The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-26

by his desire to hear me, yet | should be
sorry 10 have him stay away from his ow
church for that purpose. He replied that
he had no church and unless he went to
hear me he would undoubtedly keep his
room during the day.
II hoped at least that Mr. DAVIS would
not think of going to church with me, but
in this | was disappointed. for when | came
into the lower hall prepared TO start Mrs
Davis called to me from the head of the.
stairs that Mr.. Davis would be down in a
minute and would go with me. Finding
there was no way Of escape | submitted
with the best grace | could. When we got
out into the street he, greatly TO my discom-
future, took my arm and we walked together
10 the church. where / escorted him 10 a
seat I'm the front row OF pews.
"When the services were over | found him
waiting for me by the door of his pew,
when he again took my arm. During our
walk home he criticized the service In a
very kind and comp imentary manner show
Inc that he had listened closely, and had
thoroughly understood and appreciated not
only the manner but the matter of the dis
course.
Il remained in the house with Mr.. Davis
for several weeks, and found him to be a
highly accomplished, agreeable and enter
tanning companion, and man OF dis
tinguished ability.
"Once in conversation with him, ! said,
Senator. you have been for years a men,
Der of the United States Senate, and have
had ample opportunity for observation. l
would be glad 10 know. who. ali things con-
sidered, you regard as the great man OF the
Senate?
on what you consider as constituting great
ness. If YOU mean certain qualities tions
and characteristics naming theml then l
sbould have 10 name one Senator, but IL
you Intend certain other qualifications
[Gaming iheml then | should have to select
quite different person, but If you wish me
10 state who, In my opinion. approaches
nearest to my ideal of the old Roman Sena-
t.r. then | would answer unheSitatingly,
William H. Seward. Now, you Will I'M
d9uhtedly be surprised TO hear me say this.
bat say it after the fullest consideration,
aud meaning all that such answer can posi-
bly, import
"'When | was first elected to the United
States Senate, he continued, the principal
objection had to taking my seat In that
BODY was that | should have to meet and as
sociate with Mr. Seward | had made up
nv mind that he was the worst man In the
whole country, and | determined to have
nothing to do with him but when / came
10 meet and know him found him 10 be
not only great man intellectually but
10 be the puTest and best man i
ever knew. He has not a thought
CT hope or aspiration that is not
iOr the hest interests OF the WuOie county,
! can conceive Of no more perfect man than
lie 1t would not be impossible for him 10
lie in error, but it would Oe utterly impos-
sible for him to be purposely SO, and ! love
Elm as l never loved any other living
man."
When the time came for MI King to
return to his Boston home both Mr.. and
Mrs. Davis urged him TO visit them at their
plantation home, but be said that for some
reason, probably because of his strong
prejudice, he and Mr.. Davis were never on
terms of entire intimacy.
In general estimation, il N ight be difficult
4 TO name two men prominent IN the history
| of the country whose thoughts and acts
were seemingly more directly antagonistic
| than William II. Seward and jefferson
| DaYs-the one devoted his life TO the cause
| of human freedom, the other to the
| strengthening of the chains of human slav
cry. And now thai they are both gathered
| to the fathers, who shall presume to deter
mine Just what effect their strange reciprO-
| cal regard may have had in pr0lOnging the
great contest in which they were both so
prominent? Or who shall attempt to sue
cessfully account for the mutual fasciu alton
of the men whose acts and purposes and
lives were as unlike as the night IS unlike
| the morning? j. NJ. GITCHEEL~