The Irish standard., 1896-03-21
Secretary Dlney Has History
Worthy of More Than Orr
dinary Note.
One of the Brainiest and Most Ac-
tive Men Who Ever Held
Public Position.
How He Lives and Acts and What
j He Does With His Time
in Washington.

Americas troubles with Spain will make
Richard Olney more and more. prominent
in the minds of the people Of this country,
says Frank G.. Carpenter. He has been
secretary of state for only a few months,
but his work has made that department
the most important branch of the gov
eminent. He thoroughly stirred up AM
erican patriotism in his letter TO Lord
Salisbury ON the Venezuelan boundary
question. BY his action in that dispute
he brought the English TO time, and he
may be called the father OF the fighting
spirit now abroad in the land. Within
the space Of three months he has shown
himself to be the strongest element in
President Cleveland S administration, and
today with him rests, to large extent,
the quest ion whether America, shall have
peace or war Within less than three
months, he has jumped from comparative
obscurity TO international prominence,
and tbs situation at present is such that
he may be strong presidential quantity
at the Democratic national convention.
Mr.. Olney is one of the most striking
figures in Washington. His face is that
of an Irishman, though his blood is prr;-
tan blue. The published pictures OF HIM
do not do him justice. Ills face is strong
and pugnacious.
The first Olney in America settled at
Salem, Mass He was a preacher, his namc
was Thomas. He is said to have been the
founder Of the Baptist church in Amerl-
ca. One of his sons was colonel IN the
revolutionary war, and another was cap
tain. who received number of bullet and
bayonet wounds during the struggle. An
other Olney of this same family was the
author Of the Olney Biographies. These
were used n the public schools Of Amerl-
ca for more than so years. They had, it
is said, .aelarger sale than any other book
outside of Webster's spelling book. They
ran through ninetyeight editions, and
millions of copies were sold.
Secretary Olney's father was the cashier
of a bank IN Oxford, Mass. Richard VI
ney, the secretary Of state, was MS olae71
child. FIe was born in 1885, and is there
fore 81 years of age. He was educated at
Brown University and the Harvard law
school, and began his study OF law under
Judge BENJAMIN Franklin Thomas, one OF
the most famous lawyers of Massachu-
setts. He soon showed his fitness for the
law, and it is said that he has made a Tor
tune ont OF his legal ability.
hoe a.
chinery than any other man in the cabl-
net He keeps himself in perfect condl-
ton by exercise. His joints are we'll oiled,
his blood full of irons his eyes shine with
life, and he has the springiest step that
travels Pennsylvania avenue. There is
no man who goes to more dinners Ihere
Is no public man who has better d1ges-
tion and "a greater physical activity. He
Is the champion walker of the admlnlstra-
tion. He takes walk Of from three to
five miles every day. He passes in this re-
spect old John Quincy Adams, who, when.
president. used to take a trot now and
then over to the capitol and back.
Secretary Olney leaves the state depart
,nent every day at o'clock, and usually
walks out to the capitol. He takes turn
around the national library on the other
side, and then goes to his home. not 1ar
rom the Blaine mansion, Via Massachu-
setts avenue. The walk is about three
miles in length and the secretary makes
it IN much less thana an hour. On ounoass
during the summer he often walks out 70
the presidents country place, ana one
may see him any morning at $3.50 0 cloch
starting from his home to walk down 10
the state department. He has palf OF
pulley weights in his bed room, and takes
.oI,%
has punching bag also.
of state is snobhish. l don't. He is full
of plain, practical common sense, but not
having been brought ZIP in the school of
pOlitics he does not think it necessary to
lick his lips and say sweet things when
ever politician comes in sight. He is,
indeed. decidedly independent. This is
to be seen in his dress as we'll as in his
actions. The dress OF the average secre-
tary Of state has been a, long Prince Al
bert coat, dark pantaloons and high
silk hat. Secretary Olney's favorito suit
Is of business cut. He wears d sack
coat and has been seen going down Penn
sylvania avenue without an overcoat
when the thermometer was not far from
zero. He puts on Prince Albert coat
only on diplomatic days when he receives
his callers. On other days he is dressed
like the most ordinary business man.
Secretary Olney believes in working
while he works and in playing while he
plays. He also believes that all work
aud no play makes Jack a dull boy. Hence
his walks; hence also his tennis games
during the summer. At 4:30 o'clock
every afternoon from April to October
Secretary Olney has a game of tennis.
He leaves the department, goes to his
home and puts on tennis suit of white
flannel He then takes his racquet and
walks to tennis ground on Massachu-
setts avenue, situated on a little vacant
lot right next to where Mrs. Grant lives.
and there plays tennis until dark Sew
eral other statesmen play with him and
they hop about between the nets with as
much agility as a lot of schoolboys. After
the secretary has finished his tennis in
the summer and his walk in the winter
he goes home. has his bath and dresses
for dinner. He puts on a swallow tail
coat at such times and appears at the ta
Bile Einif full evening dress. He has to do
this iii most cases, at least, fer during the
tni,Ifar HI IL Invited out to Dime nearly