The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-11
THE MILLS BUILDING


ttontt3aeo from rage ~
ployes began to turn out the gas. 1t was
a sign that the place was broken. Mr..
Pondir had won $50, 900.
Coils p. Huntington, tall, we'll built.
with closely cropped iron-gray beard,
Prince Albert coat and a slouched hat.
aiights from q carriage. cane in hand, and
presents q keen pair of gray eyes and
strong features to the beholder as he
moves thoughtfuliy toward the elevator.
His history is part of the history of the far
West. He is connected with some of this
country's greatest corporations. He Is \
natural ruler of men. not excepting Leland
Stanford, whom ne forbade to use the
Southern Pacific Railroad Company any
further as a political machine. He is
worth fifty millions.
Grover Cleveland is member of the law
firm of Bangs, Stetson. Tracy McVeagh,
on the fourth floor. He is a good lawyer
in consultations. His work in this firm IS
what is known in the profession as 'office
work" He never was a pleader in the
courts. yet his state papers are considered
sound and often, in some respects, brilliant.
His share in the profits of the firm is
about $50 600 year. All of his admirers
in business circles send him cases when
ever opportunity arises. lie has acted as
a referee in three cases, and 1t so happened
that the courts set aside his decisions.
Some of the best of lawyers meet with this
experience at times. In one case the New
York state court Of appeals reversed the
verdict won on Mr.. Cleveiand's prepara-
ton of the case.
When a case is presented to him he is
careful and even laborious in hunting up
all the authorities bearing on the matter.
He is naturally hard worker. This fact
was illustrated when he was mayor of
Buffalo, governor of New York and presi-
dent of the United States. He comes down
to his office at about 10 o'clock in the
morning on the Third avenue elevated
road, and is always the object of curious
attention. Men and women stare hard at
about O'Clock, and usually walks up
Broadway as far as Thirteenth street to
James Lidgerwood's fancy grocery. Mr..
Lidgerwood furnished the White House
with supplies during Mr.. Cleveland's ad-
mlnistration, and on the return of Mr..
Cleveland from Washington he used to
dine with the ex-president.
Mr.. Cleveland spends his evenings at
home, at the theater or at the opera, as
we'll as at private dinners. He does not
like the opera. partly because of a defect
i've ear for music and partly owing to the
long, and as they seem to him, wearisome
acts. In the spring and fall he often goes
to Lakewood, and in the summers he
usually takes trip to the Adlrondacks,
- -
He likes to play poker and pinochle. but
never for very high stakes. The diary of
George Washington shows that that great
statesman used to play for stakes.
He cares IS little TOR art as he does for
music. He has no taste for society. 1t is
a bore to him. In his bachelor life at
Buffalo, where he had apartments in the
Weed block, he contracted independent
habits. and he adheres to them now. AL
though he detests the opera he takes
pleasure in going to such performances
with his wife, and he is very proud of the
attention and admiration which that lady
universally excites. Now and then he
goes to the club, but he is not, strictly
speaking. a club man. He is an honorary
member of the Manhattan, a member of
the Democratic Club, which has its quar-
tiers in the late Christopher Meyers
princely home on Fifth avenue, near
Fiftieth street, and he is also member Of
the Iroquois Club, of Chicago.
He is not a great reader of books now.
and never has been, but he is as diligent q
student OF newspapers as many other dis
tinguished men in this country. What
ever may be said of Mr.. Jay Gould, nobody
ever called him fool, and his advice to a
young man who wanted a hint as to q
course of life needful to success, was for
one thing to carefully study the daily
newspapers. Mr.. Cleveland would pa
legislative bills, with his cool gray eyes
hunting for an ''axe," and he scrutinizes
closely all the daily journals. He has no
time for books any more than the great
mass of people in this country, the news
papers being, in fact, about the only litera-
ture of the people. He is about 5 feet Q
inches in height and weighs about $50
pounds. At one time he was growing
so stout that he took measures to prevent
an increase of weight. He easily gains
flesh, and at one time he tried an extrava-
CANT kind Of Checkley system to reduce
his avoirdupois. This system requires an
exaggerated lifting of the legs, as if going
quickly upstairs, and raising the knees
until they almost reach the stomach.
He likes to live well, both as TO eating
and drinking, but he is a man of such
strong will that no habits permanently
prejudicial to his health could fasten upon
him. He is very sensitive upon the SUBJ
ject of his weight. For two years he has
been very careful in his hygiene.
The question is sometimes asked, "How
is Mr.. Cleveland liked by those who know
the man best?' They like him for his
social qualities. and sometimes they re-
greet that his character is so strong that
he does not seek to know the opinions of his
friends on personal and political questions
which they think it would be better for
him to consult them about. But they
admire his courage. He is gruff in his
manner at times and, when he thinks
there is occasion, almost impetuous, not
to say imperious. At other times he is as
gentle as lamb aud little child might
lead him. He is a man of considerable
means for one who has never systematic
ally devoted himself to money getting. He
is understood to be worth half a million
He was successful in real estate operations
in Washington City, and he still owns
real estate there. He never was a spend
thrift any more than he was ever unduly
close. He takes great pride in the staunch
allegiance of large mass of the American
people to him, and whatever may be his
faults, even his enemies concede that,
above everything else, he is an honest man.
The Democrats Not JubiIant.
Wateryilie Emnire