Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-10-21
WEBSTER AND MONEY
THE GREAT DANIEL WAS CARELESS
IN FINANCIAL AFFAIRS.

Tic Troubled IIimseIf Little About
Whit Tic Owed or About What OH
crs Owed Eim-1hc Way the Famous
orator Chnrmcd Ills Creditors.
AS often as nature makes Il ,lrmlgotl
out OF Il man She tacks OH To him some
badge of inllrmi,y, some sign or token
by which the less favored of the race
may know That lie IN not absolutely re-.
ways. co-hcir with them In common
humanity
The "godlike Daniel" "cxpoun,lcr OF
tie constitution" and father OF the
sentiment of American nationality,
whose cloquencn the applause of lis
ten!ng senators" did command, was
mighty careless about His financial oh.
| legations, seldom troubling himself
about what he owed or about what
others owed him.
The late Erastus Corning and Web
ster were warm friends, and thereby Is
explained tho fact that once upon n
time Mr., Corning Endorsed Mr.. Web.
stcr's note for II considerable amount.
AS things so In this world notes must
sooner ar later come due. and when
this particular note reached maturity
II went to protest hut Webster WAS
the great cXpoun,lcr." and the firm,
not wishing to rmbarrnSs him. paid II.
| Time passed, and when II was sup.
posed that Wcbstcr's financial cnndl-
ton WAS improved Mr.. Corning was
prevailed upon by the firm to ask Web
ster If he could make 1t convenient TO
liquidatc the claim.
In answer to Corning's letter Web
stcr scnt note Astounding IN apologies
for the trouble he had put his FREUD
to, ana wound up With II most cordial
| invitation to the gentleman TO visit
him, when he would probably be In n
position to pay him, or, Mt least, To
give him some sort OF satisfactory Sc
curity.
| Corning accepted the invitation and
| went to see the eXpoundcr.
In due time Corning returned home,
delighted ana charmed with his visit
to Marshficld.
Entertaining his partners with CHI
| thuslastlc accounts OF the great states
| mans hospitality and with dcscrip-
lions OF the various incidents of his
visit, Corning forgot to shy word
about the main object of the visit
| Finally, after Corning had exhaust
ed himself In describing the good time
lie had had, member of the firm
broke In with the remark. well. I
| suppose Mr.. Webster was highly
pleased to be nblc TO pay the note"
Highly pleased to pay the note" re-
spondcd Corning. "Iie didn't pay any
note. He not only did not pny tho
note. but lie so charmed and delighted
me TINT lie got me to sign another note
for him for $1,000, and I nm thankful
that he did not nsi me to make 1t
$4,000, for don't think could have
refused to grant his request"
| An old ROstOnian who knew Web
( stcr well told me some years ago tho
following story:
y Portsmouth IN. Id tailor had n
bill against Webster for several hun.
drcd dollars. When Webster was
elected United States senator, the tai-
lor went down 10 the Hub" to sec
him about his bill. thinking that he
l $3.50 A'''ti III u iuii Vi W
pay II.
| When the Portsmouth man got to
Boston, Webster was holding n levee,
at which were gathered the most dis
tlngnshcd men OF the nation.
Presenting himself Mt the door the
tailor was. denied admission on the
ground that Mr.. Webster was engaged
| with affairs Of state and could not he
disturbed.
The tailor sent up his card, which,
Webster no sooner saw than he or.
dcred the gentleman to be ushercd
into his presence
Receiving the man with cordial
hand shake and n look OF supreme be-
nightly, Mr. Webster introduced him
one by one, TO the illustrlous company
dined him AMI wincd him, and in the
course of time the guests. including
the Portsmouth man, departed
| Upon reaching home the tailor was
asked if he got the money for his bill
Money. for my bill, the mischicf.'
he replied. "Mr. Webster treated me
like lord, introduced me to more big
folks than ever saw before in all my
life, aud do YOU suppose could have
the heart to mention that'bill to him ~