The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-10-22
POINTED PERSONALITIES.

At his summer home In New York
Marx Twain had an aged negro servant,
who some time ago celebrated his wsd-
ding anniversary by inviting in twelve
friends 10 a Dossum dinner, the deli
cacy having. been supplied by relatives
in the south. Twelve by no means
marks the extent of the servants
friends. and those unbidden to the feast
concluded that after all. they did not
think much of it. One OF the more pro-
gressive started the report that instead
of 'possurn the host served plain eoOns.
The next day. with great severity. Mr..
Clemens said to the servant. Jim. I've
known you for a long time and found
you q truthful fellow. | want you to
tell me hon silly which you had for din
ner last night, 'possam or coons?"
The old servant hesitated, but in an
instant said: (which do you mean.
Mr.. Clemens. on the table or around the
table?"
During Mr.. Hays period of editorial
work in New York he wrote a quarter
column one dull night that made talk in
every part of this country, writes Julius
Chambers Ii was entitled, Did We
Escape a Napoleon" He briefly
sketched the carer of Colonel Ellis
worth, who was shot at a hotel in Alex
andria while removing the Confederate
flag that was flying over the house.
Hay described the wonderful popularity
and PERSONAL magnetism of the young
New Highlander, who came to New
York a stranger, and raised a regiment
OF Zouaves in a few weeks. As / re-
member the article, Hay didn't commit
himself, but made liberal use of the
Interrogation mark. Years afterward
Judge William d. Kelley, known as
Pig Iron" Kelley, became highly eX-
cited oysr the subject when l referred
to the Hay suggestion in his presence
at dinner party IN Washington. He
knew the other side of Ellsworth
character. which. apparently. Hay did
not. Dom Plat later again discussing
the fancy. assured me that Hay knew
ali about Ellsworth and had written the
skit as a bit of irony and banter TO
stir up old fogies like Judge Kelley.
Whatever John Hays purpose, the ar
ticle got the country by the ears. Our
old acquaintance '.Veritas" and wet
eran" mustered in the columns OF the
newspapers.
1t is doubtful if the Ellsworth contro-
versy ever will be settled. Many a
smile must the discussion have brought
TO the face of the subsequent historian
| and diplomatist.
Tales Of other days were told in the
| New York navy yard the other day
| when Rear Admiral Joseph B. Cogh-
| Ian entertained three shipmates of forty
| years ago. 1t was the first time the
! four men met since three of them left
| the navy for civil life after. the civil
war. and Rear Admiral Coghlan of the
J sloop-of-war Sacramento in 1853, and
James Robins was the chief bosuns
mate and A. w. Ward and James Me
( Grdw were apprentice boys Mr.. Rob-
| ms. who is the oldest of the four, lives
in IS Murray street. Newark; Mr.. Ward
is connected with the Am riCan Express
/ company in Rochester. While Mr.. Ne
] GraW lives in Sackett's Harbor. y. Y
After Rear Admiral Coghlan was as
| signed as commander of the New York
/ yards his old shipmates got into com
municatiOn with him, with the result
that he invited them to pay him
a visit.
James c. Blaine. whose name was SC
many years linked with Names politi-
/ cal fortunes. has no monument erected
/ to his memory i'm the state. Shortly
/ after his death there was an effort
made TO procure funds for such a pur-
/ pose. but the difficulty in getting sub
scriptiOns was so great that the project
was abandoned. The state has not even
/ claimed the remains OF her once illus
| trious son, and the body IS buried in
] Washington. IN the rotunda Of the
state house is the bust of James G.
] Blaine. done in pure white marble
More than the usual interest has beer
! attached TO this work of art since il
I was learned that it has never been
paid for. Professor G.. G. Trentanove
of Florence, Italy, made the bust and il
was placed iii the rOtunda of the capt.
/ tol in 1899, but up to this day the sculpt-
/ or has never received q red cent.