The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1880-12-16
AN INTERESTING INCIDENT.

The Atchisca CAampios's regular WASH
ington correspondent, Ward Burlingame,
furnishes the following pleasing incident Of
local interest to Kansas:
81 had an interesting talk with Senator
ingalls, the other evening respecting the ca
reer and personal qualities Of the President
elect. The Senator was fortunate in being
intimately associated with Gen. Garfield du-
ring two years Of college life, and unhesita-
tiugly AYERS, as do all his school-fellows, that
the successes of those early days gave abund-
ant promise of the remarkable experience Of
subsequent years. The Senator remembers
the General as a tall, rather angular young
man, who had not then taken on the avOir-
dupOis, which has since rounded his outline
and impaired the appearance Of great physi-
cal strength. His head Is thickly covered
with shock oflight, yelIowish hair, the
manifold locks Of which evinced a decided
tendency to point in various directions at
the same time. Though in such Strengthened
circumstances that he could not mingle in
the expensive social pleasures which were
INDUCED in by more fortunate students,
young Garfield was thoroughly respected by
all, and his studiOus habits and literary tastes
made him notable among his fellows.
Since those days the Senator and the Cen
eraI had not met for more than quarter Of a
century, until the former came to Washing
ton in 1873. The studious youth had deve.-
oped into one Of the sturdiest Of men, portly
aud strong. Most of the yellow hair had
fallen of, and the remainder, as well as an
ample beard, had assumed grizzlcd, stub
by appearance, as far as possible removed
from every trace or suggestion Williams
College days. He had also become one Of
the foremost OF our statesmen, man noted
for learning and eloquence and vast knowl.
edge of affairs.
The old schOolmates met upon certain
occasion, with numerous guests, Senators,
Representatives and others, around the hos
pitable table Of Gen. Garfield. After the
substantials had been properly discussed, a
lull occurring in the conversation, the host
commenced the recitation of u little poem,
giving the production the benefit of his fine
voice and mastery e.Ocution. All were ut
once Interested, and none more SO than Mr..
ingalls,, who ut once conceived an indefinable
idea that he was not listening to the lines for
the first time, though he had not the slight
est suspicion Of the real truth. The recita-
ton nver, considerable curiosity was in
dulged in as to the authorship, whether the
poem was new or old, etc., etc., which was
finally satisfied by Gen. Garfield rcmarking,
'Gentlemen, the author of that poem sits at
this table, at the same time pointing to the
blushing Senator. The latter then recOl-
lected that he had contributed the verses to
the college magazine at 4 time when the next
President had editorial charge Of it. Those
only can appreciate the Senator's modest
chagrin who are aware how remOrselessly,
since he became u politician, he has sought |
to turn aside every suspicion that he had
been, was or might be a poet. Those beau |
tiful Granger idyls which some years since
illumined the columns Of the Champion and
were widely copied, were seyerally laid at
the door Of the brilliant contributor to the |
'Kansas Magazine" but he repudiated their |
paternity with much emphasis, though not
with entire satisfaction to the public mind. |