The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-08-14


to be a learned, honest, capable, amia-
Bile, courageous and marvelously pre-
served man. He is as plain as an old
shoe, honest ms the day is long and
kind as little child.
When he electrified the senate and
the whole country by his speech in
reply to Senator Beveridge, 1t SO hap
pened that was lecturing up in Michi-
gan. Like the rest Of people, read
his speech with great relish. When 1
returned to Washington, I went over
to the senate and congratulated the
general on his brilliant GRAFTON. With
a twinkle in his eye, he said:
my friend, that speech was merely
one of the indiscretions of youthv'
which seems to me was very neat
and playful remark for an almost oc-
togenarian.
A Gap In the Razor.
Colonel Dick Wintersmith Of Ken
lucky is one Of the most skillfm racon-
teurs living. he says: "Old DR.. Mar
shall, father Of the more famous Tom,
was the prince of educators; but, all in
all, q queer character When Tom
was first sprouting a beard, one fine
May morning, he for the first time,
shaved himself, using his fathers ra-
zor. Somehow he capped that useful
instrument. Then, mounting a thor
oughbred, he rode to Washington,
where for two years he read law under
the tuition of his illustrious uncle,
ID T,,n hou n ~
obtained his license and grown whis.
kess, he rode back to Woodford county,
Ky, which he always fondly called
''ths asparagus bed of the garden spot
OF the world"
Tom FASTENED to the old homestead.
His mother recognized his tall form
a. he strobe up the lawn beneath the
She rushed out and clasped the embryo
orator to her heart. Old DR.. Marshall
was up stairs shaving. Hearing the
noise, he poked his head out OF the
window, and, seeing his son, bawled:
us that you, Tom? You young ras-
Cal. Two years ago you broke gap
In my razor, and it's there yet! How
was the chief justice when you left the
seat Of government
"Youne Wit"
When DIR. Solly, the Colorado Springs
specialist, was in Washington attend
ing a congress Of physicians, he took a
hand with the statesmen at story tell
ing as follows:
"An old colored man who belonged to
Senator Joe Blackburns father and
who claimed to have raised the sena-
tor was very proud of him and was
fond Of dilating upon and magnifying
his greatness and his virtues. A wag,
thinking to have some fun with him,
said:
"'Uncle. do you really believe that
Senator Blackburn is great manT
"'Foh God, do, honeyv replied the
aged negro.
"Great as George Washington
eyes, bossv
"Great as Abraham Lincoln, who
freed your
"'Yes, he isv
"'Great as Jesus Christi
'The old man shook his white head,
hseitated moment and then replied:
Maybe he amt as great as Jesus
Christ, but den yoh mus not fergit dat
Marse Joe is young yit!"
Concerning Ben Wade.
One Of the most picturesque figures In
American politics was Hon. Benjamin
y. Wade of Ohio, usually called Old
Ben Wade. He was blur, emphatic
dogmatic and domineering. He was q
tough customer to tackle in debate. he
was In the senate Of the United States
many years and was president pro tenn
when Andrew Johnson's impeachment
was attempted. Had the Tennessee
commoner been convicted Wade would
have become president The change Of
one senatorial vote would have landed
Old Ben In the White House. Taken
all in all. Senator Wade ranked as one
Of the most popular Of the antislavery
leaders.
The late Hon. Marriott Brosius OF
Pennsylvania used to tell this anec
dote on Wade:
During the presidential campaign Of
1848 Benjamin &. Wade was a circuit
Judge in Ohio. General Zachary Tay
Tor was the Wing candidate, Genera
Lewis Cass the Democratic and Mar
tin Van Buren, the candidate of tht
Free Sellers. Judge Wade adjourned
his court frequently to make stuml
speeches for the hero OF Palo Alto
Resaca de la Palma and Buena Vista
The Free Soil committee, knowing tn,
Judge to be an ardent Free Soiler, ceult
not understand his conduct and callet
on him for an explanation. They go
1t promptly and In no equivocal terms
Judge Wade said:
"'When I saw that illustrious sol
dier. eminent patriot and pure Chris
tian, General Zachary Taylor, beinl
crucified between two such dashed ras
calls as Lewis Cass ana Martin VA
Buren,, just had to talk or bust!"
Wade and Douglas.
It 10 very much to be doubted wheth
er Stephen A. Douglas ever had supe
rior on this continent as a debater. Il
and Wade were. Of course. generally o.
ODDosite sides Of OtlastioDe in fha scr