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BATTLE CREEK BY A. D. P. VAN BUREN
But as it is, I can only give an imperfect sketch—a glimpse here and there of his life and character. No public act, nothing in private life, has Thomas Kewney done, any more than hundreds of others, that is worthy of record. He has left little behind him; yet many men have left more, and will not be remembered so long. We forget the plain man in his ordinary routine of life, when we retain a distinct recollection of the droll and peculiar man. Thomas Kewney had marked traits of character which have traced themselves upon the memory of those who knew him, and will be retained because of the eccentric and interestingly droll individual they call to recollecton. His character was an odd piece of mosaic.
"Scratch a Prussian and you will find a Tartar. "
Had you scratched neighbor Kewney you would have found your opposite; a negative to your affirmative, an affirmative to your negative—a man who seemed naturally to take the opposite side of any position you took, or Views you advanced. He did not like to agree with anybody. Some one has unkindly said, "he wouldn't do as he was a mind to when he was alone. " This was one trait of the man. Another was his inquisitiveness. No acrid, prying Yankee could beat him in this. He was a moving interrogation point, that always felt like business. He invariably closed his questions with the ejaculation—"hoonk ?" As, "now ar'ye—hoonk ?" "Are you going to town— hoonk?" ,
Another trait was his love of arguing. And here, like Goldsmith school master, "although vanquished he could argue still.
Michigan
Page 57
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