The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1896-12-10
MAKING OF A PRESIDENT.
What Six Presidents Are Alleged to Have
Said to an English Observer.

What Six Presidents Are Alleged to Have
Said to an English Observer.
1t was my good fortune to be visiting
at the house of man when he received
news of his election to the presidency.
To my young mind the mere thought
of such high honor was bewildering;
could not picture how l would act in
such circumstances. But did have a
vague notion that man at such time
would act in dramatic" fashion-call
to the gods for aid-ask high Heaven to
witness his gratitude; register his vow
of loyalty to duty and deity. Here,
then, was an opportunity to test my
theory, and awaited results with keen
anxiety. We were at breakfast when
the telegram arrived. His wife tore IL
open and, her voice all in tremble,
read: You are elected beyond the
shadow of doubt" looked closely at
the lucky man. Not muscle moved,
not the slightest change in his express
sion was visible. He was silent for a
few seconds, and then, as he broke open
an egg, he quietly observed: Mother.
that egg would suffer no injury if kept
another year." Really, was tempted
to throw my cup of coffee at him, his
levity seemed so sacrilegious. / hated
him because he was so lacking in hui
| man nature. Half an hour later was
| passing the stables. Looking in, saw
The ''cold-blooded" president-elect
| standing by the side of his favorite
| horse. One arm was thrown over its
heck, his face was buried in the name,
and his whole frame was convulsed.
That very human side Of his nature
which he kept out OF sight, even when
surrounded by his own family, be had
revealed to his dear old horse. AS !
PASSED on l realized that my boyhood
idol was again on its old pedestal, and
| knew that the making of q president
had not. in this case, been the unmaking
Of man.
Let me close with this one page FROM
Garfield's life. lie had won the great
prize. Three months of bitter strifa
with politicians over spoils of Office fol.
lowed his Inauguration and exhausted
the little store of nervous energy which
remained after long and exciting
electoral campaign. Rest was an alb
solute necessity, and he started on a
brief holiday-a visit to his alma mater
in the New England hills. Smiling as
he walked into the railway station at
witty speech of his friend Blaine, he
, fell mortally wounded at the hands OF
half-crazed assassin. They carried
him to the white house-the political
, Mecca of many millions-and for weeks
his sufferings were beyond description
, had friend who was with him from
first to last, and he gave me this little
: picture of the closing days of Garfield''
| life. Suffering bred fever, and fever re
> vived his old love of the sea. He begged
t to be carried to the Atlantic, and hi
= wish was law. One morning my friend
at Garfield's request, lifted him SO tina
his dying eyes might take in wide
sweep of the old Atlantic. And Will
!, my friend held in his arms the wastes
:, figure of his old friend he told the pres
:. dent how the whole nation was ais
8 looking toward the sea. Yes, and pray
- ing that God would help and bless thei
chief magistrate. Garfield pressed tn
= hand of his friend and whispered: III
has blessed me; could man ask mor
than such love and sympathy from sue
10 10 Il people?" A few hours later the pres
IS IS dent bad put aside forever place al
" rower--paid with his life the awf1
price Of success.
;s The prize is great; the prize WHINE
20 are the envy of the many. But have
=. on the word Of six presidents of Il
~ United States that even the winning
= this great prize in the lottery OF Ii
" but throws into clearer relief the gre
truth: "What shadows we are, a
what shadows we pursue: :"-Fortnigl