubiLb "at
called The kind and excellent Buckmin
ster says Daniel in bis aulol biography,
sought especially TO perfnade me to per
form the exercise OF exclamation, llk'
other boys. but could no' do it Many
time did | commit the pieces 10 memory
10 my room, yet when be time came
hen the school was collected to hear
deelsmstions, wh.n my name was called
and saw sll eyes turned to my seat.
could not rsiss myself from 1t. Some
times the instructors ftownsd, sometimes
they smiled. Mr.. Buck ipster always
pressed and sntfested most winninaly
that hould venture. bnt could pot com
m.nd Sufficient resolution. When the oc
ca.ioo wss over; vent homo and wept
bitter tears Of mobilization.
1t must be admitted that Webster was
slovenly and uutidy in his appearance.
Ii ia said thst he rarely washed bis face
.nd hsnds. Mspy stories are told CO..
oeruine this noticssble b ,bit OF youth snd
the following instance illustrates very
clearly Webster. unksmpt appearance
and also sally OF Wit
Day after day Daui-l appeared In class
with his hands besmssred With dirt. pay
inn DO attention whstever the urgeut sp
pesls Of the teacher 10 keep them clean.
Finally the climax was cspped. One day
", ,b.l.r presented himself 10 tue clsss
room with biz usual uuclssn appearances.
The teacher could ttsnd II 40 uger AID,
quickly calling tas boy the dssh, took up
hi. dirty hsnd and exclaimed 10 su enrag
"a tone. Web.t=r. u yoa Gao show me 80
other taud 10 this rJ9m az dirty as this
oae | viii not punish yoa.
Webster qaickly drew bis hst hand
and sail, Hsts's one. professor.
The tsschet ~ss holly taken shack by
the brightness Of bis young pupil snd ed
uit,ed that be vac bs.ten. Webster took
bis seat without the ihtsshing
Webster va. assured By The KIDD prilei
p.I th., he wss better scholar tbsn most
oi the boys sDd that tis oobstsnt appiics
ti1a 10 lis books, coupled With q pro3ig
isus i.caIiy Tor labor, wac surprising.