The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-06-01
GROVER cLEvELAND's AGE.
A Matter on Which His Friends and
Biographers Disagree.

LdHu age is IN QlSpUbo' IL 10 Sudll
wonder that the friends of Mr.. Cleve-
land are in doubt when biographers and
historians disagree. That was just
where the rub came, because when the
question was first preached every one
consulted books to fortify his position.
When the books were compared and
found to disagree about the x-president's
birthday the controversialists were as
much at sea as ever. This mystery gives
zest to those who are seeking the truth.
George Parker was the first to write
the story of Grover Cleveland's life for
general circulation. When half Of the
disputants learned this they assumed
that, owing to the biographer's admira-
ton for Mr.. Cleveland, Mr.. Parker had
understated the age of the ex-president.
Those who took that view of the matter
held that all biographers who came af-
ter Mr.. Parker cribbed that part of his
book relating to Mr.. Cleveland's natal
day and inserted it in their own works.
Those who take that view of it hold
that their position is sustained by the
fact that only the most obscure and less
meritorious works have used Mr.. Park
er's figures, while more reliable books
differ widely in the days they fix for the
birthday of Mr.. Cleveland. AS the au-
thors who have been asked to explain
the mixture of their dates stand to their
colors without deigning to explain, it is
more than probable that the question
will never be settled to- the satisfaction
of the disputants.
Some authorities fix Mr.. Cleveland's
age as low as fifty-two, while others cite
dates and places to show he is fifty seven
years old. Campaign biographies figure
that Mr.. Cleveland is between fifty three
and fifty six, and leave readers to settle
the matter to their own satisfaction.
Wharton's Olives of Public Men" says
that Mr.. Cleveland was born "July -,
1884, in Essex county, N. j." Web
mans Biographical Dictionary" asserts
that he first saw day on March IA,
1889. Boyd's Olives Of the Presidents"
figures that Mr.. Cleveland was born on
March is, 1887, and George Parker's BIZ
ography Of him agrees with Boyd.
Moody's tsMen of Our Times" finds that
Mr.. Cleveland came to light on Feb. %,
pie of All Ages" says, "Stephen Grover
Cleveland was born on March IS, 1887
Three Of the books cited from agree that
Mr.. Cleveland was born on March 1S,
1887; while Of the remaining three each
gives different date and all fail to say
where he was born. Another statement
that has set the arguers by the ears
comes from Buffalo and says that Mr..
Cleveland is on the long side of sixty.
Although it at first annoyed the gentle
men that began the controversy, they
now set the last report down to the dis
credit of Mr.. Cleveland's opponents.
Still they are cropping in the dark.
Every mail brought Mr.. Cleveland a
batch of letters from men who wanted
TO learn how old he was to the minute
The pertinacity Of these seekers after
knowledge has annoyed the ex-president
beyond measure. After replying to sew
eral hundred letters, in which he gave
his age as fifty-five, he ceased answer
ing such letters. A friendly acquaint-
ance, Mr.. Cleveland said, suggested
that he have several thousand slips
printed with "55'' on each ones face, so
that they might be sent as answers to
correspondents.
Mr.. Cleveland was asked if he could
explain why men were prone to rely on
unreliable printed matter instead of his
own words. He smiled and said: 81
guess it is to be attributed to what some
call the perversity of human nature. It
is matter Of no moment to me who
learns my age" Nevertheless, the
truth seekers, as they believe themselves
to be, are pursuing the matter into the
public libraries, where they hope to
learn something that will convince them
one way or another.
Many who hoped to obtain new facts
to prove the mellowness Of Mr.. Cleve-
lands age have journeyed to Caldwell
for that purpose. Although Caldwellites
point with pride to Mr.. Cleveland as
their townsman, those who survive in
that drowsy little village know little or
nothing about his birthday. George
Parker, one of Mr.. Cleveland's stanch-
est friends, and the author of gilt edge
biography of the ex-president, says he is
constantly pestered by writer's of imper-
tinent letters calling on him to say what
records he used to base his assertion
that Grover Cleveland was born on
March IS, 1887. Other communications
to Mr.. Parker on the same topic insinu-
ate that Moody, Wehrnan and he con-
trived in their dates to deceive the pub
lie as to Mr.. Cleveland's birthday.
F. G. Connolly.