The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-10-16


 and trousers ballon-shaped at the Knees and laced at the ankle.
 At conversations where MT. Platt has been pictured to the timid delegates as plotting unusual, almost wicked schemes, 1t has often happened that ne was really letting his humorous percep- tions run riot with him and getting out of this theatre of actual life as much fun as farce upon the stage would give him. He is unlike Lord Beacons- fiedl in one respect. for the English politician used to say that he did not care fir the mimic drama, since he found all the entertainment that he desired upon the stage of life. Mir Platt IS fond both of the foolIghts and the fun that goes on behind them, and he also gets as keen relish from his observance of the whims, the fancies, and the od- ditles of men and the play of their pas sions, as ever Beaconsneld did.
 But he really led double life from 1881, because while he plunged into business he was planning those things which wer 10 regain for him his lost influence and to bring 1t back at com- pound interest His business engage ments were many. Besides the devel- opment of the express company or which he Is president he had other cakes baking. He became associated with those who were developing proper ties In the south. He allied himself with some of those who had railway interests in the north. He took some directions of mining affairs. He be- came, and right in the midst of an ex- citing political contest, too, one Of the receivers of the New York and New England property. and he has lately associated himself with that very pow erful group of capitalists who expect to make Niagara a tanned and subser- vient thunder cloud which shall aid the commerce and manufacture of New York state. In this last enterprise there are hopes of millions for those men who, almost bindfolded and with simple faith in the reports of the scien- lists and engineers, put millions into that work
 All this time Mr Platt was again cul- tivating politics, turning from business
 
 most men of his political purposes as easily as some men go from their off, ces to their yachts, their stables or their conserva tories. So in one sense with Mir. Platt politics was nothing moer than a recreation; in another sense, it was to be followed by him so that an honorable pride which had been grevously wounded should be abundantly healed, and, of course, so that there could be felt that sense of power which is the bottom principle of most political action.
 He is a man whose manner is de- ceptive, because a disposition which he does not posses. He is probably the most industrious man in New York city, and in this power of sustained and intense application and the capac- ity to concentrate all his powers upon whatever he has in hand, are to be found the chief sources of his successes, bothin business and politics. Yet men have been presented to him in his of- flee, have seen him turn with easy grace in his wheeling chair, say few soft spoken words, and with the man. nerism of incidence, sometimes almost as though it tired him to speak, even tired him to wink; and these persons have come away wondering where a man with such a perfect air of ennui stores away the energy which is neces- sary for the accomplishment of all that he does.
 But this is only mannerism, not even an affectatiOn. He has a supreme art of taking things easy. He knows how to dismiss the fancies of busy brain so that sleep comes when he touches the pillow. He knows where and when to take things easy, where and when to be amused, and how to avoid all nervous friction.
 Sometimes at one of the downtown restaurants Of the humber sort We see a company of two or three men come in, and one of them, jerking his thumb over his shoulder, points to an incon- spicuous man, his derby hat thrust back upon his head, his long, thin legs twisted about the stool on which he is seated, his elbows touching his neigh bor's on either side, so closely packed are the lurchers, and he himself stow ing away generous piece of humble roast beef, with mashed potatoes .and plenty of gravy, a forum of ale flank ing the plate, and the man eating with the zest which a healthy appetite, quiet conscience and iron nerves always give. Then the man who has pointed with his thumb will say: See. that's Tom Platt. He comes in here almost every day and eats as happy with a curbstone broker at his side as he would if he was lunching at the Law yers club.'
 It is an interesting picture of MT. Platt which is to be seen at the hotel where he makes his winter home. He strolls into the foyer just after break fast, thrusts out what seems to be a listless hand to a score or more per sons as they come up, leans with sort of graceful indolence against one of the marble pillars, pulls his hat over his eyes and then chats if he can find anyone worth chatting with. He is fre- quently at his wittiest when, mounted upon the bootblacks brass ornamen,ed throne in the basement, he exchanges joke with the Irishman, or. reading the paper, chuckles over some funny anecdote or report, and then turns to his neighbor, whether stranger or ac. quaintance, and makes some whimsical comment on it. And the man thus addressed, if he knows who his com- municatiye neighor is. is sure to sav