Calhoun as a Lawyer and Statesman. at Fort Hill as it appears at present. I will quote from it : "I have often visited the his toric homestead of Mr. Calhoun at ' Fort Hill,' within an easy ride of Bellewood. I first saw the tall columns of the old colonial building, wherein the great man labored and loved, when he was at home, in my boyhood. The impression then was such as a child would receive from the environments of an attractive home in the country. Within the past few months, I have rested at ' Fort Hill,' again, and while I recall with pleasing recollection the form and features of the great man who came to his front door to welcome my father, I find much more to en gage my mind, that would interest a person of mature years in the reflections suggested, as I walk through the silent halls of the old mansion, or, seated in the statesman's office chair, I find myself surrounded by the mute but eloquent expressions in his remarkable genius. The building is well preserved and forms an interesting and handsome feature of the campus about Clemson college, whose extensive grounds form a part of Mr. Cal houn's former estate. In it are preserved, as treasured relics, paintings and valuable bric-a-brac, the personal belongings of the great man. In front of the seat I occupy is a handsomely carved center table of rose wood, whose top is a slab of the richest Egyptian marble, sent to Mr. Calhoun as a present from the sovereign who then ruled in the land of the Pharaohs. Upon this table you may find autograph letters from the most eminent statesmen and scholars, poets, philosophers and divines from all parts of the enlightened world. Near a fulllength portrait of the great Carolinian, which, I am informed, was placed in his library after his death by loving hands, is a most expressive likeness of Henry Clay. I am assured that this likeness was among the few reminders of greatness which for many years Mr. Calhoun kept near to his writing desk. While there is associated with all of these things much to attract the attention of
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the visitor, I found my mind more engaged with thoughts suggested by the labors and the public history of the one who had left them all, in the years gone by, for a higher and a more just tribunal than he has or will ever receive on this earth." I may add that among the paintings he refers to were some by the old masters, one particularly by Rubens. I visited Fort Hill several years ago, previous to the erection of Clemson College. If I remember aright, there were two beautiful oil paintings in the parlor, one of Mrs. Calhoun and the other of her daughter, Mrs. Clemson. In front of the house was a beautiful lawn covered with blue grass. Mr. Clemson was living at the time and kindly showed my father and myself through it. After he had carried us through the house and called our attention to the various relics, which he seemed to do with a great deal of pleasure, he finally took out of a family Bible a letter from his wife to himself, and, exhibiting it to us, said that he prized it above all else. I read it, and, among other things, I remember it stated that Mr. Calhoun's spirit had appeared to her, and that it said she was to tell Mr. Clem son that, if he wanted to come over on that side of the river where the good people were, he must be a good man. Through the generosity of Mr. Clemson these grounds and Mr. Calhoun's residence now belong to the State, and Clemson Col lege, with its handsome buildings, modern agricultural equipments, and splendid farm, is doing a good work in the cause of edu cation and is well patronized by our people. The old Calhoun mansion, however, with its interesting relics, is still preserved and is al ways pointed out to visitors. At this stage in my article, I desire to notice some of the criticisms, that have been passed upon Mr. Calhoun. And in the first place, I would remark that it is a little strange that Mr. Calhoun, almost alone of all our great men, should have been singled out as a target for criticism. We hear very
