Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-02-27
The Author Of Little Breeches..'

+. A Burr In PnlaGeiphla Times
Speaking of money reminds me that saw
John Hay this morning. What a curious mix
ture OF business and sentiment he is, TO be sure.
Years ago 1 knew him when he was a semi
newspaper man. Then he earned good deal
OF money with his pen and he took quite a bright
and interesting view OF life. He was Mr.. LIN
coins secretary under conditions which were Of
great value TO him If he had made use Of them.
To be sure, he has written some beautiful things
and in several ways has managed TO get himself
talked about by all classes OF people, until he
has come to be regarded as singular feature OF
our American life, but II he had been forced Ia
work Tor living John Hay would have made
a great mark. He had a comparatively easy
berth as Lincoln's secretary. Afterward he
married a rich WIFE, and then the necessity for
hard work was over Some writer once said no
great literary achievement Is made with an
effort This may be true but To get the best out OF
q man there must be an incentive. That moving
impulse may be necessity, dozen other
things but the impellng principle must be
strong enough to arouse ones best energies.
Wealth and position brought John Hay adesre
for politics and Congress. A sort OF sentiment
prompted him TO do the work OF the Tribune
during Whitelaw Reds absence, but he never
made much Of a success OF this, for there was
no necessity for his working hard. So by de-
grees Mr.. Hay drifted back upon his tender,
dreamy, half-neglgent cushion of life and .
comparatively strong man was lost 10 the liter
allure of our national life. Ii he had never mar
ried old Amasa stones daughter, how different
things might have been. Now be reads French
novels, smokes says pretty
the women and moves in a sort OF cloud-riding
atmosphere, which Is born In every seDsitive's
nature, IL he has the means to indulge it. A
gentleman whom / met this morning, who
knows him well, gives me these ideas Of the
inner life he is now leading:
Old Amasa Stone left him q million or more,
and all he needs to do now is 10 look at the
world through golden spectacles. Stone was a
curious character In many respects. He turned
to the ruder phases OF existence, loved trotting
horses and the strong natural things Of our
American life. He had two daughters and one
son. The son died, whereupon Mr. Stone erect
ed q monument to his memory In the shape Of
q college and named IL Adelbert, after him. In
his viii ID treated that college as though IL had
been his SON and gave IL full third Of his prop
erty. The balance he gave to his two sons-in-
law, John Hay and 1 forget the name Of the
other man. both Of these boys had impressed
themselves on Mr.. Stone % that he gave the
property directly 20 them. To John Hay be
had previously given Q beautiful house on Eu.
cid avenue, In Cleveland, and other little gifto
that are likely 70 make . man comfortable tn
this life. Naturally John Hay was his pet A
bright, manly, interesting fellow, full Of seuu-
ment and ability, he touched the old man more
than any other he had ever met, 20 he w. very
proud Of him. The other oon4n1sw = . me-
lhod1cAl business man, who simply follows tno
boaten paths Of adding 70 the wealth that NJ.
Stone lett him. John Hay takes The other ehoo&
oustnins the reputation u the hmt1y, makes
he night GBstfval dina, moeF1or even than the
DAY, Ard sends oqtns MAJ eepableo6 making
he naazk Il the best phaso orAe whenever hs
onDu - oGDoet h1mno6 EAR