The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-15
CLEVELAND AS A BOY.
A Dull Lad at School and Very Peaceful
Youth.

Youth.
Washington Special to New York World.
Dewitt G. Sprague is well known in New
York. He read the poem at the last reunion of
the Army of the Potomac at Baltimore. He is
at present one of the officials in the Fourth Au-
ditor's office. He was formerly lawyer in New
York, but i'll health compelled him to give up his
practice He was Consul in Italy during the
greater part of Grants time. He was
born and brought up in Fayetteville where
Grover Cleveland lived for a number of
years when he was boy. Mr.. Sprague is still
a young. active-looking man. He recalls a
number of interesting incidents in the earlier
career of President Cleveland The formers
family were neighbors and friends Of the Cleve-
| lands The Presidents father was very rigid
Presbyterian clergyman and an Abolitionist of
the extreme type. He never lost an opportunity
to denounce slavery. Cleyeland's family were
all Republicans His brother-in law, Mr.. Hoyt
is one of the strongest of Republicans in central
New York. Cleveland himself never took much
interest in politics when he young man.
Mr. Sprague says that he cannot remember his
ever saying anything about it when he was in
Fayetteville. 1t was not until he wentto Buffalo
that he took the side of any political party He
never has been at any time partisan His
family and all of his relatives have always been
Republicans =.
.'What kind of boy was Cleveland at school2"
asked Mr. Sprague.
HE was very dull boy. He never was much
of fellow for books He was chubby, good
natured fellow. He was very fond in the winter
time of drawing the girls of the school around
on sleds. Why, | can remember him now, just
as well can be, running with my. sister on his
red sled through the snow. His round, fresh
face fairly lighted up with radiant goodnature
WAS he a fighter in those daysP
mo, he was not. You couldn't get him into a
| fight. He was the most peaceful fellow 1 ever
saw. He would do anything in the world to
keep out of a row. Those who knew him as a
boy were very much surprised to see him de-
velop SO nnsca backbone when he became Gov
ernor. He used to be so easy and yielding that
any one could do what he pleased with him.
| Mr.. .Sprague continued: "Even in those days
he showed great taste for business Although
he was considered very dull at the school he was
| one of the hardest workers in it. He was never
| very fond of play. He seemed to take more
| pleasure in work. All of boys thought that
| he was cut out for merchant Cleveland used
| to come over to our house a great deal. NV
mother used to call him Grove Cleveland She
still calls him that Cleveland used to be very
| fond Of coming over to our house about break
| fast time. NY mother was great hand for
| buckwheat cakes in the morning Cleveland
would come in and take d seat and then cast a
wistfui eye upon the pancakes. Then my
mother would say, Grove, won't you have some
of the cakesl Do sit upw And although he had
previously breakfasted at home, he would eat
| nearly his weight III wheat cakes in response to
her invitation"
The President when he left school in Fayette-
was the leading merchant of the place. He was
the great capitalist of Pompey Hill He moved
over to Fayetteville to find larger field for his
energies. His daughter Carrie married John o.
Evans, the late president of the Mutual Tele
graph Company. Mr.. Evans was largely inter
ested in Washington property and left very
handsome estate here. His widow resides here
now She is frequent caller at the White
House, now occupied by her fathers former
clerk. Mr.. Beard himself was here the other
day and had very pleasant visit with the Pres
ident. Mr.. Beard is very inelooking old
gentleman who has always voted the Republican
ticket until last fall. He could not vote for
Mr.. Blaine and so voted for Mr. Cleveland. The
President always shows great pleasure when he
| meets any of his old Fayetteville friends Mr.
| Sprague called at the White House soon after
| Inauguration and found that they all remem-
bered him. The President gave him and his
wife a hearty invitation to family dinner at
| the White House.
Mr.. Sprague's account of the President being
dull boy finds plenty of parallels in the history
| of other prominent men. Sir Walter Scott was
| regarded as one of the most stupid of boys at
| school. The Duke Of Wellington was dullard
| in his youth; while Goldsmith, when boy was
considered not more than half-witted. The
| President has surprised the politicians about
| him, even more than his old time friends, with
! the development of his powers Executive.
| He is anxious TO make good administration,
and believes that he will be renominated in the
event of his giving satisfactory admi nstration
| to the people.