New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-23
GOSSIP FROM IRE CAPITAL.
s. S. COX AND HIS NEW B0OK-MR. LAMAR
ON HORSEBACK.

S. S. COX AND HIS NEW BOOK-MR LASiAR
ON HORSEBACK.
[VRoN REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or THE rnipusE.l
WASHINGTON, May 22.-The little farce enacted the
other day at the White House when delegation from
s. S. Coxs district called to implore the President not
to send their representative to Constantnope, and ha'
same gentleman's success in securing from Mr. Cleve
land AN autograph letter commencing his new book
Three Decades of Federal Legislation 10 " my fel-
low citizens as a pleasing source OF valuable in
formation" show him TO be fully alive to the value OF
good advertisement The Presidents letter re-
produced In fac-simile by number of newspapers
which, hope were paid handsomely for doing It.
say the Presidents letter. because 1t Ia in the Pres-
dents handwriting and bears his signature. 1t was
really written, however, by Mr. Cox and simply copied
by Mr.. Cleveland This Ia how it happened Nh. Cox
went to the White House one day with draft oil
the letter In mis- pocket mr. President" he said, IL
would help the sale of my book very much If you were
to write few lines saying 1t ia and so; something
nleasant YOU understand The President looked per-
pIexed Why" said he, " haven't seen t. don't
know what it contains what" " Never mind that
replied Mr. Cox, can tell you in a minute what the
general drift" But" argued the President, /
don't know what TO say" Well, IL you will simply
write something like this, for instance and MI Coz
pulled the draft of the letter out of his pocket VIII
be satisfied" The President at first wished 70 sign
only the statement prepared by the author of thu
Three Decades" but Mr. Cox insisted that the whole
statement should be in Mr.. Cleveland's handwriting.
And he carried his point.
There are other whom Mr.. Cox approached
and successfully, too-in similar way In each casa
he bad his letter prepared and copied by the victim
Curiously enough there are people who will be I'M
able 10 agree with the President in pronouncing the
book q pleasing source of valuable information
" Pleasing" perhaps; but valuable that Is, OF
course quite another matter. The first requirement OF
book like Mr. Coxs Is that II should be correct a. ia
facts But this the " Three Decades of Federal
Legislation is far from being Ihaye before me. in
proofsh.ets part OF the fifth chapter which sketches
some OF the men who sat IN the XXAVltb Congress-
Mr. Cox SAYS of Reuben Davis; lie was shot dead
by the States Attorney in 1873, while detendinga
prisoner at Columbus. Miss Tins Wal De news 70
Mr. Davis who is a resident of Aberdeen, Miss. and
still very much alive indeed. OF Thomas Hardtmsn,
the author of &" Three Decades says that he has
been re. elected TO the XLIXth Congress- while
glance at the last - Congressional Directory could
have shown him that Mr.. Hardeman - was not a can.
ddate for reelection" 1t will surprise most readers,
too, 10 be told that Otho X. Singleton served IN
nearly all the battles Of the war; Nor will 1t advance
Mr. Coxs reputation for accuracy TO read of Brgader
General William Vandever, of Iowa. as " Colonel
Handeyer Neither will the recital of the following
yarn add TO the value OF Mr. COxs book as historical
work quote the Munchausen tale in iull 1t refers
to Judge Reagan, of Texas;
"At Richmond during many emergencies he [Rsaganl
had occasion TO observe aud sometimes 10 take part
in the many adventurous dashes which belonged to the
besieging Of that capital. Ottentimes kctmond was
left without defence On one occasion when some
Union cavalry made one of their daring raids Rich
mond was PartCunr Gyoes Iues am eminent attorney
OF Richmond and Confederate Senator, was in COM
maud of the principal fortihcation' lhere were no
Navy and Postmaster-Genera Reagan visited the
fertilization. In sentorian voice Lines commanded
Reagan and his troops 70 the right Mallory ana
bis brigades 10 the left p and in equally stentoran
voice these solitary brigadiers gave orders to their
supposititiOus commands. Inc enemy ~ once ieh
back and the city was saved"
might eriticise the statement that General Samuel
K Curtis of Iowa. was the author of the Pacific
Railroad system" and find fault with Mr.. Cox for not
having single word TO say OF Isaac L. stevens. OF
Washington Territory. and his work In connection with
the ranscontnental lines but TO the claims OF these
two men To he recognized pioneers IN the movement OK
securing tho construction of the Pacific Railway lines
there might Justly be some difference OF opinion.
have shown, however how carelessly the author has
done his work Ana when | add that the plumbers
quoted are contained in less than four printed pages
will readily be that " Three Decades OF fecefA
Legislation" though perhaps pleasing" never be
valuable source of information the opinion OF the
President to the contrary notwithstanding
The Secretary OF the Interior as everybody knows
has taken TO horseback riding mast confess that ne
cuts decidedly better figure in tho saddle than out
IT, His legs longer when astride his nag anu no
seeems TO carry himself more erect than when sham
bling along the streets. as is his wont MI Lamar
frequently goes to the Cabinet meeuhSs On n
When he arrives under the porch OF the hite house
he throws the 10 an attendant and his morse
tiec 10 tree In the grounds--truly Jedersonlsa
simphcty Won see As there are no trees around ING
Interior Department htchlng post has been plaeea
ON the sidewalk in front Of the seyenth-st entrance
II Mr. Lamar wants to escape the opportunities OK
seekers he retires 10 private room ADJOINING 9
office i'm which hs receives visitors the horse Is lee
around TO "A side entrance on Ninth-st., he monntsn
unobseryed and ten inmates aiterward Is ambhns
along some of the beautiful country roads when sI ~
round Washington in every direction lie freq9sn,y
absents himself in this way tor entire day. Mean.
while the office seekers are waiting In the anterOyn
and wandering what the the Secretary OF the in-
terror Is doing all this time Il his private Oihce.
The horse by tho way which Mr.. Lamar is nuhs
was the property OF Wade Hampton IL Is not tne onJ
however which kicked the South Carolina Senator ana
neeesstated the amputation of his leg. That Vas
mule Lamars horse is handsome. large boned, we'r
built animal The story that the Secretary selrcea
gray saddle blanket in preference to blue one ~
course. campaign lie