Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-08-08
Old Soldiers and Tippecanoe Veterans
Writing to Hin by Thous-
ands.
Their Love and Unbounded Enthusiasm
for the Gallant Leader Alone
Insure Success.
The Generals Mode Of Life-HOW He
Receives the Multitude of
Visitors.
[Indianapolis Cor. Chicago Inter Ocean


mail is something enormous. 1t comprises not
only lt4t,lers of Importance but newspapers
from everywhere handbills, circulars, advertise
ments, cunningly disguised as patent medI-
cine literature. His house is Overlooking with
papers. A correspondent waded through heap
yesterday morning which had just been deposit
ed in the back hall There were files and similar
heaps in the private study up stairs, while the
library had been almost wholly converted into q
repository for the duly mail-sack The con-
ScientiCU5nesS with which he examines the
greater part OF it no doubt accounts in part for
the extent to which his correspondence has
grown When asked if it continued to increase,
Mr. d. S. Alexander, his secretary, smiled
at the simplicity Of such a question. In
,eased 2" he replied. 1T couldn't 1t was
full born from the very first day tf his nominal
ticn,' aud came pouring i'll from every part Of the
country in an avalanche The first two weeks
it averaged 800 letters q day, or about $500 a
week. 1t has, however, since diminished to
about l 200 week, aud very few are received
from persons who ara not entitled to some sort
of reply. Hundreds from old soldiers
who wit. out exception, ave been enthusiastic
over H6rrison's nomination, and who, to man,
regardless of former political convictions, will
vote for him. Among these are congratulations
from the members f his regiment, brigade, aud
division-the old Twenty-ifth Army Corps-the
men who knew him as q soldier. who saw his
courage on the battlefield, who experienc ed his
tender caro- and solcitude in the camp, he hos
pita1 aud on the march. These letters are full OF
reminscence recalling some unseltish act, some
helpful work which he Lad forgotten, but which
they had remembered through all the years
which have passed, through altered circum-
stances and the changes which have scattered
them far aud wide.
soldier letters SO touching that many of them
move the reader to tears. They are eloquent re-
ninders of that trust and affection which was q
bond between men in q time OF common peril,
and which deepened into a love that survived
separation, the lapse of years, the formation of
other ties, and surpasses the love of woman.
They recall the fatigue of the march, the famine
of rebel prisons the wounds and the slaughter
of battle, and it is not surprising that men who
carried the musket then, rejoice now in the
a1tatiOn of one Of their most valiant leaders.
Others are simply conSratulatory others con-
tain suggestions as to what ought to be said or
done, with accounts OF measures which have
been already agreed upon in many of the ether
States. Then there ere the autograph hunters
and their name is legion the photograph hunt
ers who are almost as numerous and the litho-
graph beggars who are somewhat fewer but not
less importunate.
very interesting portion of the correspond
ence comes from Harrison and Morton Clubs,
which being organized by hundreds every
where, giving accounts of their work, and send
ing their good wishes The next largest is
ceived from Tippecanoe Clubs composed of old
Wings who voted for General William Henry
Harrison in 1910. There are frequently inclosed
with these newspaper clippings old badges and
other small relics, the valued treasures tn.t
have been carefully preserved for more than
forty years, to find their way back into the pos
session of the grandson of the man for whom
they voted-another Harrison whom their votes
alone are enough to elect.
Gen. Harrison rs mode of life is forcible COM
mentary upon the simplicity of republican in
situations. While he dispenses the most gener-
Gus hos pitality, there is an informality, all alb
of all display in his manner OF entertain
ing which may be regarded as q wholesome
survival of the good old times. The position OF
President OF the United States-the Chief Execu-
tive of ono of the most powerful and prosperous
nations on the eayth--is the very highest that
man can attain through his own exertions The
potentates of Europe are born to the purple. In
this Republic they are chosen from and by the
people, and the choice, as q rule, implies self
Americans not hope to reach through wealth
or inherited position. 1t gives one peculiar
feeling to call at the modest house in which
lives the man who will in all probability, be Tn-
vested with the dignity and authority of the
Presidency to have your ring answered and the
door opened by the future President himself to
be greeted with an informal shake of the hand,
and sincere words of welcome; to meet his wife,
who will sustain the dignity of her husband
"the first lady in the land, but who still does
her own marketing, like the careful and thrifty
housewife that she is.
A resident of Indianapolis the other day paid
him unconscious complmenG-the highest
that man receive. He said: General
Harrison has not so strong personal following
as some other men, because he is never much
upon the streets. He is shy and reserved natur-
ally, and is always at home with his family
of evenings. / do not remember ever to have
seen him down town at night, except on bust
ness or when he participating i'll some pub
lie meeting" He is of the most thor
Ough method and carries this into all his at
fairs, private, professional and political The
first lew days after his nomination, when he
overwhelmed with coDgratulatory letters
and calls from people everywhere the esta bished
order was temporarily interrupted, but it was
only for a short Jinle. His daily life is now
systematized as thoroughly as when he was oc-
cupied with his law practice. He breakfasts at
about 80, and then spends half an hour in con-
versation with his family, and reading the morn
ing papers, callers rarely asking admittance
early. By O'Clock he has real and signed some
one hundred and fifty letters received the even
ing before. Then he takes up the morning mail,
which has arrived by this time, and considers
carefully every letter that is laid before him,
matter in which he is most puAct1lious Re-
plies dictated and he signs them, until he is
interrupted by callers who usually
nounced before this work is finished They be-
gia to arrive at about IL 80, and are largely
people VINO live out Of the city, who happen to
be passing through, an represent nearly every
State in the Union. Ihis morning will serve as
an example, when the audience comprized citi-
of Pennsylvania, New York, Wiscon-
sin, Iowa, and Ohio. Lunch is served
about l o'clock He is with his family again
until about q when he iR sent for to receive
delegations, frequ ntly two or three, which the
trains bring in daily from all directions. They
have been addressed and received and at
O'Clock he has returned to his house and has
other breathing spell. The interval before din
nef, which is served at 5 O'clock, is spent in
taking care OF his little grandson, to whom he is
Geyo ed1y attached, in walking about the yard
or sitcin5 under the trees reading or watching
the little fawn which WAS sent to his youngest
grandchii,i q few days ago After dinner he
usually takes walk DIR We, more frequently
she latter ana returns about o'clock. Callers
are received again, all who come.
OF the visitors, it may be said that those
whom he sees on private or confidential business
confer with him in the library, the others in the
front parlOr. They not always as consider
ate as they should be, frequently interruptng
him during those brief moments when his
privacy should be undisturbed One day this
week he was called from the dinner-table to re-
ceive an old man who brought with him his
blind wife, who greatly desired ito shake hands,
with the new President" The dinner grew cold,
but the visitors were not hurried or in any way
reminded that the call had been ill-timed. Gen
eral Harrison is nothing of grumbler He ac-
cepts whatever is said or happens in good feel
ing, and without harsh criticism. The business
of the day is usually DISPATCHED and the house
closed at 10 80. This is now the daily routine
and there is little variation, except on Sunday,
when the family attend church and are
dinarily left to themselves.
1t will be perceived that such enormous de-
mands would be exhausing, if not perilous, to
ninety nine out of every hundred men, but Gen
eral Harrison has not been affected by it in any
WY His natural cOmposure and calmness have
b+ on invaluable to him in trying an ordeal
nnl he is never hurried or furried Whatever
l.e does is accomplished with the utmost thor
o,ss nness and elaboration. His strong COM
posed countenance is the assurance of q mind
equally strong and well balanced
Big Building in Ashes.
n TIL.