Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 July 1879 — PERSONAL AND LITERARY. [ARTICLE]

PERSONAL AND LITERARY.

—The Chicago Tribune says that the estate of the late W. B. Ogden, which qt the time of his death was thought to be very large, will leave very little for Lis heirs because of the shrinkage of values. —When P. T. Barnum, a young man, poor and in debt, left Danbury, he said to Judge Whittlesey: “I will pay that bill when I get rich.” The Judge drew down his judicial features, and disdainfully replied: “ That will be when a sieve holds water.” In a few years the visionary young man was in a condition to pen the following brief letter to tho Judge: “ I have fixed that sieve.”— Danbury News. > —Levi Nusbaum of Carroll County, Md., has learned that an elopement may be a very serious matter. His coui’panion was Ida Englar, for whose father he worked as a farm hand. The girl was only twelve years old, but she entered upon the exploit with great zekt, packing her clothes surreptitiously, and (lying with her lover at three o’clock in the morning. The couple were arrested on a railroad train while on their way to have a marriage ceremony performed. A jury decided that Nusbaum was guilty of abduction, and he was sent to prison for eight years. —Governor Allen, of Ohio, was a man of striking personal appearance, especially in his old age, when his hair had whitened till it was line silver and beautiful to behold. His complexion to the last was ruddy and clear, and his blue eye bright and intelligent His figure was erect. A stroke of paralysis had affected bis hands, and gave some uncertainty to their movements. This interfered with his writing, and necessitated a special seal for him in subscribing his name to oflicial acts when Governor. Otherwise there was little evidence of phj sical decay or weakening of mental powers up to the time of his death. . X. —Senator Chandler told a reporter the other day that if he is ever attacked he will use only his fists in defense. “ Many years ago,” he said, “I determined to take a course of training in boxing, and I employed one of the best t.'alners in the country, the man who trained Heenan tor his famous prize fight before the war. I was under this man’s charge for at least six months, and in that time became quite an adept jn using my fists. I got up a first-class muscle, and have preserved it to this day. No person in the Senate suspects that I am a boxer, dr that I can strike a blow of iron, but if I am ever assailed, my assailant will discover that 1 can defend myself without resorting to weapons.”— N. Y. Evening Post. —The following story is told of Mr. Smith, the colored caterer in Boston, who died a few days ago. Paran Stevens, when landlord of the Revere House in Boston, sent for Smith and said: “Mr. Webster is here and he is going to have a number of distinguished friends down at Marshfield, Lord Ashburton among them, atid he wants you to cater for him.” Said Smith’: “I won’t go.” “ Yon must,” said Mr. Stevens; ” letme take you and introduce you to Mr. Webster.” With thifl they went to Mr. Webster’s room. Smith had on at the time a Kossuth hat, which had just come in vogue in those days. He did not remove it as he entered Mr. Webster’s presence. Mr. Stevens introduced higi tb the statesman with tho remark: „t*This is Mr. Smith, tho caterer.” Mr. Webster, then told him what he wanted. As soon as Mr. Webster had ceased speaking Mr. Smith got up, and, swinging his hat in his hand, said with great vehemence, “ I won’t work -■for you. You an? the “father of the Fugitive I ain a> fifgftive slave;” and with this remark he turned onjttkheel and left Mr. Stovens i and Mr. Webster together.