Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-02-27

AAAAS " AtAAAA tAAA tkttSt N41ASs1htAtttsiA. XIV
need expect no confidence. no mercy at
the hands Of this coward hater. sup
pose this supreme lore Of courage comes
from his father, who was one of the
most fearless inen in southern Indiana
and who lost his life trying as sheriff Of
the county 10 arrest gang of outlaws
who had committed many crimes in
those early and somewhat turbulent
days and defied the authorities. Not
knowing what fear was, the elder G-esh-
am walked into their den and endeayoresl
TO place them under arrest, and they
shot him dead.f
Judge Gresham is not as poor man
rs some writers have said he was. Heis
far from being rich, but he is worth
probably s50,0oo This is counted a
moderate fortune in the section of eoun-
try whence he comes--the southern part
of mdiana-but Of course il is a mere
lagatelle in Chicago or Washington. He
made most of this money in the last few
years by two lucky Investments. OHie
was the purchase of several hundre,,
acres of land i'll the rich corn belt III the
western part Of Indiana. He got it at a
oargain, improved it little and then sold
il for about three times what it cost him.
Not long ago friend induced him TO buy
n section of wild land-640 aeres-out
in Nebraska. He paid, think, 81 or
$3.50 an acre for it. Not many months
ago he sold the whole tract for $50 an
acre, which was a lucky strike. The new
secretary of state lives within his income
and has always done so.
He has wife, also native of south.
ern Indiana, who is "a born manager. -
She is woman who not only knows how
to manage house to make it sweet and
homelike. sufficiently stylish and yet in
expensive, but who has plenty of social
tact and womanly grace. In Washing
ton society Il few years ago. while her
husband was member of the Arthur
cabinet, she proved herself one of the
most charming and popular women of
the official circle. The Greshams have
two children-a young man unmarried
and in the railroad business in Indiana,
and daughter married and the mother
of two fine children. One is cherub of
boy who bears the proud name Wal
ter Gresham Andrews"
l was thinking day or two ago Of
one of the striking tragedies of our
everyday American life. This Gresham
family, through the vicissitudes of pol
itics. has again come to the front rs one
of the most distinguished families in the
country. This is due partly to the ahil-
iiy and character of the husband. partly
to the tact of the wife, who has always
proved herself able to grow as fast as
her husband. The tragedy l speak of
grow with the husband. You will re-
member reading last week of the death
of Chief Justice Scholtield of the Illinois
supreme court. He was a great man.
Our bar and bench have produced few
greater men.
When Chief Justice Waite died and
Mr.. Cleveland had to find man to fill
the vacancy on the bench Of the supreme
court of the United States. his attention
was called to Justice Scholfield. He
made inquiries as to this man, fonnd
him worthy of that high post and through
friend sent word to Scholtield that If
he would take the chief justiceship he
would receive the appointment. Judge
Scholfield declined it, greatly to the
amazcment of his friends and of Mr..
Cleveland as we'll There We're many
surmises as to the cause of this declina-
tion.
Congressman Owen Scott of Illinois a
the declinat:on. Justice Scholfeld had
been his intimate friend for many years,
and meeting the judge on the cars one
day he asked him about the reports OF
his having refused the chief iusticeship.
1T is true" replied Scholfeld, 'tlat
Mr.. Cleveland did send word to me that
if | would accept the chief iusticeship he
would appoint me-"
And why did You refuse ity' asked
Mr. Scott. ''Is it not an office that at
lracted you:'
Yes" said the judge, Il consider il
the greatest Office in the world. Iwould
rather have it than the presidency itself.
IL ~ "a itSt hp dboNt 1ht tllftt fltNtl
dared even to dream of it, much less to
,spire to it. But l have always looked
upon it as the summit of earthly great
ness"
Then why did you decline?' persisted
Mr.. Scott.
Il will tell you.' Judge Scholfield con
tinued. at was question of whether
should serve my ambition and the coun-
fry or my family. My. wife was a coun-
try girl. She has grown up amid conn
try like surroundings. She never had any
taste for society. She has lived always
in her own home. 1t would be impossi-
bic for her to go to Washington to live.
| cannot leave her. | admit that l was
soreiy tempted, but thank God that
was strong enough to put ambition be-
hind me and stick to my wife and the
mother of my children"
WALTER WELLMAN.