Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-13
CLEVELAND AS a BOY.
The Traditional Old Citizens Cab His
Old Employer in Fayetteville Visits


Him.
From tie Neac York World.
WASHINGTON, May S.-DewittC. Spra-
que is well known in New York. He read
the poem at the lastreunion of the Army of
the Potomac at Baltimore. He Is at
present one of the officials in the Fourth
Auditors office. He was formerly Il
lawyer in New York, but ill health COM
PEELED 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 number of years
when he was boy, Mr.. Sprague is still
young, actiye-looking man. He recalls
a number Of interesting incidents in the
earlier career If President Cleveland.
The formers family were neighbors and
friends of the Cleyelands. The Presi-
dents father was a very rigid Presbyte-
rian clergyman and an Abolitionist OF the
extreme type. He never lost an OPP
portunity 10 denouncc slavery. CleVe-
lands 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 was a
poung man. Mr.. Sprague says that he
cannot remember his ever saying any
thing about il when he was in Fayetteville.
1t was not until be went to 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.
"Whet kind " u boy was Cleveland at
scbool?7sE asked Mr.. Sprague.
4 l.. a Il wsaV
was much OF a fellow for hooks. He was
a chubby, good-natured fellow. He was
very fond in the winter time of drawing
the girls OF the school around on sleds.
Why, l can remember him now Just as
well as can be running with my sister on
his red sled through the snow. His round,
fresh face fairly lighted up with radiant
good-nature."
"Was he fighter in those daysT
"NO, he was not. You couldn't get him
| into fight, He was the most peaceful
fellow ever saw. He would do anything
in the world to keep out of row. Those
| who knew him as a boy were very much
surprised to see him develop so much
| backbone when he became Governor. He
used TO be so easy and yielding that
any one could do what he pleased with
! him.
| Mr. Spraoue continued: Gwen in those
]
| 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 us boys thought that be
was cut out for merchant. Cleveland
used to come over TO our house great
deal. Ny mother used to call him
| Grove Cleveland She still calls him
that. Cleveland used TO be very fond Of
! inn 70 al Ia At
time. My mother was great hand for
buckwheat cakes in the morning. Cleve-
land would come in and take seat and
then cast a wistful eye upon the pan
cakes. Then my mother would say.
/ Grover. won't you have some of the
cakes? Do sit upp And, although he
had previously breakfasted at home be
| would eat nearly his weight in wheat
/ cakes in response to her invitation"
The President when he left school in
| Fayetteville entered the store of Beach
| &. Beard. Beard was the leading merch-
ant o. the place. He was the great
capitalist of POmpey Hill. He moved
over to Fayetteville'to find a larger field
for his energies. His daughter Carrie
married John o. Evans, the late Presi-
dent of the Mutual Telegraph Company.
MIR. Evans was largely interested in
| Washington property and left a 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 a very
/ pleasant visit with the President. Mr..
| Beard is very ine-looking old gentle
man who has always voted the Republic
/ can 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
/ remembered him. The President gave
him and his wife a hearty invitation TO a
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 Washington was a dullard in his
youth; while Goldsmith, when boy, was
considered not more than bGlf-witted.
1 The President has surprised the politicians
about him, even more than his old-time
friends, with the DEVELOPMENT Of his
powers as an Executive He is anxious
to make a good administration, and be-
/ lieves that he Will be renOmluated In the
event Of his giving a satisfactory admin
istratiOn to the people.
!