The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-11-06


teIk from Colonel c. w. Seidell, VINO
was for a long time the private sec
retarv of Alexander II. stephens the
confederate vice-president ana gov
ernor Of Georgia.
"Nr stephens" said the colonel, mad
n remarkable memory. once, when we
were in Washington, big delegation
visited the city to urge Dakota's claims
to statehood.
"The delegates sent word to the dis
tinguished Georgian that they would
call on him at his hotel and at the
appointed time they filed into his par
lor and were introduced.
"As Mr.. Stephens was at that time
disabled by a fail he sat in his rolling
chair in the middle of the room and
held a running conversation with his
visitors. There were about hundred
Dakotans present, stalwart, handsome
men, representing the best type or wes-
tern manhood.
After they had sampled some fine
old Georgia corn whiskey their host
discussed the matters in which they
were most interested, and occasionally
addressed one of the strangers person.
ally naming him as he spoke
GREAT MEMORY.
During the evening he singled out
in this way at least twenty of his
guests and astonished us all by his
ready recollection of names and faces.
Every man in the crowd got the idea
into his head that something striking
or attractive impressed the little man
in the rolling chair, and | could see
A.. 4, N.,gs oil O
their reception.
when they had bowed themselves
out l asked Mr.. stephens how he man
aged to hold so many names and faces
in his memory.
"'Oh, it is a mere trick he replied.
Il simply concentrated my attention
upon about twenty names and faces,
and as they were scattered around the
room 1t naturally surprised my Visi-
tors when / turned to them and ad-
dressed them by name. OF course, 1t
caused every man to believe that he
had deeply impressed me-
when he forgot a man he did not
let him know it, Once, after speech,
an old farmer grabbed his hand.
"'Mr. Stephens he said, you've for
gotten me-
ANOl IL Dll VI IL, was the pulNh
swer.
"' I'm the man who brought you
them inguns when you were sick in my
town twenty years ago.
"And / believe your onions saved
my life,' laughed Mr.. stephens. L am
glad to see you again. Take care OF
yourself and don't forget me-
THE old fellow went Off proud and
Ia fI.,I H.
saw my inquirng look.
81 can't recall him. he said, but II
was unnecessary to hurt his feeling:
by telling him that 1 had forgotten
him.
MADE MONEY EASILY.
"He had made. money out of his large
law practice, and then he drew a sal
ary as congressman for many years
but he never tried to save anything
asked him one day how he always
succeeded in being reelected.
"'Well, he replied thoughtfully. :
make it a point to conciliate my op
ponents. l never uRderrate and in
tensify the prejudice of man who Il
opposed to me. After 1 have beef
elected I go downtown and loung,
about talking with the prominent citi
zens who worked against me. 1 shov
a friendly interest in their affairs, ant
when certain that it will be we'll re
ceived l slip a gold coin into the han,
of the fellow have been talking witt
and tell him to buy a suitable presen
from me for his good lady or hi
daughter Then 1 walk off and my oil
enemy quietly goes to work for me- an
the next election finds him one of m,
most active supporters. l follow Rich
elieu's rule half way. He first employ
ed all means to conciliate, and, failinI
in that, employed all means to crush
let the crushing business alone. 1 an
not willing to irreparably injure a
opponent for so small a thing as tn
advancement of my political interests
Time, patience and good humor hav
turned many Of my enemies into loya
friends
VERY SYSTEMATIC.
Mr., Stephens was systematic. II
kept lists of the names of prominer
men in the state who were for an
against him, and he made no mistake.
He aided about one hundred youn
men in obtaining their education, bu
satisfied himself about their famil
connections, their political tendencie
and their probable usefulness to hiI
in after life. He was not disappointe
In these youngsters. They all turne
out we'll and rendered him valuab
service, I don't call this selfish. II
benefited these poor boys in the bes
possible way and it was right ths
they should help him in a legitlmat
manner.
He was one of the most liberal {
men. When a Georgia lady publlshe
a novel of some literary merit and pr,
sented him with a copy he wrote mic
letter and purchased 100 of her bool
at the retail price to distribute anon
his friends.
"On another occasion, shortly aft,
the war, the Youths Companion ser
him in advance $500 apiece for tv
brief articles on Lincoln and Dougla
AS his hand was disabled from the e
fects of a murderous assault upon hi
when he was delivering a speech
Atlanta many years before he di
tated his matter to a young man. TT
work occupied only a few hours, b,