Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-07-23
A PRESIDENT MAKER

A most fascinating man-brilliant, dashing, sparkling, optimistic, impul- | sive and generOuS-a natural leader of men. He had all the qualities that win mems admiration. He had follies-and, | 1 almost said, viCes-that could only be condoned by overshadowing them with his multiplied virtues. By birth a Ger man; by naturalization an American; by profession q journalist. If you would know more of him, he was short, stOcky man about 10 years of age, with | smoothly shaven, round face, and a leOnine head like Millocker, the com poser. He married q sweet faced, mild tempered, little woman, who idolized him and whom he loved with all the warmth of an impulsive and affectionate nature.
 | His income was sufficient for the needs of an economical man, but Fried erichs was not economical; he did not | premeditate extravaganza, but was one of those unfOrtunates whose tastes were | patrician and whose means were pie beian. He knew little or nothing of the value of money; a bill or a coin was to him as leaf, and he the owner of un- bounded forests" He gambled some times-not often. When he won, he felt no pleasure other than what came through the purchase of some luxury for the little wife at home. When he lost, he was depreSsed-nOt for the loss of the money, but because the little wife would | suffer some deprivation. Then his exu- berant disposition would assert itself, and he would chccrfully borrow such sums as he needed from the first friend who would lend. Many such obligations were never repaid. His inability to meet them within q reasonable length of time caused him much temporary annoyance; then he neglected them and eventually forgot them.
 Anomalous as it may seem, his sense of honor was high and strong. Had he been accused of being truant to any debt of honor he would have resented it to any extremity His weakness was his optimism It mattered not how dark and cheerless the present. the future was rOseate, the past was dead.
 The morning of that rosy future never dawned.
 Fricderichs sat in a room ill Chicago hotel with two senators of the United States. The city was filled with people gathered for special occasion. Men were rushing about, pausing for basty handshakes or whispered consultation, secret conferences were being held be, hind locked doors, and everything DOT tended that an event of importance and magnitude was about to take place. Without a swelling cheer is heard, min, gled with the notes of patriotic air played by brass band. Presently the band wheels into sight from across the street and marches down one of the great thoroughfares- Following comes an army of men with flags and banners. The conspicuous attire is long liner coats and tall white hats On theil coats are badges of ribbon denoting thC = organization to which they belong They carry no more formidable weapon! than light walking sticks and sun um = brellas- They are greeted with cheer from the surging, struggling mass tha lines the sidewalks, and an answering cheer goes up from the ulstered. higl . halted line Occasionally some unduly excited individual utters yell. I As the procession passes out of sigh ! a similar one crosses on a side street q and the crowd shifts and struggles int, position to obtain a view of the latter :, Thus the day is spent, thus the evening and far into the night. It is O seen, with which Americans are familiar They know the meaning of this assem- bling of hosts. this gathering of clans . On the morrow national convention O u great political party is to be held t. select q candidate for president of thest United States.
 Senator, cannot do it, ," said Fried
 erichs to one or the men in his apar
 ments. "You might as well expect u
 colonel of a regiment to desert his gel
 eral i'll the midst of battle with victol
 in sight. I have been with him fro
 the first What would the German pc
 pie think of me if I deserted now? ]. have written hundreds of columns
 his favor. They have read md believe , What you ask is impossible. ''
 Y But. Friederichs," replied Senat
 Black, you have more to gain wi us. Come, be reasonable. A foreil to mission for you. promise it. You (
 not doubt my authority to promise it
 the name"-
 ''No, I do not doubt you, senator, b 8. I must not think of myself. mu think of him"
 Well" petulantly exclaimed t '' senator as he arose and rapidly walk
 the floor, ''you think you know hiI
 but you do not know him so well as |
 A revengeful light shone in the SC
 ator's eyes as he suddenly stopped }. his walk across the room and confror - ed Friederichs. "I do not wish to offel
 you, Adolph, but I tell you know hiI < He's as cold as an iceberg in the pol
 sea, as unsympathetic as frost bitt'
 squash, as ungrateful'-
 Stop, stop, senatorw cried Erie
 erichs ''It is not right for you to si
 these things to me. I know him ve