Year: 1871

dotes.


FRANKLIN AND wHITETIELD.


In his biography of the celebrated evan
gelist Whitefeld, just published in Lou
don, Mr.. j. p. Gladstone gives this anec-
dote: 1t was not only the ignorant and
cxctable that yielded to the ordinary fas-
cnation of White6eld's oratory. No
shrewder listener ever stood in front of
him than the celebrated Benjamin Frank
lin; and how little even he was able to re-
sist the charm is shown by the amusing
story which he tells of himself. White
field had consulted Franklin about the To-
cality of his proposed orphan house, but
had refused to act on his advice and the
refusal had determined Franklin not to
subscribe. 1 happened soon after says
Franklin, to attend one of his sermons,
in the course of which perceived he in
tended to finish with collection, and I
silently resolved he should get nothing
from me. l had in my pocket a handful
of copper money, three or four silver dol.
lars and five pistolcs in gold. As he pro,
ceeded, began to soften, and concluded
to give him the copper. Another stroke
of his oratory made me ashamed of that,
and determined me to give the silver /;
aud he finished soadmirably so that emptied
my pocket wholly into the collectors dish,
gold and ALL If any one could have re-
sisted the spell, one would have thought
it must have been Chesterfield; yet even
of him it is related that on one occasion
when Whitcfcld was describing blind
man cropping his way unawares towards a
precipice. till he stumbled on the edge in
the act of taking the last fatal step over,
the peer could not help springing forward
in an agony from his seat, exclaiming,
Good God he is gone -"


JOHN C. CALHOUN.


The following anecdote of John G. Cal
houn is told on the authority of the late
Hon. Abbott Lawrence Some time before
1840 Mr.. Calhoun wrote to Mr.. Lawrence
that he had been adding to his landed es-
tates, and would like to obtain loan of
$4,000 or $4,000 in Boston, where
money was more plenty than in South Car
oiua and the rate of interest not so high,
for the payment Of which he would give
his notes and mortgage upon his estate,
which would be ample security. Mr.. Law
renee said he consulted Nathan Appleton
and one or two other wealthy citizens of
Boston upon the subject, and it was agreed
to raise the money for him and take no Sc
curity for the repayment but his note. Mr..
Lawrence informed Mr. Calhoun of the ar
rangement which he had made, and ex-
pressed his qualification that it was in the
power of himself and few of his friends
to do kindness to one SO distinguished,
whose life had been devoted to the servicc
of his country Mr.. Calhoun Immediately
wrote back declining the offer and with
drawing his original request. He said it
did not agree with his sense of proprety to
accept loan upon such terms that in
the discharge of his public duties he did
not wish to be embarrassed by a sense of
obligation to any one.


SAM HOUSTON.


Wm. Schoulor, in the Boston Journal,
describing the late Sam Houston, as he
appeared while representing the State of
Texas in the United States Senate, says
"Whcn not speaking or writing he sat in
his seat with long bladed knife in one
hand and piece Of wood in the other,
whiting. Go when you would to the
Senate gallery and look upon the Senate,
you would see him working upon piece
of wood with his knife, and around his
chair would be the chips he had cut off.
He did not appear to be making anything
of use of ornament from the block he was
whiting but cut steadily on until he had
used it up, when one of the pages would
bring him another piece. He appeared to
be very kind hearted man, and ford Of
children. He was great favorite with
the boy pages, and frequently you would
see one or two of them standing by his
desk, talking with him. The only peculi-
arity about his dress was vest which he
generally wore when in Washington. 1t
was made of the skin of some wild beast,
with the skin outside"
EZEKIEL WEBSTER.


When Ezekiel Webster Daniels broth
err was in full practice at the bar he was
employed to defend the will Of Roger
Perkins, of Hopkinton. The physician
made affidavit that the testator was struck
with death when he signed his will. Mr..
Webster subjected his testimony to most
searching examination, showing by quot
ing medical authorities, that doctors dis
agree as to the precise moment when
dying man is struck with death; some
affirm that it is at the commencement of
the fatal disease, others at its climax and
others still affirm that we begin to dic as
soon as VIC are born. "I should like to
know" said Mr.. Sullivan, the opposing |
counsel, "what doctor maintains that
theory ?" "Dr. Watts" said Mr.. Web.
ster, with great gravity: /


"The moment we begin to live,


We all begin to die"