The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-07-09
OLD-TIME STATESMEN.
interesting Anecdotes of Webster,
Clay and Harrison.

washington Cor. New York SUM-
me late Fred II. Thomas. a personal
iriend or President William Henry Harri-
son, ana through his influence assistant
aa a. ian OF congress. used to relate many
s.iE S ,e OF ire in Washington which are
SIN lepedteu he insisted that Henry Cav
MaS oy nature an autocrat of autocrats
Whlle Daniel Webster with all his stron :,
nieEa ~ tastes. was. in his intercourse
/ with those of inferior station. most demo
/ cratic in his demeanor CLAW would come
INTO the library without seemingly seeing
any any one, ana IN commanding tone say:
:. 1et me the Edinburgh Review" receive
1t without the slightest recognition of the
atlendant, seat himself where he would
most obstruct others. read some special
a arr e. throw the periodical into corner
ana Mo then stalk haughtily from the room
webster, on the contrary, would bow to
every one as he entered the room. and ask
In a pleasant manner:
Have you received the last Issue of tha
Edinburgh Review? There is an article
| on political economy ! should like TO see.
!. you Please, and Seating himself at
tdole would take up some publication of
current interest in which he would be
come absorbed. When the Review was
Drought he would acknowledge IT by
nod and thank you" and would Law it on
the table, continuing TO read what he had
hrst taken up for an hour or more and
sometimes leaving the library without
called for.
On the occasion of a reception given to
LAY py Baltimoreans a trip down the
Chesapeake bay was given, and on the re-
turn TRIP game of eucher was arranged
AS Clay was 4 noted player at all games
OF cards. in order that the game should be
interesting a pair of skillful players were
selected to play against him. and the local
card champion Billy Bryson who simply
worshipped Clay, had the honor of being
ms partner. 1t was constitutional with
the great commoner. as his friends de-
lighted TO call him, to be at or near the
top in any enterprise in which he was en-
gagged. whether 1t happened to be politics
or a game OF eucher for pastime, and he
was Dy no means an agreeable loser at
anything Poor old Billy Bryson was so
overcome at the idea of being Clay's
partner that he became entirely be-
wildered and made the most absurd and
unaccountable errors. Clay's temper rose
rapidly and he rallied at Bryson in good
set terms. Finally the unfortunate man.
brought to bay. replied:
by CAD, sir. if you were old Billy Bry-
son and had the great Henry Clay for
partner sir, think you should be eX-
cUsed for failing to note the difference
bower. The involuntary compliment
so pleased Clay that he shouted with
laughter: and was ever afterward a warm
friend of Brysons.
An old negro and his WIFE who had
found freedom through Clays efforts
made their home in Washington. where
the old man, with the assistance of some
white folks. turned an unused barn into
meeting place for religious services. and
after awhile it took on quite the appear
ance of a primitive church The old man
was indefatigable in his efforts to collect
sufficient fund to supply pulpit, seats
for the growing congregation and so on.
One Sunday morning just before service he
was walking along Pennsylvania avenue
when he happened to meet the great Ken
lucky senator.
We'll Bob" said the senator. what
are you doing out so early Sunday morn
''Sarvant, Marse Henry: sarvant. sab.
You know de early bird ketches de
worm.''
"Oh. you are worm hunting. are you?"
Yes, Marse Henry. / wants to AK eff
You won't help me some bout my little
church"
No, indeed" said the senator. ''Tll not
give you cent. 1 gave you something
not long ago to help you with that
church.
did indeed. sab. an OATS. a treasure laid
up for you in hebben, sab
20. it is is. is it, and Clay moved on.
Bob. come here Taking from his pocket
a roll of bills he continued: Here are $50 /
1 won at cards after sitting up all last ;
night. Now. if you can reconcile the use
of money gotten in that way to church !
purposes. take it along.
Old Bob bowed and pulled his cae.
'Sarvant. Marse Henry. thankee sab. |
God do move in a mysterious way his /
wonders to perform, Thankee, Marse /
Henry: thankee. sah,"
Thomas used to say of William Henry /
Harrison that though a man of excellent !
sense he had spent the greater part of his I
days in border warfare and was 1
so accustomed to roughing it that he en- /
tered the White House with lss knowl-- .
edge of the ways of the world than any of .
his predecessors. True. he had lived in .
as a United States senator /
but was domiciled in a very plain way .
in an every day. boarding house, and had .
no idea of how the presidential table was
Any one item of food that tickled his
palate was enough for him. and he would .
satisfy his hunger on il. At the first and
only diplomatic dinner which he lived to ,
give there was served after the soup what
was then considered to be the perfection
If dishes. mutton chops wrapped in brown 1
oaper. so as to preserve the juice While
cooking This delicacy was entirely new
o the president, and he called for sec
md and even a third chop, and YVES
satisfying his appetite with this one en-
rec when his eye lighted upon some
turkey which had just been served TO his
leighbor Turning to his wife with
ook of reproach he said:
why. my dear. | didn't know we mad
turkey for dinner too