Sam Wooster Again

Coroner Clark tells the following story on the late famous character, Sam Wooster. In the winter of 1S52 and 1853, Mr. Clark was teaching school in Green Oak, Livingston county. In connection with the school there was a debating society. One evening while the society was wrestling with the question of tariff, who should drop in but the eccentric Sam Wooster, clothed in the traditional rags and covered with the accumulated dirt of years. He insisted on making a speech, and was allowed to proceed. His speech astonished every one present. It showed him to be well read in the tariff legislation of the country, and the whole history of the country as well. He proved himself to be a good man on his feet, being a ready and even fluent speaker. His language was correct and forceful. The society was so surprised at his eloquence that its members concluded there was something in Sam's head besides dirt after all. The report in the neighborhood at the time was that he had at one time been a lawyer of considerable promise, but becoming disappointed in love, he lost his grip and his ambition and became a worthless vagabond and wanderer. In this latter capacity he became as famous as he might have been, under more favorable circumstances, in the law. Such are the vicissitudes of life.