The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-08-20
THE NEW PREMIER.
A sketch of john Hay, Who WIZ
Succeed Judge Day

my
John Hay is of Scottish ancestry and
was b9rn.at Salem, Ind, Oct. 5, 1888. His
father, Charles Hay was a physician and
Western man whose own father had
been briekmaker a Springfield, III. John
Hays mother was from Providence r. l..
and itTWas through her influence that the
son was sent to Brown University, which
he entered in the Fall of 1854 There he
began to develop his literary talent and
gained distinction by his essays and other
literary work. In 1858 he was graduated
and the next year he entered upon the
study of the law in the Office of Abraham
Lincoln at Springfield. Ill. Here also be-
gan HIS association with Mr.. Nicolay ana
both men We're active workers in the
campaign which led to the election of.
Lincoln to the presidency. Upon Lin
coins removal to Washington Hay and
Nicolay accompanied him, and lenceforth
till the time of his death they acted as
his secretaries. The monumental Life
OF Lincoln was their joint work. but
even now it appears that Hays literary
reputation. in England. at least, rests al
Aiicob tilHSly Oil Lille INC 1Vuli+y Soi
lads" and 'tCastilian Days of his earlier
years.
After the Presidents assassination Hay
went to Paris as secretary of legation In
two years time he was transferred to
Madrid, and in 1870 he became charge
d affaires at Vienna. He returned TO the
United States in 1872 and accepted an
editorial position the New York Tri-
bune, which he held until 1879, when he
was made Assistant Secretary of State
under Mr.. Eyarts. AT the close of the
Hayes administration he resumed work on
the Tribune. of which he was the respon-
sible head during the absence of Mr.
Reid in Europe.
The Boston Herald, In an exhaustive
biography. says: Some time before this
Col. Hay had married one of the two
daughters of the late Amasa Stone. of
Cleveland, o. Mr. Stone was an extraor-
binary man in some ways. besides being
an exceedingly wealthy one. He loved
the strong natural things of our Ameri-
| can life. When his only son died Stone
| founded a monument TO him in the shape
of Adelbert College, and in his will he
| gave it third of his property, just as
| If it had been his son. He died by his
| own hand INSANE it is said) leaving the
rest of his property directly to his two
sons-in-law, both of whom had impressed
| him as men of fine character, To John
| Hay he had previously given a beautiful
| home on Euclid Avenue, in Cleveland and
| other little gifts likely to make a man
comfortable in this life. A bright, manly,
| interesting fellow, full of sentiment and
| ability, Hay had touched the old man
more than any other he had ever met,
and he was very proud of him.
Col, Hay was penniless when he mar
ried Miss Stone. From Miss Stones IA
| Their he received in all something between
| enc and two millions. and his wealth
| some ten years ago was estimated prob
| ably on excellent authority, at the latter
| figure.
somewhere about the year 1854 Col. Hay
| began ito build that superb house in
| Washington about which so much has
| been written and said and thought The
! late II. II. Richardson was the architect,
! and the house is said 10 be his best work
| of its, kind For some years Col and
| Mrs. Hay spent their Summers in Cleve-
| land and their winters in the mansion
| just across Lafayette Square from the
White House. More recently they have
| lived more at the nations capital. Col.
| Hays position in Washington was not
| strikingly different 10 the outside observer
/ from what 1T was in Cleveland. In both
| cities he was one of the liyeliest and
most influential elements in the social.
| business and political life. though in
| neither was he a familiar figure in any
| of these relations. for he is essentially
| reticent man. well balanced, self-re-
| strained. disliking the flourish OF trum-
! pets
| 1t was in his Washington home that he
| did most of his work upon THE Life OF
| Lincoln" and during the period of his
| life that has just been discussed ne
/ wrote THE Breadwinners. a novel that
was published anonymously and that at
| tracted much attention. He did not ac-
knowledge the authorship of this story,
however, until just before he left for
England as American ambassador to that
| power The Herald article concludes as
| follows;
"Col. Hay Is prominently a man who
| works without attracting attention 10
himself. He works under the surface
| when there is occasion for secrecy, unos-
! tentatiously at all times. He had very
| large share in directing McKinley's can
vass 1t was his hand which set in mo-
| ton the wave of Mckinley enthusiasm
| It had long been known that he was a
friend of Mckinley and devoted 10 his
| personal and political fortunes. yet sc
| little known is he in the everyday politi-
cal life of washington that until just be-
| fore the nomination few suspected thai
| he. AFTER Hanna, was the leading spirit
| in theN Nc Kinley campaign war councils
| Then 1t was freely suggested that. in
| view of the importance of his services
and of his conservatism and ability as q
| diplomat he would probably be rewarded
by the most important diplomatic ap-
| pointment in the gift of the President
| 1t has been the custom to send to Eng
| land one of the most polished examples
| of American culture. Col. Hay was &
| man of wealth and leisure, as well as o.
elegant address, and If more scholai
| than a politician he was at all events
| able and dignifed
1T was said of him at the time that hi
| would never 'slop over. and he has mo-
| offended in that or any other way. HI
has not noticeably tried to placate the
| English, yet he has succeeded notably
| His social prestige has enhanced his of
fetal influence: there has been a signifi
| cant absence of points under discussion
| between the two governments, and III
has scored one more point in favor of tn,
! scholar In politics Though he has tbs
| temperament of the student, he has mad,
| himself popular with all classes of PEG
pie Though Col. Hay is real force, M
one has anything to say against him. H,
has filled what is probably the most diff
ficult position abroad under our Govern
ment So wisely that no one has found
| fault.
Coll Hay was given the degree of LII
D. a year ago last June by Brown Uni
versityTS'
a. CannfbaIs Classified