Towardtheendoftheconventionthismobshoweditselfevenworsethanbefore。ItbecameevidentthatlargepartsofthegallerieswerepackedintheinterestofthelocalcandidatefortheVice—Presidency，GeneralLogan，andthismassofonlookersdidtheirbesttoputdownalldelegatessupportinganyother。
Nomoreundemocraticsystemwaseverdevised。Thetendencyofthis``wigwam’’planofholdinggreatmeetingsorconventionsistostationavastmobofsensation—
seekingmenandwomeninthegalleriesbetweenthedelegatesandthecountryatlarge。Theinevitableconsequenceisthatthe``fog—horns’’ofaconventionplaythemostef—
fectivepart，andthattheyseekmainlytheapplauseofthegalleries。Thecountryatlargeisforthemomentforgotten。Thecontrollinginfluenceisthemob，mainlyfromthecitywheretheconventionisheld。Thewholethingisamonstrousabuse。AttentionhasbeencalledtoitbythinkingDemocratsaswellasbyRepublicans，whohaveseeninitasignofdeteriorationwhichhasproducedmanyunfortunateconsequencesandwillproducemore。ItistheoldstoryoftheFrenchConventionoverawedbyagallerymobandmistakingthemobwhimsiesofacityforthesoberjudgmentofthecountry。Oneresultofitthewholenationsawwhen，inmorerecentyears，ayouthfulmemberofCongress，withnotrainingtofithimforexecutiveduties，wassuddenly，bytheapplauseofsuchamob，imposedupontheDemocraticNationalConventionasacandidateforthePresidency。Thosewhorecallthewayinwhich``theboyoratorofthePlatte’’becametheDemocraticcandidatefortheChiefMagistracyoverseventymillionsofpeople，onaccountofafewhalf—mawkish，half—
blasphemousphrasesinaconventionspeech，canbearwitnesstothenecessityofareforminthisparticular——areformwhichwillforbidasensation—seekingcitymobtousurpthefunctionofthewholepeopleofourRepublic。
Inspiteofthesemobhysterics，theIndependentspersistedtothelastinsupportingMr。Edmundsforthefirstplace，butinvotingforthesecondplacetheyseparated。
FortheVice—PresidencyIcasttheonlyvotewhichwasthrownformyoldCornellstudent，Mr。Foraker，previouslygovernorofOhio，andsincethattimesenatorfromthatState。
Inspiteofsundry``defectsofhisqualities，’’whichIfreelyrecognized，Iregardedhimasafearless，upright，downright，straightforwardmanofthesortwhomustalwaysplayagreatpartinAmericanpolitics。
ItwasatthisconventionthatIsawforthefirsttimeMr。McKinleyofOhio，andhisquietself—possessioninthemidstofthevariouswhirlsandeddiesandstormscausedmetoadmirehimgreatly。Calm，substantial，quicktoseeagoodpoint，strongtomaintainit，hewasevidentlyabornleaderofmen。Hisspeechesweresimple，clear，forcible，andaidedattimesinrescuingtheself—respectofthebody。
ThisRepublicanconventionhavingadjourned，theNationalDemocraticConventionmetsoonafterwardinthesameplaceandnominatedGroverClevelandofNewYork。
HewasamanwhomIgreatlyrespected。Asalreadystated，hiscareerassheriffofErieCounty，asmayorofBuffalo，andasgovernoroftheStateofNewYorkhadledmetoadmirehim。Hehadseemedutterlyincapableofmakinganybidformobsupport;therehadappearednottheslightestgermofdemagogisminhim;
hehadrefusedtobeamerepartizantoolandhadsteadilystoodforthebestidealsofgovernment。Asgovernorheshowedthesamequalitieswhichhadwonadmirationduringhispreviouscareerassheriffandmayor。Hemadeasmanyappointmentsashecouldwithoutregardtopoliticalconsiderations，anditwasremarkedwithwonderthatwhenanumberofleadingDemocratic``workers’’
and``wheel—horses’’cametotheexecutivechamberinAlbanyinordertodictatepurelypartizanappointments，hevirtuallyturnedthemoutoftheroom。Mostamazingthingofall，hehadvetoedabillreducingthefareontheelevatedrailroadsofNewYork，inthefaceoftheearnestadviceofpartizanswhoassuredhimthatbydoingsohewouldsurelyarrayagainsthimtheworking—classesofthatcityandvirtuallyannihilatehispoliticalfuture。
Tothishisanswerwasthatwhateverhissympathiesfortheworking—peoplemightbe，hecouldnot，asanhonestman，allowsuchabilltopass，and，comewhatmight，hewouldnot。Hehadalsodared，quietlybutfirmly，toresistthechief``boss’’ofhispartyinNewYorkCity，andhehadconsequentlytobravethevialsofCelticwrath。Thescenesattheconventionwhichnominatedhimwerestirring，andaneminentWesterndelegatestruckachordintheheartsofthousandsofRepublicansaswellasDemocratswhenhesaid，``Welovehimfortheenemieshehasmade。’’Haditbeenaquestionsimplybetweenmen，greatnumbersofuswhovotedforMr。BlainewouldhavevotedforMr。Cleveland;butwhatevertemptationImightbesubjectedtointhematterwasovercomebyonefact:Mr。
ClevelandwastoomuchliketheTrojanhorse，forheborewithhimanumberofmenwho，whenoncebroughtintopower，weresuretolaborhardtoundoeverythingthathewouldendeavortoaccomplish，andhispredestinedsuccessorinthegovernorshipoftheStateofNewYorkwasoneofthosewhomIlookeduponasespeciallydangerous。
Thereforeitwas，that，afterlookingovertheground，I
wroteanopenlettertoMr。TheodoreRooseveltandotherIndependents，givingthereasonswhythoseofuswhohadsupportedMr。EdmundsshouldnowsupportMr。Blaine，andinthisviewMr。Roosevelt，withalargenumberofourIndependentfriends，agreed。
Ihad，however，smallhopes。ItwascleartomethatMr。
Blainehadlittlechanceofbeingelected;that，infact，hewastooheavilyweightedwiththetransactionswhichMr。
Pullmanhadrevealedtomesomemonthsbeforethebeginningoftheconvention。
ButImadeanefforttocommithimtotheonlypolicywhichcouldsavehim。For，havingreturnedtotheuniversity，IwroteWilliamWalterPhelps，anoldfriend，whohadbeenhischiefrepresentativeatChicago，anearnestletterstatingthatthereseemedtomebutonechanceofrallyingtoMr。Blaine’ssupporttheveryconsiderablebodyofdisaffectedRepublicansintheStateofNewYork;
that，almostwithoutexception，theywereardentbelieversinareformofthecivilservice;andthatanout—and—outearnestdeclarationinfavorofitbyourpresidentialcandidatemightdomuchtopropitiatethem。IremindedMr。Phelpsoftheunquestionedevilsofthe``spoilssystem，’’andsaidthatMr。Blainemustsurelyhaveoftenobservedthem，sufferedunderpressurefromthem，andfeltthatsomethingshouldbedonetoremedythem;andthatifhewouldnowexpresshisconvictiontothiseffect，takingstronggroundinfavorofthereformandbasinghisutterancesonhisexperiencesasastatesman，itwould，inmymind，domuchtosavetheStateofNewYorkfortheRepublicans。
Afterwritingthisletter，feelingthatitmightseemtoMr。PhelpsandtoMr。BlainehimselfverypresumingforamanwhohadsteadilyopposedthematChicagothustovolunteeradvice，Ilaiditaside。ButithappenedthatI
hadbeenchosenoneofthecommitteeofdelegatestogotoMainetoappriseMr。Blaineformallyofhisnomination，anditalsohappenedthatmyoldstudentandfriend，JudgeForaker，wasanothermemberofthecommittee。ItwasimpossibleformetogotoMaine，sincethecommencementoftheuniversity，atwhichIwasboundtopreside，cameonthedayappointedforMr。Blaine’sreceptionofthecommitteeatBangor;butJudgeForakerhavingstoppedoverattheuniversitytoattendameetingofthetrusteesasanalumnimemberofthatbody，Imentionedthislettertohim。Heaskedtoseeit，and，havingreadit，askedtobeallowedtotakeitwithhim。Iconsented，andheardnothingmorefromhimonthesubject;butthefollowingweek，attheYalecommencement，whilesittingwithMr。EvartsandJudgeShipmantoawardprizesinthelawdepartment，Isaw，lookingtowardmeovertheheadsoftheaudienceintheoldCentreChurch，myfriendFrederickWilliamHollsofNewYork，anditwasevidentfromhissteadygazethathehadsomethingtosay。Theawardofprizeshavingbeenmadeandtheaudiencedismissed，Mr。Hollsmetmeandsaid:``Mr。
Blainewilladoptyoursuggestioninhisletterofacceptance。’’Bothofuswereoverjoyed。ItlookedlikeapointscorednotonlyfortheRepublicanparty，butforthecausewhichwebothhadsodeeplyatheart。
Butasthecampaignwentonitwasmoreandmoreevidentthatthisconcession，whichIbelievehewouldhaveadheredtohadhebeenelected，wastobeinvain。
Itwasperhaps，onthewhole，andonbothsides，thevilestpoliticalcampaigneverwaged。Accusationsweremadeagainstbothcandidateswhichshouldhaveforeverbroughtcontemptonthemenwhomadethem。Nothingcouldhavebeenfurtherfromthewishofeithercandidatethanthatsuchaccusationsshouldbemadeagainsthisopponent，buteachwaspowerless:thevilefloodofslanderragedon。
ButIamgladheretorecallthefactthatwhen，atalaterperiod，oneoftheworstinventorsofslanderagainstMr。
BlainesoughtrewardintheshapeofofficefromPresidentCleveland，hewasindignantlyspurned。
InpoliticsItookverylittlepart。DuringthesummermymainthoughtsweredirectedtowardacontroversybeforetheBoardofRegents，inregardtothesystemofhighereducationintheStateofNewYork，withmyoldfriendPresidentAndersonofRochester，whohadvigorouslyattackedsomeideaswhichseemedtomeessentialtoanyproperdevelopmentofuniversityeducationinAmerica;andthiswashardlyfinishedwhenIwasaskedtotakepartinorganizingtheAmericanHistoricalAssociationatSaratoga，andtogivetheopeningaddress。This，withotherpursuitsofanacademicnature，leftmelittletimeforthepoliticalcampaign。
ButthereoccurredonelittleincidenttowhichIstilllookbackwithamusement。MyoldfriendsandconstituentsinSyracusehadsentmeageneralinvitationtocomeoverfromtheuniversityandpresideatsomeoneoftheirRepublicanmass—meetings。Myanswerwasthatastothe``hackspeakers’’ofthecampaign，withtheirvenerablegags，stalejokes，andnauseatingslanders，Ihadnodesiretohearthem，anddidnotcaretositontheplatformwiththem;butthatwhentheyhadaspeakertowhomI
caredtolistenIwouldgladlycome。TheresultwasthatonedayIreceivedaletterinvitingmetopresideoveramass—meetingatSyracuse，atwhichMr。McKinleywastomakethespeech。IacceptedgladlyandontheappointedeveningarrivedattheSyracuserailwaystation。ThereIfoundthemayorofthecityreadytotakemeinhiscarriagetothehallwherethemeetingwastobeheld;butwehadhardlyleftthestationwhenhesaidtome:``Mr。
White，Iamverysorry，butMr。McKinleyhasbeende—
layedandwehavehadtogetanotherspeaker。’’Iwasgreatlydisappointed，andexpressedmyfeelingssomewhatenergetically，whenthemayorsaid:``Butthisspeakerisreallysplendid;hecarriesallbeforehim;heisathoroughKentuckyorator。’’MyanswerwasthatIknewthebreedbuttoowell，andthatifIhadknownthatMr。McKinleywasnottocomeIcertainlywouldnothaveleftmyworkattheuniversity。BythistimewehadarrivedatthedooroftheGlobeHotel，whencethespeakerenteredthecarriage。
Hewasatall，sturdyKentuckian，andhisappearanceandmannershowedthathehadpassedaveryconvivialdaywiththeyoungermembersofthecommitteeappointedtoreceivehim。
Hisfirstwordsonenteringthecarriagewerenotveryreassuring。NosoonerhadIbeenintroducedtohimthanheaskedwherehecouldgetaglassofbrandy。``For，’’
saidhe，``withoutagooddrinkjustbeforeIgoontheplatformIcan’tmakeaspeech。’’Iattemptedtoquiethimandtoshowhimthedifficultiesinthecase。Isaid:
``Colonel————，youhavebeenwithouryoungmenhereallday，andnodoubthavehadafairlygoodtime;butinourmeetingsherethereisjustnowneedofespecialcare。
Youwillhaveinyouraudienceto—nightalargenumberofthemoresedateandconservativecitizensofSyracuse，churchmembers，menactiveinthevarioustemperancesocieties，andthelike。Thereneverwasacampaignwhenmenwereingreaterdoubt;greatnumbersofthesepeoplehavenotyetmadeuptheirmindshowtheywillvote，andtheslightestexhilarationonyourpartmaycostushundredsofvotes。’’Heanswered:``That’sallverywell，butthesimplefactisthatIamheretomakeaspeech，andI
can’tmakeitunlessIhaveagooddrinkbeforehand。’’I
saidnothingmore，but，ashestillpressedthesubjectonthemayorandtheothermemberofthecommittee，IquietlysaidtothemasIleftthecarriage:``Ifthatmandrinksanythingmorebeforespeaking，Iwillnotgoonthestagewithhim，andthereasonwhyIdon’twillspeedilybemadeknown。’’Themayorreassuredme，andweallwenttogetherintothelargeroomadjoiningthestage，Ikeepingclosewatchovertheorator，takingpainstoholdhimsteadilyinconversation，introducingasmanyleadingmenofthetowntohimaspossible，thuspreventinganyopportunitytocarryouthispurposeoftakingmorestrongdrink，andtomygreatsatisfactionhehadnoopportunitytodosobeforeweweresummonedintothehall。
Arrivedthere，Imademyspeech，andthentheoratoroftheeveningarose。Butjustbeforehebegantospeakhefilledfromawater—pitcheralargeglass，anddrankitoff。Mythoughtatthemomentwasthatthiswoulddilutesomeofthestrongerfluidshehadabsorbedduringthedayandcoolhimdownsomewhat。Hethenwentoninaperfectlyself—possessedway，betrayednottheslightesteffectofdrinking，andmadeamostconvincingandeffectivespeech，repletewithwitandhumor;yet，embeddedinhiswitandhumorandrollickingfun，wereargumentsappealingtothebestsentimentsofhishearers。Thespeechwasineverywayasuccess;atitscloseIcongratulatedhimuponit，andwasabouttoremindhimthathehaddoneverywellonhisglassofcoldwater，whenhesuddenlysaidtome:``Mr。White，youseethatitwasjustasItoldyou:ifIhadn’ttakenthatbigglassofginfromthepitcherjustbeforeIstarted，Icouldnothavemadeanyspeech。’’
``All’swellthatendswell，’’and，thoughthelaughwasatmyexpense，theresultwasnotsuchastomakemeespeciallyunhappy。
Butthiscampaignof1884endedasIhadexpected。Mr。
ClevelandwaselectedtothePresidency。
CHAPTERXIII
HENDRICKS，JOHNSHERMAN，BANCROFT，ANDOTHERS——1884—1891
Thefollowingspring，visitingWashington，ImetPresidentClevelandagain。
OfthefavorableimpressionmadeuponmebyhiscareerasGovernorofNewYorkIhavealreadyspoken，andshallhaveoccasiontospeakpresentlyofhisPresidency。Therenewalofouracquaintanceevenincreasedmyrespectforhim。Hewasevidentlyastrong，honestman，tryingtodohisdutyunderdifficulties。
IalsometagainMr。Cleveland’sopponentinthepreviouscampaign——Mr。Blaine。CallingonMr。WilliamWalterPhelps，theninCongress，whomIhadknownasministeroftheUnitedStatesatVienna，andwhowasafterwardmysuccessoratBerlin，ImadesomereferencetoMr。Blaine，whenMr。Phelpssaid:``Whydon’tyougoandcalluponhim？’’Iansweredthatitmightbeembarrassingtobothofus，towhichhereplied:``I
don’tthinkso。InspiteofyouroppositiontohimatChicago，wereIinyourplaceIwouldcertainlygotohishouseandcalluponhim。’’ThatafternoonI
tookthisadvice，andwhenIreturnedtothehotelMr。
Blainecamewithme，talkinginamostinterestingway。
HespokeofmyproposedjourneytoVirginia，anddiscussedJeffersonandHamilton，admiringboth，butJeffersonthemost。Astohisownworkinghabits，hesaidthatheroseearly，didhismainworkinthemorning，andneverdidanyworkintheevening;that，havingbeenbroughtupinstronglySabbatariannotionsduringhisboyhoodinPennsylvania，hehadeversince，fromtheforceofhabit，reservedSundayasadayofcompleterest。
SpeakingofthecustomsinPennsylvaniaatthattime，hesaidthatnotevenawalkforexercisewasallowed，andnothingwasevercookedonthesacredday。
Imethimafterwardonvariousoccasions，andcouldnotbutadmirehim。Atadinner—partyhewasvexatiouslybadgeredbyaverybumptiousprofessor，whoallowedhimselftospeakinaratheroffensivemannerofideaswhichMr。Blainerepresented;andthequietbutdecisivewayinwhichthelatterdisposedofhispesteringinterlocutorwasworthyofallpraise。
Mr。BlainewascertainlythemostfascinatingmanI
haveeverknowninpolitics。NowonderthatsomanyRepublicansinallpartsofthecountryseemedreadytogivetheirlivestoelecthim。TheonlyotherpublicmanintheUnitedStateswhosepersonalityhadeverelicitedsuchsympathyanddevotionwasHenryClay。PerhapshisnearestfriendwasMr。Phelps，towhomIhavereferredabove，——oneofthebest，truest，andmostwinningmenIhaveeverknown。HehadbeenespeciallydevotedtoMr。Blaine，withwhomhehadservedinCongress，anditwasunderstoodthatifthelatterhadbeenelectedMr。PhelpswouldhavebeenhisSecretaryofState。
Mr。Phelpscomplainedtome，halfseriously，halfjocosely，ofwhatisreallyacryingabuseintheUnitedStates——namely，thatthereisnoproperreportingoftheproceedingsoftheHousesofCongressinthemainjournalsofthecountrywhichcanenablethepeopleatlargetoformanyjustideaastohowtheirrepresentativesareconductingthepublicbusiness。Hesaid:``ImaymakeamostcarefulspeechonanyimportantsubjectbeforeCongressanditwillnotbementionedintheNewYorkpapers，butletmemakeajokeanditwillbepublishedallovertheUnitedStates。Yesterday，onawager，Itriedanexperiment:ImadetwopoorlittlejokesduringashorttalkintheHouse，andheretheyareintheNewYorkpapersofthismorning。’’
DuringthisvisittoWashingtonImetatthehouseofmyclassmateanddearfriend，RandallGibson，thenasenatorfromLouisiana，anumberofdistinguishedmenamongthemtheVice—President，Mr。Hendricks，andGeneralButler，senatorfromSouthCarolina。
Vice—PresidentHendricksseemedsickandsore。HehadexpectedtobeacandidateforthePresidency，withastrongprobabilityofelection，buthadacceptedtheVice—
Presidency;andthesubjectwhichseemedtoelicithismostvitriolicillwillwasreforminthecivilservice。Aswesatoneeveninginthesmoking—roomatSenatorGibson’shewasverybitteragainstthesystem，when，tomysurprise，GeneralButlertookupthecudgelsagainsthimandmadeamostadmirableargument。Atthatmoment，forthefirsttime，IfeltthatthewarbetweenNorthandSouthwasover;foralltheoldissuesseemedvirtuallysettled，andhere，asregardedthisnewissue，onwhichIfeltverydeeply，wasoneofthemostardentofConfederatesoldiers，amostbitterpro—slaverymanbeforetheCivilWar，onewho，duringthewar，hadlostaleginbattle，nearermepoliticallythanweremanyofmyfriendsandneighborsintheNorth。
SenatorJonesofFlorida，whowaspresent，gaveussomecharactersketches，andamongothersdelineatedadmirablyGeneralWilliams，knownintheMexicanWaras``CerroGordoWilliams，’’whowasforatimesenatorfromKentucky。HesaidthatWilliamshadawonderfulgiftofspread—eagleoratory，butthat，findingnolistenersforitamonghiscolleagues，hebecameutterlydisgustedandwentaboutsayingthattheSenatewasa``d————dfrigid，respectablebodythatchilledhisintellect。’’
Thisledmyfellow—gueststodiscussthecharacteristicsoftheSenatesomewhat，andIwasstruckbyoneremarkinwhichallagreed——namely，that``therearenopoliticsinexecutivesession。’’
GibsonremarkedthatthebestspeechhehadeverheardintheSenatewasmadebyJohnSherman。
Asregardscivil—servicematters，IfoundonallsidesanopinionthatMr。Clevelandwas，justasfaraspossible，basinghisappointmentsuponmerit。GibsonmentionedthefactthatacandidateforanimportantofficeinhisState，whohadcommittedthreemurders，hadsecuredverystrongbacking，butthatPresidentClevelandutterlyrefusedtoappointhim。
WithPresidentClevelandIhadaveryinterestinginterview。HereferredtohisvisittoCornellUniversity，saidthathewouldhavelikednothingsowellastogomorethoroughlythroughitsvariousdepartments，and，aswhenIformerlysawhim，expressedhisregretatthelossofsuchopportunitiesasaninstitutionofthatkindaffords。
AtthistimeIlearnedfromhimandfromthosenearhimsomethingregardinghispowerforhardwork。Itwasgenerallyunderstoodthatheinsistedonwritingoutallimportantpapersandconductinghiscorrespondenceinhisownhand，andtheresultwasthatduringaconsiderableperiodofthecongressionalsessionshesatathisdeskuntilthreeo’clockinthemorning。
Itwasevidentthathisup—and—down，curt，independentwaydidnotatallpleasesomeoftheleadingmembersofhisparty;infact，thereweresignsofaseriousestrangementcausedbythePresident’srefusalstoyieldtosenatorsandotherleadersofthepartyinthematterofappointmentstooffice。Toillustratethisfeeling，aplain，bluffWesternsenator，Mr。SawyerofWisconsin，toldmeastory。
SenatorSawyerhadbuiltupafortuneandgainedagreatinfluenceinhisStatebyaverylargeandextensivebusinessinpinelumber，andhehadasortofrough，quaintwoodman’switwhichwasattimesveryamusing。
Hetoldmethat，somedaysbefore，twoofhismosteminentDemocraticcolleaguesintheSenatewerejustleavingtheCapitol，andfromsomethingtheysaidhesawthattheyweregoingtocalluponthePresident。Hethereforeaskedthem，``HowdoyoulikethisnewPresidentofyours？’’``Oh，’’answeredthesenatorsinchorus，``heisaverygoodman——averygoodmanindeed。’’``Yes，’’
saidSenatorSawyer，``buthowdoyouLIKEhim？’’``Oh，’’
answeredthesenators，``welikehimverymuch——verymuchindeed。’’``Well，’’saidSawyer，``IwilltellyouastorybeforeyougototheWhiteHouseifyouwillagreewhenyougetback，totellme——`honestInjun’——whetheritsuitsyourcase。’’Bothlaughinglyagreed，andMr。Sawyerthentoldthemthefollowingstory:Whenhewasayoungmanwithverysmallmeans，heandtwoorthreeotheryoungwood—choppersmadeupanexpeditionforlumber—cutting。Astheyweretoopoortoemployacookfortheircamp，theyagreedtodrawlots，andthattheoneonwhomthelotfellshouldbecook，butonlyuntilsomeoneofthecompanyfoundfault;thenthefault—
findershouldbecomecookinhisturn。Lotsbeingdrawn，oneofthem，muchtohisdisgust，wasthuschosencook，andtowardthecloseofthedayhereturnedtocamp，beforetheothers，togetsupperready。Havingtakenfromthecampstoresalargequantityofbeans，heputthemintoapotboilingoverthefire，ashehadseenhismotherdoinhisboyhood，andthenproceededtopourinsalt。Unfortunatelythesalt—boxslippedinhishand，andhepouredinmuchmorethanhehadintended——infact，thewholecontentsofthebox。Onthereturnofthewoodmentothecabin，ravenouslyhungry，theyproceededtodishouttheboiledbeans，butthefirstonewhoputaspoonfulinhismouthinstantlycriedoutwithaloudobjurgation，``Thunderandlightning！thisdishisallsalt’’;but，inamoment，rememberingthatifhefoundfaulthemusthimselfbecomecook，hesaidverygently，``BUTILIKESALT。’’
BothsenatorslaughedandagreedthattheywouldgiveanhonestreportoftheirfeelingstoSenatorSawyerwhentheyhadseenthePresident。Ontheirreturn，Sawyermetthemandsaid，``Well，honestInjun，howwasit？’’
Theybothlaughedandsaid，``Well，welikesalt。’’
AmongmanyinterestingexperiencesIrecallespeciallyadinneratthehouseofMr。Fairchild，SecretaryoftheTreasury。Hespokeofthecivilservice，andsaidthatashorttimepreviouslyPresidentClevelandhadsaidtohim，regardingthecrowdpressingforoffice:``A
suggestiontotheseoffice—seekersastothegoodofthecountrywouldmakethemfaint。’’
DuringthisdinnerIhappenedtobeseatedbetweenSenatorsJohnShermanofOhioandVanceofGeorgia，andpresentlyMr。Vance——oneofthejolliestmortalsI
haveevermet——turnedtowardhiscolleague，SenatorSherman，andsaid，veryblandly:``Senator，IamgladtoseeyoubackfromOhio;Ihopeyoufoundyourfencesingoodcondition。’’Therewasagenerallaugh，andwhenitwasfinishedSenatorShermantoldmeinapleasantwayhowthewell—knownjokeabouthis``lookingafterhisfences’’arose。HesaidthathewastheownerofalargefarminOhio，andthatsomeyearspreviouslyhistenantwroteurginghimmostearnestlytoimproveitsfences，sothatfinallyhewenttoOhiotolookintothematter。
Onarrivingthere，hefoundagreatcrowdawaitinghimandcallingforaspeech，whenheexcusedhimselfbysayingthathehadnotcometoOhioonpoliticalbusiness，buthadmerelycome``tolookafterhisfences。’’
Thephrasecaughtthepopularfancy，and``tolookafterone’sfences’’becamesynonymouswithmindingone’spoliticalsafeguards。
IrememberalsoaninterestingtalkwithMr。Bayard，whohadbeenoneofthemosteminentsenatorsinhistime，whowasthenSecretaryofState，andwhobecame，atalaterperiod，ambassadoroftheUnitedStatestoGreatBritain。Speakingofoffice—seeking，hegaveacomicalaccountofthedevelopingclaimsofsundryapplicantsforforeignmissions，who，hesaid，``areatfirstwillingtogo，nextanxioustogo，andfinallyangrybecausetheycannotgo。’’
Onanothersocialoccasion，thepossibilityofanotherattemptatsecessionbyStatesbeingdiscussed，GeneralButlerofSouthCarolinasaid:``Nomoresecessionforme。’’Tothis，SenatorGibson，whoalsohadbeenabrigadier—
generalintheConfederateservice，andhadseenmuchhardfighting，said，``Andnomoreforme。’’Butlerrejoined，``Wemayhavetohelpinpreventingothersfromsecedingoneofthesedays。’’IwasgladtonotethatbothButlerandGibsonspokethoroughlywelloftheirformerarch—enemy，GeneralGrant。
VeryinterestingwasittomeetagainMr。GeorgeBancroft。HereferredtohislongserviceasministeratBerlin，expressedhissurprisethatBismarck，whomherememberedasfat，hadbecomebony，andwasverysevereagainstbothclericalsandliberalswhohadvotedagainstallowingaidtoBismarckinthetimeofhiscountry’sgreatestnecessity。
IalsometmyCornellcolleagueGoldwinSmith，theformerOxfordprofessorandhistorian，whoexpressedhissurpriseanddelightattheperfectorderanddecorumofthecrowd，numberingnearlyfivethousandpersons，atthepresidentialleveethenightbefore。InordertounderstandwhatanAmericancrowdwaslike，insteadofgoingintotheWhiteHousebytheeasierway，ashewasentitledbyhisinvitationtodo，hehadtakenhisplaceinthelongprocessionfaroutsidethegateandgraduallymovedthroughthegroundsintothepresidentialpresence，takingaboutanhourforthepurpose。Hesaidthattherewasneveranypressing，crowding，orimpatience，andhecomparedthecrowdmostfavorablywithanysimilarbodyinaLondonstreet。
ChiefJusticeWaiteIalsofoundaverysubstantialinterestingman;butespeciallyfascinatingwasGeneralSheridan，who，atadinnergivenbymyBerlinpredecessor，Mr。BancroftDavis，describedthesceneatthebattleofGravelottewhen，owingtoarushbytheFrench，theEmperorofGermanywasforatimeinrealdangerandwasreluctantlyobligedtofallback。HesaidthatduringthepanicandretreattowardThionvillehesawtheEmperorhaltfromtimetotimetoscoldsoldierswhothrewawaytheirmuskets;thatverymanyGermansoldiers，duringthispanic，castasideeverythingexcepttheclothestheywore——notonlytheirguns，buttheirhelmets;thatafterwardthehighwaysandfieldswerestrewnthicklywiththese，andthatwagonsweresentouttocollectthem。
HealsosaidthatBismarckspokehighlytohimregardingthemartialandcivilqualitiesofthecrownprince，afterwardtheEmperorFrederick，butthatregardingtheRedPrince，FrederickCharles，heexpressedaverydifferentopinion。
Speakingofastatementthatsomeonehadinventedarmorwhichwouldwardoffarifle—ball，SheridansaidthatduringtheCivilWaranofficerwhoworeasteelvestbeneathhiscoatwasdrivenoutofdecentsocietybygeneralcontempt;andatthisGoldwinSmithtoldastoryoftheDukeofWellington，who，whentroubledbyaninventorofarmor，nearlyscaredhimtodeathbyorderinghimtowearhisownarmorandallowaplatoonofsoldierstofireathim。
DuringthecourseoftheconversationSheridansaidthatsoldierswerebravernowthaneverbefore——braver，indeed，thanthecrusaders，aswasprovedbythefactthatinthesedaystheywearnoarmor。TothisGoldwinSmithansweredthathethoughtwarinthemiddleageswasmoredestructivethaneveninourtime。Sheridansaidthatbreech—loadingrifleskillmorethanallthecannon。
AtabreakfastgivenbyGoldwinSmithatWormley’s，Bancroft，speakingofBerlinmatters，saidthattheEmperorWilliamdidnotknowthatGermanywasthesecondpowerintheworldsofarasamercantilenavywasconcerneduntilhehimselftoldhim;andontheignoranceofmonarchsregardingtheirowndomains，GoldwinSmithsaidthatLordMalmesbury，whenassuredbyNapoleonIIIthatintheplebiscitehewouldhavethevoteofthearmy，whichwasfivehundredthousand，answered，``But，yourmajesty，yourarmynumberssevenhundredthousand，’’whereupontheEmperorwassilent。Thein—
ferencewasthathismajestyknewalargepartofhisarmytobemerelyonpaper。
AtthisMr。JohnField，ofPhiladelphia，saidthatonthebreakingoutoftheFranco—PrussianWarhewenttoGeneralGrantatLongBranch，andaskedhimhowthewarwaslikelytoturnout，towhichthegeneralanswered，``AsIamPresidentoftheUnitedStates，Iamunabletoanswer。’’``But，’’saidField，``Iamacitizensovereignandaskanopinion。’’``Well，’’saidGeneralGrant，``confidentially，theGermanswillbeattheFrenchthoroughlyandmarchonParis。TheFrencharmyisamereshell。’’
ThisremindedmethatGeneralGrant，onmyownvisittohimsomeweeksbefore，hadforetoldtomesundrydifficultiesofLordWolseleyinEgyptjustastheyafterwardoccurred。
AtadinnerwithSenatorMorrillofVermontImetGeneralSchenck，formerlyaleadingmemberofCongressandministertoBrazilandtoEngland。HewasveryinterestinginhissketchesofEnglishorators;thoughtBrightthebest，Gladstoneadmirable，andSirStaffordNorthcote，withhiseverlastinghawingandhumming，intolerable。HegaveinterestingreminiscencesofTomCorwin，hisoldpreceptor，andsaidthatCorwin’spoweroveranaudiencewasmagical。HeaddedthatheonceattendedapublicdinnerinBoston，and，sittingnearEverett，whowasthechiefspeaker，noticedthatwhenthewaiterssoughttoclearthetableandwereabouttoremoveabouquetcontainingtwosmallflags，Everettwouldnotallowthemtodoit，andthatlaterintheevening，duringhisspeech，justattheproperpoint，hecaughtuptheseflags，asifaccidentally，andwavedthem。HesaidthateverythingwithEverettandChoateseemedtobecutanddried;thateventheinterruptionsseemedpreparedbeforehand。
SenatorMorrillthentoldastoryregardingEverett’sgreatspeechattheopeningoftheDudleyObservatoryatAlbany，whichIhadheardatthetimeofitsdelivery。
InthisspeechEverettsaid:``Lastnight，crossingtheConnecticutRiver，IsawmirroredinitswatersArcturus，thenfullyatthezenith，andIthought，’’etc。，etc。;``but，’’
saidMorrill，``someonelookedintothematterandfoundthatEverett，beforeleavinghome，hadevidentlyturnedtheglobeinhisstudywrongsideup，foratthattimeArcturuswasnotatthezenith，butatthenadir。’’
AttheCornellcommencementofthisyear（1885）I
resignedmypresidencyoftheuniversity。Ithadnominallylastedeighteenyears，butreallymorethantwenty，sinceIhadtakentheleadintheworkoftheuniversityevenbeforeitscharterwasgranted，twentyyearspreviously，andfromthatdaythemainchargeofitsorganizationandofeverythingexceptprovidingfundshadbeenintrustedtome。RegardingthispartofmylifeIshallspeakmorefullyinanotherchapter。
Shortlyafterthisresignationtwoopportunitieswereofferedmewhichcausedmeconsiderablethought。
Astothefirst，PresidentClevelandwaskindenoughtowritemeanautographletteraskingwhetherIwouldacceptoneofthepositionsonthenewInterstateRailwayCommission。IfeltitagreathonortobeaskedtoactascolleaguewithsuchmenasChiefJusticeCooley，Mr。
Morrison，andothersalreadyuponthatboard，butI
recognizedmyownincompetencetodischargethedutiesofsuchapositionproperly。ThoughIhadbeen，someyearsbefore，adirectorintwoofthelargestrailwaycorporationsintheUnitedStates，myheartwasneverinthatduty，andIneverpreparedmyselftodischargeit。
Thinkingthematteroverfully，Ifeltobligedtodeclinetheplace。MyheartwassetonfinishingthebookwhichIhadsolongwishedtopublish，——my``HistoryoftheWarfareofSciencewithTheology，’’——andinordertocutmyselfofffromotherworkandgetsomeneededrestIsailedforEuropeonOctober3，1885，butwhileengagedmostdelightfullyinvisitstoOxford，Cambridge，andvariousplacesontheContinent，Ireceivedbycableanofferwhichhadalsoaverytemptingside。
ItwassentbymyoldfriendMr。HenrySageofIthaca，urgedmetoacceptthenominationtoCongressfromthatdistrict，andassuredmethatthenominationwasequivalenttoanelection。Thereweresomereasonswhysuchapositionwasattractivetome，butthemoreIthoughtofitthemoreitseemedtomethattodischargethesedutiesproperlywouldtakemefromotherworktowhichIwaspledged。Beforedecidingthequestion，however，IdeterminedtoconsulttwooldfriendswhowerethenlivinginLondonhotelsadjacenttomyown。Thefirstofthesewasmydearoldinstructor，withwhommyrelationshadbeenofthekindesteversincemyfirstyearatYale——PresidentPorter。