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Show WASHINGTON'S CHOST. How Calhoun was Warned by a Thrilling but Futile Iream. The most remarkable dream I have ever heard of was that which was said to have been related by John C. Calhoun Cal-houn to Bob Toombs and others at just about the time when he was preaching" nullification and secession in South Carolina, writes Amos Cummings the I New York congressman. Calhoun told the story, it was said, at a breakfast party. He was olwterved to lie continually continu-ally brushing his right hand in a nervous nerv-ous way, when Mr. Toombs asked: "What is the mutter with your hand, senator? Does it pain you?" Mr. Calhoun put his hand under the table. An annoyed frown camo over his face, and he then jorked it quickly out again, saying: "There's nothing the matter with my hand only I had a pecular di-enra last night which makes mo see an indelible black spot like an ink blotch on the back of it. I know it Is an optical illusion, but I can't help seeing it." Senator Calhoun did not continue, and Bob Toombs asked: "Hut what was your dream like, senator? I am not superstitious, but think there Is sometimes a grout deal of truth in dreams." Calhoun turned a fihado paler and then said: "I don't object to telling you. It was. it seems to mo, absurd in the extreme. I dreamed that I was in my room writing and that I hud given orders that no one should disturb dis-turb me. While I was in the busiest part of my work the door opened and a visitor entered. He did not speak a word and to my surprise and indignation indigna-tion he calmly took a seat oil the other side of the table opposite mo. As I looked at him ovor the top of my lamp I saw that ho was wrapped In a thin cloak which effectually concealed his features. 1 started to speak, when he broke in in solemn tones with: " "What are you writing, sonator from South Carolina?' "Strango to say, the question did not seem impertinent to me, and I replied: I am writing a plan for tho dissolution of the American Union.' "As I said this the man wont on: 'Senator from South Carolina, will you let me look at your right hnnd?' I 1 started to hold out my hand. The ' figure arose, the clonk fell, and I bo-1 bo-1 hold his face. Gentlemen, that face 1 struck me like a thunderclap. It was) ' the face of a dead man, and the feat- ! ........ - 1 . trUJV,l urea wi-io ujuno ui uviiuiul if ctnuuig - ton. He was dressed in revolutionary costume and" Here Mr. Calhoun paused, and Bob Toombs, who was very much excited, asked: "Well, what did he say?" Mr. Calhoun replied: "I tried to keep back my hand, but I could not do it; I rose to my feet and oxtendoi it to him. He grasped It and held It net r the light, and after looking at it for a moment he said: "And, sonator from South Carolina, would you with this right hand sign your name to a paper dissolving the union?" Yes.' I replied; "if noedsbelwlll sign such a declaration.' "Well, gentlemen, at that moment a black blotch appeared on the back of my hand, and it frightened me, and I said to tho ghost: 'What is that?' That,' replied he, dropping my hand, "Is the mark by which Benedict Arnold is known in the next world.' And with that he drew from beneath his cloak a skeleton, and laid it upon the table. There,' said he, "are tho bones of Isaac Hayno, who was hanged at Charleston. He gave up his life in order to establish the union. When you put your name to a declaration of dissolution you may as well have the bones of Isaac Hayne before you. He was a south Carolinian, and so are you.' But there was no blotch on his right hand.' With these words the ghost left the room and I awoke. I found myself Bitting at my table, but the dream was so vivid that I can still see the blotch on my right hand." |