Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-04

were times when he would grant stranger
O portion Of his time even when he was
busy. One day a young reporter was semitic
ask him If # was true that he was Interested
in q scheme to buy the Island OF Cuba from
Spain. Mr.. Gould was nowhere to be found
and nobody seemed to have an idea as to his
whereabouts. Giving up the task OF hnding
the Wizard in despair the reporter walked
up Nassau street on his way back to MS
office. CHANGING to look in the dark shop OF
a secondhand bookseller the delighted re-
porter saw his prey seated on stool, reading
little brown book.
GOULD scowled when addressed, and, In
response to tile question as to Cuba, an
swered tartly that he had nothing to say.
Then, as If he had suddenly charged his
mind, he asked: ever study mathemat1csE"
"Yes" "Like old books?" "Yes." "What
would you think OF this z" and he held out
tine little brown book. 1t was an old copy
OF Euclid, and across the title page top, In o
neat hand, was written alexander Hanl1l-
ton" "There was q mathematician and
financier for you," exclaimed Gould.
"What a railroad man Hamilton would
have madel Do you know. young
| man that in order to run a railroad well
there is a great deal of fine figuring to do?
Look here, can't talk to you about Cuba be-
cause there's nothing to say, but you sit
down there and I'll tell your paper some.
thing about running a railroad, and they'll
say you're pretty cute to get Gould to talk
about any thing" With that he reeled OF q
most graphic account of the heavy expenses
| of a railroad company in directions which
people did Lot usually think of, and most
interesting column story il made: "You can
thank Alexander Hamilton's ghost for that
interview" he concluded with grin, and
Off he went with the little worn book. As
for me, felt that had struck streak OF
luck winch could not understand.
IT is said that friend of Cleveland re-
Gently discussed the advisability of Gov
ernor Pattison's taking the Secretaryship OF
the Interior, and that the Governor de-
clared it would be injudicious to turn the
Office he held over to Republican, and the
subject was dropped.
IT was an old lawyer who told me the
story of a client he had some years ago who
had q claim for large tract OF land in one
of the two cities, 1 need not say which.
young man whose name may as well be
Jones as anything, owned large farm on
the banks OF the river. He had q handsome
vile and several young children. One day
man-Smith for instance-applied for
work, and as he was a strong, sturdy fellow
he was engaged as a general laborer. He
proved to be an excellent workmen and
soon won the good will of Jones and Mrs.
Jones. One day Smith and Jones were cut
ting down a tree when it fell and instantly
killed the farmer Smith became the man.
ager of the farm and in the course Of year
or two he married the widow. The children
of Jones as they grew up felt the house was
uncomfortable and moved away. Then
Mrs. Smith died and her husband took pos
session of the property. After time it be-
came city lots and some OF it was sold. For
some reason Jones' children made no claim
and things went along peacefully for many
years.
THEN Smith followed his wife and his
former master to the land of shadows ana
his children reigned in his stead There
came q man who said his name was Jones
and who was the grandson of him who was
killed by the tree. He was born in England
whittier his father had emigrated and
married. He had many papers to prove his
claim and to back up his statement that the
children Of Smith had no title to the prop
erty, as Jones had d:ed intestate and his
children were the real heirs. Things were
preparing for a row when there came q fire
which destroyed all the papers of JONES'
He went to several lawyers, bat as he could
not make good his lost papers he was ad-
vised to let 1t drop. He did this and lives
quietly across the seas while the Smiths con-
tinue to own the remnants of the estate.
"WHAT strong man he was" said
prominent Republican to me yesterday. He
had bank note in his hand on which was q
fine likeness Of General Grant. "You have
heard stories of his strength of character,
no doubt, but know something of it my
self. A friend of mine had been treated un-
fairly in one of the departments. I took the
matter up and went to Washington to see
about it. Through the elder Cameron an
appointment was made for me Tor the fol.
lowing day at 9 o'clock. At the appointed
hou UT we proceeded to the White House. AS
we entered the building man in great agi-
tation passed us, going out. He nodded
without speaking to Cameron and hurried
away. Who's that2' asked. for the face
of the stranger seemed familiar. That's
Belknap, Secretary of War; answered Cam
eron; he seems to be upset about some-
thlng-there are many stories afioat,
you know We were shown at once
into the Presidents room, ana for
almost an hour the case of
my friend was discussed. Grant took keen
interest in the matter as soon as he heard
my story, sent for the papers and examined
them and agreed the course of action l
asked for should be carried out. All this
time the President was calm, cool, and to-
tally FREQ from any symptoms of emotion or
excitement, and we left him apparently free
from any extraordinary cares.
"ABoUr an hour after this was talking
to Cameron in his committee room, when
Senator Morton hurried in, looking pale and
much distressed. He did not notice me, as
1 sat partly behind curtain, and he blurted
nnd Hor, III De ox.yfr,l 6,z
ness about Then he saw me and paused.
Go ahead Oliver said Cameron, this is
Mr.. OF Pittsburc, and can be trusted.
What is up?' Then he told us the story of
Belknap's frightful disgrace and said that
he had been with Grant and had confessed
to the whole thing. 1t was fresh from this
exciting and distressing interview that we
found Grant and for the sake of what had
been represented as unfair treatment of an
old and faithful official. he had thrust aside
the greater burden to take up the details OF
the lesser mans worry"
WHY does q woman on entering street
car, and healthy young woman at that,
stand by the door until an old man gets up
and offers her a seat, when there are four
or five vacant places in the forward part of
the cart And echo answers-f
I DO not notice any hurry on the part
of the Western Union Telegraph Company
to make any Improvement in their East
Liberty service. As have had occasion to