Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-07-05
STORIES OF WEBSTER.
ODD ADVICE THAT MADE AsYouNo
LAWYER FAMOUS.
q Quaint Incident that illustrates
How 0roah Was the Great states
man's Sense of Humor ana fIsw
Reckless He Was WITH HIS Money.

~ NSOsleE 3CudIACleE tuAv Q0 never
treated the men who worked for him 90
menials. For Porter Wright he always
entertained the highest regard, and
Wright was a constant companion In his
hunting and fishing excursions. Proba.
bly, no other man was better acquainted
with the inner life OF Webster, with his
habits, customs and disposition, than Mr..
Wright. From him learned more of
Webster's home life and Of his character
as q man than from oil the histories and
Biographies that have ever been written.
He assured me That man OF more SIM
pie habits never lived. For style he
cared absolutely nothing. In his dress
about home he could not be distinguished
from any Of his farmer or fishermen
neighbours. Rarely did he wear collar.
An old SLOUGH hat covered his head, and
his trousers were always tucked inside Of
his boots.
It was only when he removed his hat,
showing the massive proportions OF his
brain, that you realized that you were
standing In the presence OF mighty
genius. When Thorwaldsen. the great
Danish sculptor, saw his bust In the
studio Of Powers at Rome he exclaimed,
All, a new design OF Jupiter. l sect" He
could hardly be persuaded that it was
the actual head OF living American.
Every man, woman and child in the
neighborhood had full run OF Webster's
house from cellar to garnet. Whenever
a man came in the first thing he did was
to open the sidcboard, take down the old
decanter and pour out a glass Of brandy.
II the visitor drank, he was doubly well
come. II he refused, it Immediately low
l. =
or children he was particularly fond.
arms as readily as those who were Ia
miliar with his features. Mr.. Wright
said:
mo human being could induce him to
say word about politics here. 1t was a
tabooed subject. II any one mentioned
politics, his brow darkcned in an in
stnnt."
Farming, fishing, horses, cattle. pigs
and hens-these were his fayorite themes.
He knew every one OF his cattle by name
as we'll ns he knew the names OF his
brother senator's. OF his garden he was
very proud, and here lie would spend a
portion OF ench day pulling weeds and
hocing vegetables.
A young lawyer OF the village once
came and asked him what he had better
study to build himself up in his profes.
sion.
..Turnip seeds" was the laconic reply.
1 The disciple OF Blackstone followed his
| advice. He studied up everything that
bore upon the subject OF turnips until
he became master of the principles Of
that Vegetable. A yenr or two a fterwnrd
a ncighboring farmer originated n new
| turnip. from the sale Of whose seed he
expected to make u fortune. Another
sneighbor BEGIN to raise and sell the snme
4 seed, and Il lawsuit resulted. The origi-
3nator of the seed came to retain Webster
to prosecute the case. Webster replied
II am not as well booked up on turnips
as ought to be, but there is a young
fellow over Mt the village who knows all
about them. Go aud get him. lie will
win your case. !"
The farmer posted of and engaged the
other man. When the trinl came OF. the
lawyer astonishcd judge. jury and audi
cnceH by his profound learning on the sub
jcct OF tllrnips. The case was triumphant
~ Won, and the young lawyer started on
the rond to fame and fortune.
Websters sense OF humor was infinite.
4 On one occasion man presented n bill
to him for payment.
why" said Webster, II have paid
that bill before"
The neighbor assured him that he was
1 mistaken.
.All right. then. Call again in the
4 morning, and will settle with you.
AS soon us the man was gone Webste,
called his son, Fletcher, and told him to
look over his papers and see il he could
/ not find d receirted bill. To the surprise
OF both two receiptcd bills We're found
showing that the bill had been paid
twice. Webster put the receipts in his
pocket and said nothing.
4 In the morning the neighbor returned
for the money Webster took his seat IN
der the old elm and ordered Wright tc
bring out the dccanter. Filling the glass
4 to the brim, he handed il to the man and
told him to drink. Webster then began:
MIR. Blank. do you keep books!!"
The man assured him that he did not.
Then would advise you to do SO.
said Webster. and. pulling one Of the re
4 ceipts from his pocket. handed it to him
4 The man was covered with confusion
while Webster continued:
And while you are about it you hnt
better get bookkeeper who understand!
double entry" at the same time handing
him another receipt.
Now said Webster. II am going It
pay this bill just once more, but l assur,
you upon my word Of honor that vii
not pay it the fourth time
The one great pnstime that Webste
enjoyed in Marshheld was fishing. 70
hours he would wander up and down tn
streams and across the meadows. As
rule, however. he enjoyed fisherman
J luck" 1t was rarely that he caught
fish, unless by Its own carclessncss it be
came entangled on the hook and couldn'
escape The fish would nibble all tn
bait from the hook without his ever pull
ing the line from the water.
When a little way ahead or behind. b
was always muttcring to himself. an
many of his grandest speeches We're com
posed while on these excursions. On hi
return he would always throw himsel
under the old elm tree in the dooryar
mud enjoy short nap while resting fror
! his fatigue Lewiston Journal.
THE SCREW PROPELLER.