Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-12-17
WEBSTER AND MONEY.
THE GREAT DANIEL WAS CARELESS
Y Il 4 i'm FINANCIAL AFFAIRS. u. 55

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THE GREAT DANIEL WAS CARELESS
Y H (; ! in FINANCIAL AFFAIRS. u. l5s
He Troubled Himself Little About
What He Owed or About What 9th
ers Owed Him-The Way the Famous
Orator Charmed His Creditors. ~
As often as nature makes a demigod
out Of man she tacks on to him some
badge of infirmity, some sign or token
by which the less favored of the race
may know that he is not absolutely re-
moved from them, but is, in certain
ways, co-heir with them in common
humanity.
The "godlike Daniel" "expounder of
the constitution and father Of the
sentiment Of American nationality,
whose eloquence the applause Of lis
tening senator's" did command, was
mighty careless about his financial OBJ
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 the fact that once upon a
time Mr. Corning Endorsed Mr.. Web
AS things go in this world notes must
sooner or later come due, and when
this particular note reached maturity
it went to protest. But Webster was
the ''great expounder," and the firm,
not wishing to embarrass him, paid it.
Time passed, and when it was sup
posed that Webster's financial condi-
ton was improved Mr.. Corning was
prevailed upon by the firm to ask Web
ster If he could make it convenient to
iquidate the claim.
In answer to Corning's letter Web
ster sent note Astounding in apologies
for the trouble he had put his friend
to, and wound up with most cordial
invitation to the gentleman to visit
him, when he would probably be in a
position to pay him, or, at least, to
give him some sort of satisfactory Sc
curity.
Corning accepted the invitation and
went to see the expounder.
In due time Corning returned home
delighted and charmed with his visit
to Marshdeld.
| Entertaining his partners with en-
thusiastic accounts Of the great states
! mans hospitality and with descrip
tons of the various incidents Of hi
visit, Corning forgot to say wore
about the main object Of the visit.
Finally, after Corning had exhaust
ed himself in describing the good TIM
he had had, member Of the firm
broke in with the remark, "Well,
suppose Mr.. Webster was highl,
pleased to be able to pay the note"
,"Highly pleased to pay the note" re
/ sponded Corning. "He didn't pay an
note. He not only did not pay tn
note, but he so charmed and delighte
me that he got me to sign another not
for him for $4,000, and am thankfr
that he did not ask me to make
$4,000, for I don't think I could hav
refused to grant his request"
An old Bostonian who knew Wet
ster well told me some years ago th
following story:
A. Portsmouth On. H. tailor had
bill against Webster for several hur
dred dollars When Webster wa
elected United States senator, the ia
lor went down to the Hub" to sc
him about his bill, thinking that b
was then in a fair frame of mind t
pay it.
When the Portsmouth man got t
Boston, Webster was holding levet
at which were gathered the most di:
tinguished men of the nation.
Presenting himself at the door, tn
tailor was denied admission on th
ground that Mr. Webster was engage
with affairs of state and could not b
disturbed.
The tailor sent up his card, whic
Webster no sooner saw than he g.
dered the gentleman to be ushere
into his presence.
Receiving the man with cords
hand shake and look of supreme b.
nightly, Mr.. Webster introduced hin
one by one, to the illustrious compan,
dined him and wined him, and in til
course Of time the guests, includin
the Portsmouth man, departed.
Upon reaching home the tailor wa
asked if he got the money for his bill
''Money for my bill, the mischief
he replied. "Mr. Webster treated n
like lord, introduced me to more bi
folks than 1 ever saw before in all m
life, and do you suppose ! could hav
the heart to mention that bill to him
New York American
A punctuaX Artist.