New-York tribune., 1902-06-10
DANIEL WEBSTER.
A SOUVENIR OF THE CENTENNIAL COM
MEMoRATIoN AT DARTMOUTH.

THE ggocEEDSes OF Ta6 wEBsTSR by faT paT
mouth College of the Services of Danlei WSo- G
se5 to asrt ss 60iS Hopkns aad osaso tes pp @
ed for Dartmouth College
ON the Tooth anniversary of Daniel Web
s,er's graduation, in 1901, Dartmouth College OBJ
served the occasion by q special centennial cele-
arstfon on September "a and %. This book is
renor4 OF the exercises giving the addresses then
delivered and brief synopsis OF the other pro-
ceedings. Professor Charles Francis Richardson
<Doke on Mr. webster's College Life" Professor
John King Lord on The Development OF the
college Since the Dartmouth College Case" and
Samuel Walker Mccall delivered the principal
grafton on webster's life and work. AT the ban
ouet there were many shorter addresses ana
"reminiscences concerning different phases OF
websterss life by Chief Justice Blodgett Of New
Hampshire: Dr. Edward Everett Hale Senator
Boar Chief Justice Fuller and others The vol
urne is thus an interesting contribution TO the
discussion Of webster's place in American his
tory and OF certain aspects Of his life and work
It's tone is naturally and chiefly eulogistc, but
as a whole It is not an undiscriminating pane
ryric The Small College and the Dartmouth
College case are naturally also much in evidence.
At college Webster was prominent as an ora
TOR the specimens Of his powers that have been
preserved showing. Joined with undergraduate
verbosity and platitude, more than hint OF MS
future qualities Professor Richardson refers TO
his mingling of Latin derivat tives with old Eng
Ish words; his balanced periods. alternating with
language of straightforward simplicity, anu
above ali. an occasional suggestion of that power
in which he surpassed Demosthenes, Cicero ana
Burke. the power of making the very point
under discussion seem so automatic as TO render
debate almost superiuous'' He was a good
reader and kept himself posted in politics. He
himself seems 10 have spoken at different times
in different ways about his scholarship and in
olstry but they do not seem TO have been un-
usual. Yet he ambitious to lead even then'
and the testimony of his college friends seems TO
agree that he was the most remarkable OF the
undergraduates of his time. The story of his
tearing UP his diploma commencement day IN
scorn OF his degree. because he failed to be ap-
z,ointed vaiedicto,ian, is entirely discredited-
alr. Mccall makes a more general survey OF
webster's life and services. He puts him among
fhe half dozen greatest orators Of the world; if
ne was net in the highest degree q constructive
statesman. owing to his position as member
during most Of his career Of a minority party,
he displayed In a prominent degree the quallues
Of Craftsmanship most loudly called Tor py MS
tine in contriving the soundest principles OF
government for a nation under written consti-
tuition. The animating motive OF his Seventh OF
March speech solicituGe for The Union; ana
when the most responsible Of Webster's accusers
saw the danger as ne saw it, they were willing
10 make concessions TO slavery far more hateful
than any of which he lad ever dreamed.
The "reminiscences Of Webster that were con-
tributed by men who knew him are interesting
and valuable. as throwing light upon various
phases CT his character in public and private
life DE- Edward Everett Hale is proud, he
says ito tell this story Of a, child's game OF
speculation or commerce at which, at some
birthday party, were all playing in his own
library" Mr.. Webster always very fond Of
children end got along excellently with them:
The great library table was cleared, and. as it
happened / sat by MIR. Webster's side. In the
exigencies of the game. perhaps from my own
t,rprudent playing, I had lost all my ivory
counters and / cried out; Il have nothing left!
Have no friend who will lend to me?' With
perfectly characteristic generosity Mr.. Webster
pushed half of his stack in front Of me and
said: Edward, as long as I live you shall never
say you have not q friend" was q child, but
treasured the words. and they always proved
f-raG