The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-09-26
RECOLLECTIONS OF GENERAL
CLINGMAN.
(E. City Economist.)

This distinguished citizen of North
Carolina is now 81 years old. He is old,
rsoor and infirm and has been received
in the Morganton asylum, although not
insane, to be cared for at the expense
of the State that he has served in peace
and war with such honor and distinc-
ton. His bodily health is said to be
good, but his mind is nearly gone. He rs
said to be more interested in eating than
anything else and his appetite is abnor-
mally good. He eats ravenously and
his thoughts run more particularly on
what he has to eat. His public service
is familiar to the State, as member of
congress in both houses, and long a lead
ing member of the State Legislature He
has made a name in the science of geolo-
gy in North Carolina that Will last while
the mountains and hills exist.
We We're at the University of North
Carolina with II. l.. Chngman in 1882
He was a leader of his class and gradu-
ated with the highest rank, in class
distinguished for the intellect of its
members. James G. Dobbin, Secretary
of the Navy in President Pierces Cab
met, was among them.
Clingman was noted as Il boy for his
scholarship, intellectually, cccentricity
and gawkiness. He was an untiring
handy player and noted gourmand and
especially fond of flap jacks and turn
overs. We had Il seat next to him ut
table at Stewards Hall one session, and
his gastronomic feats in twirling flame!
cakes down his oesophagus excited our
wonder and amazement He was esDe-
cially gifted i'll mathematical studies,
and if Pettigrew had struck the class of
H. 4 L. ~.
special distinction of excellent from
Clingman as he did from Ransom. When
a boy at the University Clingman had
the same observation-disclosures and fondness
for talking to himself that chara cterized
him in after life. His voice was harsh
and rasping and his gait ungainly. But
he never uttered a word that was not
good and wise. He was fearless and
brave, and established reputation for
pluckiness early in his college course
that caused him to be respected after
wards. He was always contemplative.
thoughtful and distracted and any OBJ
ject of large proportions completely alb
sorbed him. When he first presented
himself before the student he was a
fat object for derision and practical Jest.
An older student met him standing be-
~
mazement HIS dress from head gear
to shoe strings was Surry county home
spun of best manufacture The old stu
dent commenced to ieer him on his rig
and brainy CEngman caught his drift at
once. pitched into him and gave him 4
terrible thrashing and the old student
went away Il wiser and bloodier man.
and Clingman lay the heroic treatment
saved himself much trouble afterwards
With all his awbwardness. Clingman
was the most conspicuous man in his
class, and his associates were proud Of
his compani0nship.
In the early part of 1882. at the Senior
speaking then in vogue when the Seniors
delivered original speeches, Clingman de-
livered a speech upon the constitutional
ity of the United States Bank 1t was
a close. profound constitutional argu-
ment. When he sat down DIR. Mitchell,
then Professor Of Geology, turned to
Judge Duncan Cameron. who happened
in Chapel Hill, and said. that boy has
mind as big as my arm We were
sitting on Il bench near by and heard
the remark. His speech was followed by
the celebrated opinion of Gibbons V.
Ogden by Chief Justice Marshall. and
his opinion was a reproduction of Cling
mans argument