The Indianapolis journal., 1883-08-28
JAMES A. GARFIELD.
Some of His characteristics Described by a
Personal Friend.

HefSOnai FRIEND.
New York Tribune.
Its impossible to measure men accurately.
The man of the largest experience makes the
widest mistakes. The last time | ever visited
Garfield in a private capacity was about six
weeks or two months before the Chicago con-
vention. arrived in Washington, and it
occurred to me to go up and see him at his
house at the corner of Franklin square. He
came into the parlor with his hat in his
hand.
Said I: 81 see you are going out"
Yes" he replied 81 have to go to execute
a commission for a constituent this morning.
Walk along with me''
We went up the side of Franklin
square, and when we got to the corner of
L street and Fourteenth, he turned to the
north. Said 1: II will go no further.
Whom will the Republicans nominate?' Il
don't know" he replied; some say Grant,
some say Blaine, some say Sherman" 'Some
say Garfield" said l. 81 don't know" Gar
field replied; stranger things than that have
happened"
We shook hands and separated. man
was sitting by me not long ago who had re-
ceived favors from General Garfield. and a
third party having something to say to the
prejudice of the dead President, my acquaint-
ance seemed to hesitate, and finally acqui-
esced with his patrons enemy. | though to
myself how weak we are to die. The moment
VIC QlOs III tlS NOTQS VI OHdkSpCdIty GuG GNll
that we have done lives after us" Then lit
tie incidentarose in nay mind, as true as those
lines you have read.
was at Garfield's house a few years before
he was made the presidential candidate.
Friend, there is one thing l find l cannot
do, and that's to keep alive my resentment" :"
l use the word friend in order to be monde
script He came forward then and slapped
me on the knee. He was not familiar man,
because l had been more than ten years
making his acquaintance and he had only
begun to slap me on the knee the year before
he died.
Said L: 'For instance, General?'
Said he: There was one man l thought
never ought to forgive; that my self-respect
would not permit it; you remember" he
continued, Colonel Crinkle Winkle?"
VERY well, General" said I.
He abused me-" resumed Garfield $50
outrageously, considering my past relations
with him, that l thought my pride would
never allow me to sp eak to him again, but
was going down the street few weeks ago,
when [ saw him turn the corner coming to-
ward ME. stiffened my spine and said, I
will now pass that man without a recogni-
ton but my resolution only kept up till
arrived just opposite him. l found it was
not in my heart to pass him. An irrepressi-
Bile impulse came to me to wheel on my heel,
and l said, Wrinkle, you old scoundrel, how
are your"
l said to him, General, you let men of
that kind play with you too much"
Said he, II cannot remember injuries"
The next place where saw Garfield was in
the cific Hotel at Chicago, moving with
some of the Ohio delegates. / was i'm
pressed with his countenance, which was as
weak as that of a man about to deliver a lee
ture or a graduating speech at college.
shook hands with him. and being myself in
a very worldly occupation, 1 remarked in a
dispatch | sent that night from Chicago: 'I
have seen Garfield. His face is like juiube
paste" 1t was very easy to wri i-e those
words, but little while afterward l would
have given very much to recall them.
passed through the curious scenes of that
convention. l saw Garfield come In every
day and be applauded. l heard him nom
mate Sherman, in a speech which attracted
the respect of that convention, alto
gether better than any that was deliv-
cred. Then saw the deadlock, and finally
saw Garfield get the nomination, and heard
him rise and refuse it. Then I saw the ban
ners swing and converging together, and
what seemed to be the impossible, accom-
plished. Then l saw the campaign arise,
when l thought there was but little hope for
Garfield, and l saw the State of Maine leave
the Republican field and it seemed to me
that everything was gone, ill the morn
ing woke and Indiana and Ohio had be-
come Republican. Then 1 felt that destiny
was in the breeze.
delivered his lnaue ural address. saw Arthur
sitting behind him, mute, modest, unim-
portant Then the fatal shot rang out.