The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-22
GOVERNOR HENDR1cKs ABROAD.
Pleasant After-Dinner Tall1-The Ex-Sena-
tors Excellent Health.

Saturdays feast was very brilliant and pleas
ant affair. The beautiful banquet hall and eX-
cellent menu were worthy the distinguished
guests. Consul general Walker presided, having
on his right eX-Secretary Window and on his left
Ex-Governor Hendricks. Next to Mr. Window
sat Colonel Layton, of the St Louis bar while
Mr.. Morton occupied the chair beside Mr. Hen
bricks. This row of public men suggested many
curious reflections. Mr.. Walker still fills the
post which Guiteau sought so pertinaciously and
which-the President turning deaf ear to the
''cran6S7 opportunities to represent the COM
mereial interests of the country at the French
capital-was the prime cause of the tragedy of
1881. 1t will be remembered that Mr.. Morton
was prominent candidate for the Secretaryship
of the Treasury in the Garfield cabinet. but the
prize was carried off by Mr. Window
And in the midst of these stanch Re
publiGans sat Mr.. Hendricks. whom they
all 50 bitterly opposed in 1876. You all seemed
TO get on so peacefully the other night" l re
marked to Mr.. Window day or two afterwards
AT such a bountiful table we could not have
done otherwise" was the good natured reply;
politicians quarrel only when there isn't
enough to go round.
Mr.. Walker, in his opening speech, called upon
ex-Secretary Window TO explain how he had ae-
complished his able conversion of the 3 II per
cents into per cents. while he presided over
the Washington Treasury. 1T was a very sim
pie and very safe performance" answered the
Minnesota tinancier Il was sure that the peO-
pie had deep confidence in the United States,
uudU luty pitleIIeu 10 llNeSG IN government
bonds at low interest than in securities which
not so sure, afSa high interest. But
took the precaution, nevertheless, to call only
for as many bonds as | had money to pay if
the holders should refuse the reduction of
IL per cent, and should demand payment In
private conversation Mr.. Window informed me
that if he had failed everybody would have set
him down as a fool, and would have said:
''There, l told you so. But he continued,
there was no danger as long as l kept enough
ready cash on hand to refund every bond wi ch
1 called in. This was very careful to do
Ex-Governor Hendricks in his post-prandial
remarks, dwelt upon the paucity of French emf
igFatiOn to the United States, and upon the eX-
pensiyeness Of the French government when
compared with the amount of money required to
keep agoing our own federal organization but
l never could make an after-dnner speech, said
Mr.. Hendricks In closing. In order to stir me
up there must be something in dispute some
thing to fight about, which cannot be the case at
this festive board. On such an occasion |
always break down. l therefore beg of you to
consider me broken down.
But Mr. Hendricks, although he has come
abroad for his health, looks far from broken
down. His mind appears clear his eye as bright,
and his love Of hulnor as nexhaustible as of
yore Twill you come and play game Gov
ernorH asked one Of the members of the club
after dinner, pointing to the billiard room.
when | came to settle up for the first game of
billiards. ever played I was told it was SO.
. How sor / asked. Because YOU were so long,
again, was the laughing response which Mr..
Hendricks made,
Colonal Layton, of St Louis, who has proba-
bly, the finest library on the early French explo-
rations in America to be found in the United
States, took up Mr. Hendricks remark concern
ing the little interest which the French
emigrant seems to take in the broad plains
and grand liberties of the great republic
and showed how much the La Sales
Marquettes, and their companions had done
to make known to the old world the wonders of
the new. "a native Of my city feels at home
here in Paris continued the Colonel; IAN in
habitant of ST Louis may indeed, with good
right, stand up here in the capital of France and
speak for what Frenehmen did to open to civil
ization the broad valley of the Mississippi If,
however, denizen of Chicago were present |
should hesitate to come forward Il was quite
sure that there was none before l called you up
put in Mr. Walker amid general laughter
Well continued Colonel Layton, I find the
name of St Louis everywhere here in Paris
Streets, edifces, even quarter of the city, bear
the noble name of the good crusading king, but
do not discover anywhere the slightest mention
of Chicago This sally was received with much
merlment.