Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 July 1875 — An Anecdote of Daniel S. Dickinsou. [ARTICLE]

An Anecdote of Daniel S. Dickinsou.

Burleigh, writing, from New York to the Boston Journal , relates the following: “ A party of gentlemen were together last week and were telling old-time stories. One referred to Senator Dickinson. He was not overlearned, but was very shrewd. He knew absolutely nothing of the classics and was greatly annoyed when one quoted Latin. Van Buren had swung off into Free Soil and the burden of the party was on Dickinson’s shoulder. A friend of Van Buren was eulogizing the ex-Presi-dent in a speech. He spoke of Curtius, and compared Van Buren to that noble Roman. Dickinson went over to a seat occupied by a Senator who was at home in all that relates to the Romans. ‘ Who is this Curtis the Senator is talking about?’ ‘ Oh, he is not talking about Curtis at all. He is talking «f a noble Roman patriot, His name was Curtius, not Curtis.’ ‘Well, what did he do?’ ‘Why, in the time of a great public calamity he threw himself in the breach and saved his country.’ ‘ Oh, that’s it, is it? What did you say his name was?’ ‘Curtius.’ ‘Won’t you spell it?’ ‘ C-u-r-t-i-u-s.’ ‘ All right. Thank you,’ said Dickinson, .tgjhe went talus seat. As soqn.as the defender of Van. Buren took his seat Dickinson arose, fresh, confident, exuberant. He closed like a man fresh from the classics. ‘ And who is this Curtius to whom the honorable Senator compares Martin Van Buren? He was a noble Roman. He was a patriot. But how unlike Mr. Van Buren! Curtius threw himself info the breach to save his country, hut .Martin Van Buren threw his country into the breach to save himself.’ ” *