Mr. Calhoun was a favorite guest on these occasions, and, unbending himself as he could easily do, proved himself a charming conversationalist and delightful companion. Oftentimes distinguished strangers from a distance would be present and upon them Mr. Calhoun made the happiest impression. His own home was an exceedingly hospitable one, and visitors received a cordial welcome. Mr. Calhoun did not affect an aristocratic style and bearing, — he was too great a man to become puffed up with pride of place and position. He was never haughty and arro gant in his demeanor. Whether in the com pany of the wealthy planters from the low country or mingling with the plain farmers of the neighborhood, he maintained his easy, natural manner, always conducting himself as became a well-bred gentleman. Mr. D. U. Sloan, who knew him well and was a companion and schoolmate of his chil dren says: " Mr. Calhoun was ever pleased to receive and entertain his neighbor farmers and discuss with them the agricultural in terests of the country, and it made no dif ference whether they wore broadcloth or homespun jeans, all received the same kind ness and attention. "His most earnest friends were his nearest neighbors, and those who were best acquainted with his spotless char acter." A gentleman, who met him here on one occasion, tells me that he was impressed with his plain, unaffected manner. Another man, who visited Washington while Mr. Cal houn was in the Senate, said that after being in the company of some of the more pom pous congressmen with their lordly air and dignified bearing, it was a relief and like breathing a new atmosphere to go into the presence of Mr. Calhoun, so easy and natural was his style and such a contrast did his manner present. Says a writer : " At every period of his life, his manners, when in com pany with his inferiors in age or standing, were extremely agreeable, even fascinating. We have heard a well-known editor, who began life as a ' page ' in the Senate chamber, say

that there was no senator whom the pages took such delight in serving as Mr. Calhoun. ' Why? ' — ' Because he was so democratic.' ' How democratic? ' — ' He was as polite to a page as to the president of the Senate, and as considerate of his feelings.' We have heard another member of the press, whose first em ployment was to report the speeches of Clay, Webster, and Calhoun, bear similar testi mony to the frank, engaging courtesy of his intercourse with the corps of reporters. It is fair, therefore, to conclude that his early popularity at home was due as much to his character and manners as to his father's name and the influence of his relatives." Miss Martineau, in her " Retrospect of Western Travel," has given us a beautiful pen-picture of some of the eminent men, whom she saw during her stay in Wash ington, among whom were Clay, Webster, and Calhoun. So fresh, so vivid, so enter taining is it, that I feel sure the reader will thank me for presenting it as a whole; though Miss Martineau, being an abolitionist and somewhat prejudiced, hardly docs Mr. Cal houn justice. It is as follows: "Mr. Clay, sitting upright on the sofa, with a snuff-box in his hand, would discourse for many an hour in his even, soft, deliberate tone, on any one of the great subjects of American policy which we might happen to start, al ways amazing us with the moderation of es timate and speech which so impetuous a nature has been able to attain. Mr. Web ster, leaning back at his ease, cracking jokes, shaking the sofa with burst after burst of laughter, or smoothly discoursing to the per fect felicity of the logical parts of one's consti tution, would illuminate an evening now and then. Mr. Calhoun, the cast-iron man, who looks as if he had never been born and could never be extinguished, would come in some times to keep our understandings on a pain ful stretch for a short while, and leave us to take to pieces his close, rapid, theoretical, illustrated talk, and see what we could make of it."