Springfield 1636-1886, History of Town and City, by Mason A. Green ...

. though
SPRINGFIELD, 16S6-1SS6. 381
qualit}^ iulierited from his Scotch father, of candor and discretion.
He was honorable, self-reliant, true, and religious. But he was
lacking in the qualities that shine in a court of law. He, indeed,
chose the profession that least befitted him ; but his law education,
meagre practice, was of value as an equipment for public
life. He had l)een but a few years engaged in the law when he was
picked out b}' the local public as a man for representative in 1825.
]Mr. Calhoun was an editorial writer on the weekly " Republican,"
"
and in later years he was a contributor to the daily " Republican ;
his success editorially was based upon the importance and soundness
of his vicAvs, rather than upon the manner of presenting a subject.
" Calhoun is an erudite writer," ]Mr. Bowles, the second, used to say,
'' but he needs some pepper injected into his veins."
Of John Mills we have already spoken. He was a man of sin-
gulai'ly pleasing address, and as he grew in popularity and avoir-
dupois, his gracious and almost ducal bearing, his candor and old-
fashioned methods of reasoning, and his scrupulous uprightness
minimized the effect of his besetting weakness, — a too implicit con-
fidence in human nature. An old Springfield whig once remarked that
he happened to know but one honest politician, and that was John
Mills.
A curious circumstance attending jNIr. Mills's career at Boston has
survived the visit of Lafayette to this country. Mr. Mills w-as the
youngest member of the Senate. The two houses were gathered to-
gether at the reception given General Lafaj^ette, and the distinguished
Frenchman passed along shaking hands with every member. When
he came to Mr. Mills the great visitor stopped, glanced at the prema-
turely^ bald head of the precocious Hampden county senator, and ex-
tending both hands exclaimed, " My dear friend, I recollect you in
the Revolution." This absurd scene suggests a remark of Patrick
Boise, of Westfield, a man of parts and one of the wits of the old
Hampden bar, that it was John Mills's shining bald head that made
him president of the Senate. Mr. Mills w^as a member of the Massa-