Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-09-01
NEW SECRETARY IS A MAN OF
FINE PARTS.
TRAINED UNDER LINCOLN
He's Lawyer, Journalist, Historian,
Poet, Diplomat and Man Of the
World-Described as a Conserva-
tive Adviser-Always Careful in
Speech and Never Stops Over"

world has been chosen by President
Mckinley to take the leading place In
/ his cabinet as secretary of state.
| Perhaps no other selection could
have been made which would so near
ly disarm criticism. 1t is felt by
everyone that, while Col. Hay may
not be a diplomatic giant like Web
ster Marcy Or Seward, his gifts and
his experience qualify his as a safe,
conversative adviser and executive in
the difficult diplomatic work which
il before him.
Col. Hay is keen and incisive in
speech. Every word is correctly
placed; every sentence says exactly
what Col. Hay means it to say. You
can see his mind at work as he
speaks. He utters nothing carelessly.
Some find him cold. His manner is
positive, but courteous. No one ever
mistakes him. He is finished speak
er, but IN spite of his ready wit not
sufficiently magnetic to be great
popular orator. He is man who will
never 'slop over" or say at night
i what he will regret in the morning.
His hearers are never nervous for fear
he vii make a break" Col. Hays
eye is keen and not large. 1t is black
or very nearly So and rests full upon
the man to whom he speaks. His
hair and beard are dark brown, and
time is beginning to sprinkle them
with gray. He is fifty-nine years of
age. but his slight physique and
tense energy of manner suggest a
younger man. In London, where men
consider their clothes seriously, Col.
Hay would hardly pass for we'll
dressed man, in spite Of his scrupulous
neatness. He prefers a sack coat to
a frock.
Col. Hay married Clara the daugh-
ter of Amassa J. Stone of Cleveland,
O. She brought him fortune Of ST.
900 600; yet it was no uneven match,
fer che obtained by her marriage a
distinguished husband and an exalted
social position. Not that these con-
siderations entered into love match
which was and has remained model.
Mr.. Stone was Cleveland's greatest
millionaire in the days before the
Rockefellers were heard of. He was
a friend Cf Mark Hanna, but pub
lic-spirited citizen. There was some
thing more than business shrewdness
in Stones head When his son Adel-
bert died, he founded Adelbert col
lege in his memory. Grief caused him
to take his own life. His will left the
college the full third of his estate
, which would have been Adelbert
Stones had he lived. The will was
never disputed.
Col. and Mrs. Hay have a daughter,
Helen. in London society, a son has
just been graduated from Yale, and a
younger son and daughter are in
school. The Hays home in Lafayette
square, Washington, has been called
the finest private house in America,
not because Of it's cost, which has
been often surpassed, but it's perfect
arrangements. 1t is a masterpiece Of
the late H. H. Richardson, America
greatest architect. The library is a
huge room filled with costly books.
There is in it no copy Of Pike County
Ballads. Magnificent paintings,
costly old masters many of them, line
the walls. But there is no garish
note All is subdued, harmonious
ana modest. Here Mr.. Hay will live
anG entertain as secretary of state.
In spite Ct wealth and of honors
that might turn mans head, Mr.
Hay is democratic in his tastes and
manner. His closest friend in Wash
ington is John l. Nicolay, his old as
sociate as President Lincoln's secre-
tary. In l. ndon his chum is Henry
James. He is fine scholar. He
would live in his library if he could
His CHI S associates are literary
men and thinkers, not politicians.
Circumstances have made Col. Hay at
home in the houses of foreign noble
men, at ease in scenes of state, but
he is by instinct a writer and likes
the society Of writing men. He would
make an ideal college president.
From Brown university Provi-
dence, Col. Hay went west, mere
boy, IN 1859, and entered Abraham
Lincoln's law office. He was admit
ted to the bar, but events prevented
him from becoming a practicing law
yer, although he has been a deep stu
dent Of law, especially international.
The war broke cut The railsplitter
e the SangamOn went to Washing
ton, a seeth ng sea of selfshness, Of
Iriva self-seeking and public ter
rCrism. He wished to have about
him men he knew. He asked John
G. Nicolay and John Hay to be his
secretaries. Nicolay was the senior
Hay being still in his early twenties
These were men Lincoln trusted
William Dean Howells, son of an
Ohio printer. wrote the campaign
life Of Lincoln. He was rewarded by
the consulship in Venice, an abuse of
patronage, but a fortunate one, since
it led to the publication Ct Venetian
F Days. Hay first met H0weIls when
the excessively shy, awkward OEio8n
came of1ca-seeking at the white
house. 1t was the beginning Of last
ing friendship.
Hen prominent in the national
life for thirty years since waited in
the ante-room where John Hay sat.
Gen. Hcrace Porter, an engineer Of
ficer, afterward a trusted aide of
Grant, came there with messages.
Gen. Miles was a dashing young Of
ficer. winning a generals brevet by
the most reckless bravery on the field.
Dewey, Sampson, Schley were mod