Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 December 1884 — Tom Corwin and Mrs. Shannon. [ARTICLE]

Tom Corwin and Mrs. Shannon.

Corwin and a number of his whig friends were going from one place to another, «nd were discussing the situation and laughing over the prospects of Shannon’s defeat, when Mrs. Shannon, whom none of them knew, entered the stage at one of the minor stations. She listened to their talk for a few moments, and then gave them tq, understand that she did not think os they did, and that she was the wife of Gov. Shannon, and that there was no doi&t of his election. This abashed the several gentlemen for a moment, bqt Corwin at once recovered himself and soon began conversing with Mrs. Shannon. He was an accomplished conversation-

alist, and in a short time ghe thought the dark gentleman with whom nhe was talking was one of the most polite gen* tlemen she had ever met. He told»her he knew her husband well and talked at length about him, skillfully parrying all questions which might lead to his giving hes any idea of his own idei. tily. They finally got to laughing ovethe campaign, and Mrs. Shannon re marked that it was not possible that such a man as her husband could be beaten by a fellow like Tom Corwin, who they say was only a wagon boy when young. “Yes,” Corwin, “and who goes round the country speaking from a log cabin.” “And,” continued Mrs. Shannon, “who is as black as the ace of spades.” “Yes,” returned Corwin, “as as —as black as I am.” So the conversation went on while Tom Corwin complimented her in various ways, taking her baby, which she had with her, in his arms and dandling it and calling it the “young governor." When they reached Columbus Mr. Corwin carried baby into the hotel for her, and as he laid it down said: “Mjs. Shannon, I am indebted to you for a very pleasant ride. I will now lay down the ‘young governor’ and a few weeks later you will find me laying down your old governor as well. 1 have the honor to iptroduce myself to you as Tom Corwin, the black-faced wagon boy of the present campaign.” History tells how well Corwin succeeded in veryfying his prophecy—how he was elected G overnor in 1840, and how, five years later, he was sent to the United States Senate, which he left to accept the portfolio of tfie treasury. During the time he served as Secretary of the Treasury he entertained hero in grand style, but during tho latter part lie was poor and died a bankrupt. At least his liabilities were greater than his assets, and it was his good nature in bailing eveif man who asked him to that made them so.— Carp, in the Cleveland Leader.