from those who knew your grandfather speak of
his great kindness, his habitual placidity of temper, and uncommon
sweetness of disposition, and all this was eminently true of him; but
if you are led by such accounts to think of him as in any degree what
is called a yea-nay sort of character, or as destitute of spirit, or
even incapable of passion, you will make a great mistake. He was not
at all deficient in firmness, and had not only moral but physical
courage in an eminent degree. As he never wantonly gave so he never
tamely brooked an indignity. His eye could flash as well as laugh. I
was one day conversing pleasantly with him in his private office in the
Bank, of which he was President. A gentleman came in, evidently in a
pet, and addressing Mr. Charless, spoke in a very harsh way, and with
broad insinuations against one of the Bank Directors, in relation to
some transaction. Before he had well finished his invective Mr.
Charless rose to his feet, his eye kindling, every feature of his faced
marked by sternness, and replied, "Sir, the gentleman of whom you speak
is my personal friend. The charge you bring against him is not true;
the facts were these (mentioning them concisely but clearly), and now,
sir, you must retract what you have said." The gentleman evidently
taken aback, both Mr. Charless' statement of the case, and manner,
immediately calmed down, made an explanation and withdrew. I could not
resist a hearty laugh at the storm which had so suddenly burst upon us
and had been as suddenly quelled, and turning to him said, "Mr.
Charless, I had no idea you had so much pluck." He joined the laugh
and said, "My Irish will sometimes come up. Besides," he added, more
gravely, "that man took no pains to learn the facts of the case, and
has a way of bullying that I wanted to put a stop to."

Few men had a keener relish for what was humorous or enjoyed a
laugh better than Mr. Charless, and with little children he was playful
and would sometimes even join in their sports, and if he did not join
them he would look on and seemed to relish with great zest their pranks
and joyous shouts and gambols. Perhaps some persons would not have
mentioned such a trait of character, as it might seem to imply a want
of dignity. I beg leave to differ from such. There is a dignity of
manner and a dignity of character, not only quite separable, but often
separated. I have known men who had great dignity of manner and very
li