Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 June 1884 — Impecunious Great Men. [ARTICLE]

Impecunious Great Men.

A considerable number of public mem have received testimonials from their friends. Daniel Webster was tendered and received for many years the earnings of SIOO,OOO, which was put at interest for his benefit by his friends in and about Boston. Had not this provision of $6,000 a year been made Webster would have retired from the Senate, for he declared he would not give his life to his country for $8 per day. “Tom” Corwin had his debts paid once at beast by his friends. He never laid up anything while holding Federal offices. He retired from the office of Secretary, of the Treasury comparatively poor. The mortgage on Corwin’s homestead was once taken up by his political friends. Henry Clay had the same service rendered him on the part of his political friends. He had been for a whole generation in Congress. He sometimes lived beyond his means. He was hospitable and even generous. He had little tact in managing his private affairs. His homestead at Ashland was mortgaged, and would probably have 'leap foreclosed had not his Whig ft' ends, just after his defeat for the Presidency in 1845, stepped in and privately canceled the mortgage. Thomas Benton was thirty years in Congress. Yet in all that time he never became rich, nor did he improve any of the opportunities for making money while holding a Federal office. — Seen Francisco Bulletin.

Alas ! it is not till time, with reckless hand, bas torn out half the leaves from the book of human life, to light those fires of passion with, from day to day, that m n begins to see that the leaves which remain are few in number.—Hyperion.