The National tribune., 1899-08-17

camera is always ready to take a snap
shot. However, there are panoramic pic
lures of the work and life of heroic men
and women; the world is full Of them, and
Washington has its share.
AS / write the form and figure OF james
A. Garfield as he walked these streets, as
he looked as statesman and President,
come up before me. When l first met him,
outside the Capitol, it was as President Of
the Classical Society,"" an organization
made up of the literati of Washington-a
society in which he took great interest
1t was relief to the daily grind that is
one of the inevitables of member of Con-
gress.
1t was in this society that Ignatius DON
nelly gave his theory of the Bacon-Shak-
spere cipher to Washingtonians. 1t hardly
need be recounted what leader Garfield
would make in such a society. His classical
turn of mind and his ripe scholarship were
used to the best advantage; and yet Mr..
Garfield was very human; criticisms and
innuendoes from any source annoyed and
troubled him. It was in these days that
Mary Clemmer Ames, who was then the
Washington correspondent Of the New
York Independent, saw fit to scarify him
upon a subject in which few were in sym.
pathy; but it called out a 16-page letter Of
advice to Mr.. Garfield from New England
clergyman.
II was on one of the Summer excursions
Of the Classical Society down the Potomac
River that Mr.. Garfield opened his hear
upon the subject to lady friend. and fol
an hour they paced the deck seeking light
how best to meet the outcome of that letter
He was more worried over that affair thar
he would have been over fusilade from
Ascore of political opponents.
He possessed big heart, and a minC
keenly sensitive to all that was beautiful
in art or nature. The conception of grea
broadening thought always brought a sof
eoloring and glow that shaded down the
outline OF his massive face. The effec
no one can forget who ever heard hin
speak.
Il shall never forget" said an eye-wit
ness, "the expression on Garfield's fac
when the delegates began to break in tn
Convention of 1880 and go over TO him.
Il scanned him with intense curiosity a
he listened to the call of States and tn
CefLdlu coming Ol Ills NOMINATION..
His cheeks had flash upon them, an,
there was faraway expression in hi
eyes. He listened to the responses Of tn
Chairmen as if he were communing witt
the future; and ask myself now, whether
as he swept the horizon of the future in hi
minds eye, could he possibly have had
glimpse OF the dark apparition that wa
even then being invoked into life? H
looked anxiouS-alnoSt troubled"
1t was In the still hours Of the night. il
April, 1865, that the signal bells in Bait
more awakened anxious sleepers. AL
those days were days of anxiety. Othe
nights these bells had rung out the DANCE
signal to call the friends of the Union
arms for the protection Of the CITY frou
some sudden raid. Within a twinkI
every house had its light, and every hear
beat faster, waiting some unwelcom
news.
In the distance could be heard the ca,
rierS cry coming nearer and nearer
Large bulletins were left at every doc,
President Lincoln dead; shot by an assas
Sin. The sorrow, the mourning, and tn
anxiety of that night can not be told i
words.
Mr.. Garfield was in New York. A hun
dred statesmen, Generals, etc, were gath
cred in a room in the Exchange Buildin
awaiting the arrival of Gen. Butler; so. 90
people were outside. The police were see
swinging their batons on the air, partin,
the crowd to let a carriage pass. "Butlel
Butier. was the cry. He entered tn
room; shook hands with all Some had
WORD; others could not speak All were il
tears. The first word that broke tn