St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-07-07
Character of William A. Wheeler

The following sketch OF the Republi-
can candidate fol Vice President gives
us an insight into his private character
He is devout communicate of the
New York Avenue PresbN terrain Church
here, Il man of some tfty-sev Years,
and of quiet, rugged strength of char
acter He represents to my mind more
of the ideal traits of George Washing
ton than any other man of the century.
In the midst of heated Congressional
debate he always sits calm and self
poised III the familiar relations of home
life in ii crowded boarding house, where
| have known him month after month,
he presiding at the table next our own,
| doubt if any one has ever seen ii flaw
in his character. have several times
spoken of him Incidentally in my Cleve-
land letter, as you will remember es-
pecially in connection with his bereave-
ment in March last, by the death of
Mrs. Wheeler.
You will perhaps remember that
told You, in connection with Mrs.
Whceler's obscquies, that Mr.. Randall
stood by with tears in his eyes, and
that Senators Conkling and Herman, 10y
their special request, We're placed upon
the list of pail hearers. never knew Il
man more thoroughly unambitious OF
office than he. or more adverse to news
paper mention. 1t is 10y the Solicita-
ti"ns of prominent Republican friends
that he has consented at all to this ma
tional use of his name. He will accept
the trust as Il duty. to he gravely and
con>cientiouSlN undertaken, and those
who know him best know how un-
sought and uncovtted it WAS, Vet how
high. Is his Difference tor the voice and
mandate of the people.
am indebted 10 Mr.. Wheeler. aud to
his regards for my home public of the
Herald for some of the best Judgments
of men and affairs that | have ever been
able to CLEAN Tor You but alwaN ;
coupled with the statement that it was
his habit to avoid any public mention
of his name in any connection whatever.
and ii is only because il has SO sudden
" sprung into national prominence that
| feel at liberty to say much about him
now. If | were to recall. in detail. the
most vivid memories of the past season
in connection with himself and dear
Mrs. Wheeler, il would he an OCCASION
Ill attcr-dinner hour in Mrs. Logan's
parlor. listening to her kindly chat, and
now and then pauSing to hear the sweet
melody of those household ny We
all love 50 well floating down from their
parlor above us. where Mrs. Wheeler
would he sitting at some light. dainty
feminine work. and her rich voice would
half uncOnsciously begin
Shall We gather at the river"
or other kindred stratus; and Mr.
Wheeler pausing at his busy writing
desk, would always join in with his
deep, clear bass, giving an unconscious
impression of domestic harmony and
worship that were Il part of our house
hold riches III this great, busy caravan
siry that is my Washington home
When the news of the Vice Prcsiden-
tial choice came to our group last night
clustered i'll the cheerful public parlorS
of the house, while the hundred guns
We're booming from Judiciary square.
there was the silence of Il moment ::
then Mrs. Cameron. with tears in her
gentle eyes. said, dear Mrs. Wheeler
If she could only be with us now and
the Stiffness that followed WAS as touch
ing and sacred as il prayer.