"
After some time had been spent in general conversation Ames introduced
the subject for which we had met, and stated the question of the claim
to the five towns, to which Choate said:
"The best way is to go for enough and get what we can."
I made no remark, and the business part of the interview ended. Before
we left Mr. Choate ordered a bottle of wine and made the remark:
"I keep a little wine in my house, but as for myself, I don't drink a
glass once in a thousand years."
One's first impressions of Mr. Choate were never disturbed by intimate
acquaintance. Many distinguished persons become insignificant upon
close inspection. With Mr. Choate those who knew him best, estimated
him most highly. He had no malice in his nature, and there was a
genial quality in his sharpest sallies of wit.
In the Convention we had end seats. Mr. Choate occupied the seat
immediately in front of me. Thus I had an opportunity for two months
to observe his ways, and to enjoy his conversation. Great as were his
speeches, they did not transcend his exhibitions of power in private
conversation. His great speech in the Convention was upon the
Judiciary System, and his description of a good judge is one of the
finest paragraphs in oratory, ancient or modern. His second, or
perhaps his first great work in art is his sketch of Demosthenes in his
lecture on the Eloquence of Revolutionary Periods.
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