Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-04-15
COWED BY HIS LOOK.
HOW DANIEL WEBSTER ONCE DIS
PERSEO A MEETING.
some of the Personal Characteris-
ties of Cold FLOODED. Courteous
Aaron Burr PccuIiaritics of the
Eccentric John Randolph.

The personality and the peculiarities
of our great statesmen are worth study
ing. says a writer in the Atlanta Con
stitution. They throw side lights upon
character and conduct
Among our early statesmen Aaron
Burr was easily the first when consid-
cred as an elegant gentleman and man
of the world When he visited Savan-
nah i'll the height of his popularity. he
charmed everybody. and the city over
whelmed him with social attentions.
Burr detested handshaking and per
mitted no familiaritics He would mo-
ton a visitor in his office to chair and
talk to him quietly. never making any
gesture beyond the occasional motion
of long white finger
Despite this rather offish manner.
Burr charmed and fascinated He had
wonderful conversational powers. and
upon one occasion his oIaiory melted
the whole United States senate to tears
He never spoke longer than 30 min
utes even in his most important law
eases. He was cold bloodcd After his
famous duel. when the death Of Ham
ilton was announced to him. he showed
no emotion.
did he suffer much PAIN: he asked
Eyes. WAS the reply
II regret it, said Burr lit was Hy
purpose To spare him needless pain
Then h. turned the conversation 10
another subject.
He WAS always courtcuuS. and il is
said that he never passed cuuntryman
on u dusty road without first asking his
permission.
People who knew them said that An
drew jackson owed much of his polish
to his intercourse with this man.
The duel with Hamilton ruined him.
and the charge of treason when he at
tempted To- organize an expedition for
the invasion of Mexico killed him as
public man. The charge was not proved
but it made him an object of suspicion
1t should be stated that this elegant
society man showed at all times excep-
tiOnal nerve and pluck in war and in
his personal difficulties. There was not
Drawer officer i'll the Revolutionary
army.
John Randolph had some peculiar
WAYS. He scorned to court the fav0r of
the masses when candidate He would
not bow to any but his friends. nor
shake hands with his constituents Yet
he was always elected.
He was almost scarcCrow in ap-
pearance. eccentric and oddly dressed
with disagreeable high keyed voice
But his keen wit. cutting sarcasm and
crushing irony made people crazy To
hear him.
Such politician in our day would
be regarded N crank and would stand
no chance before the people
Daniel Webster was always posing
He seemed To know that people were
looking nj him. As Il rule he was cold
and dignified. but there were convivial
moments when he was very genial and
entertaining.
Upon one occasion. at Rochester. he
came ont on the balcony of his hotel
and made the following speech To a
crowd of hilarious admirers
MEN of Rochester. am glad To see
you. and am glad To see Your noble
city. Gentlemen. saw yonr fails
which am told are 30 feet high This
is very interesting fact. Gentlemen.
Rome had her Caesar. her Scipio. her
Brutus hut Rome in her pruudest days
never had waterfall 100 feet high
Gentlemen. Greece had her PericleS her
Demosthenes and her Socrates. but
Greece in her palmist days never had Il
waterfall $50 feet high, Men of Roch
ester. 90 ON. No people ever lost their
liberties who had II waterfall $50 feet
high.
1t il needless to say that the crowd
went wild with delight aud Webster
was hustled oft To bed
His cold manner was offset by his
magnificent personal appearance. An
English lord who accidentally saw him
in the house of commons when the
American senator was addressing that
body during recess. exclaimed;
There That is the first real man
ever saw
When New England failed to stand
W MN ioi 'hc Ii'NH'htid Hoilihdtioh.
Webster was called upon To speak while
on train which had stopped ut town
of some importance. The statesman
walked 10 the rear platform of his car
folding his arms across his breast and
simply booked into the faces of his false
friends
The effect was marvellous. The crowd
dispersed at once. each man going his
own way. with his head down, without
saying word to the others.