The times., 1899-05-17
THE HON. GROVER CLEVELAND
From the New York SUM-

From the New York SUM-
On Sunday there was a baseless rumor
OF Mr.. Cleveland's sudden death at Middle
Bass Island. in Lake Erie. whittier he had
gone on a fishing expedition with few
personal friends. The story was too quick
ly contradicted to cause prolonged anxiety
in any quarter. Visitors returning from
the island to Sandusky in the evening re-
ported that at o'clock that afternoon Mr..
Cleveland was in perfect health and was
then engaged in a game of pinochle with
his companions. A similarly reassuring
account of Mr.. Cleveland's condition was
rendered later that night by excursionists
who had remained on the island until after
8 o'clock.
There is likely TO be more or less sur
prise at Princeton. and perhaps elsewhere.
over this accidental disclosure OF Mr..
Cleveland's choice OF occupation on that
particular day. For although the former
President is not officially con4ected with
the great Presbyterian university and al
though he is in the fullest sense the mas
ter OF his own recreations and the formu-
lator OF his own views of Sunday observ-
ance. it is nevertheless true that he has
come to be regarded, perhaps in spite of
himself, as in some degree preceptor Of
youth, or at least as a pattern OF decorum
and dignity, and to that extent an adjunct
of the institution. The former Presidents
usefulness in this respect is recognized
both by the faculty and the students; The
fact is creditable to him. Pinochie, under
many circumstances, is an innocent II not
an Intellectually exacting diversion. but it
is not believed that Mr.. Cleveland would
practice il on the front steps Of his Prince
ton house at 8 o'clock on Sunday after
noon.
The senior class In psychology, as well as
the students in the Princeton School OF
Theology. will find profit, in examining an
extraordinary poem written much earlier
in this century by the Hon. Grover Cleve-
lands grandfather. the Rev. Aaron Cleve-
land. of Norwich. Conn. In this poem Mr..
ClevelaRd's grandfather sets forth with
great clearness the influence OF diverse
heredity as explaining apparent inconsist-
encies of character in the same individual.
Il is remarkable, indeed, to find an old
fashioned New England minister boldly
avowing ideas which belong rather to later
science than to the ideas of will and per-
soral responsibility held by most of the
theologians and metaphysicians who were
his contemporaries. Mr.. Cleyeland's grand
father did not merely advance that theory
Of the duality of character which appears
in Steyenson's story OF DR.. Jekyll and Mr..
Hyde: he went further and declared that
he the Rev. Aaron Cleveland. was a null
tiplex and variable character in whom one
or another of the four most foreeful an
cestral types in turn predominated:
-Four kinds of blood flow in my veins.
And govern each in turn my brains;
From Cleveland. Porter. Scwell. Waters,
| had my blood distinct in quarters.
After some general philosophical refiec-
tions, which show that the Rev. Aaron
Cleveland was a person with a mind OF
buDn0r
ahead OF his times. he proceeds to analyze
the four principal strains OF ancestral
blood that contended necessarily for the
control Of his own actions:
The name of Cleveland | must wear
Which some poor founding first must bear.
Porter. I'm told. from Scotland came,
bouny bard of ancient fame
SewelI. an English derivation.
Perhaps some outcast from the nation
Waters, an lrishman, | ween,
Straight roundabout from Aberdeen,
Such is my heterogeneous blood
motley mixture, bad and good.
Each blood aspires to rule alone.
And each in turn ascendS the throne.
And rules till others tear him down
The Cleveland strain he. rather liked.
but had greater respect for the Porter.
Porter was the sage. Sewell the common
place and pretentious politician:
When Porter next may wear the crown.
Now all is calm, discreet, and wise,
Whatc' er | DO, whateer advise.
Scwell, perhaps, may next bear rule.
I'm then philosophic fool.
With jefferson | correspond
And soar with him the stars beyond.
While every fbre OF the brain
To sense profound 1 nicely strain
And then arise beyond the ken
OF common sense and common men
But as for the Waters that was in him,
the Rev Aaron heartily disapproved and
deplored 1t. Waters was the source of all
his mistakes. improprieties. and foolish
actions, and he earnestly implored For
ter to take charge and expel Waters:
Who comes uext2 Alas, tits Waters.
Rushing fearless to Headquarters.
He knows NO manners nor decorIm.
But elbows headlong to the forum.
Untaught unteachable, and uncontrolled.
Devoid OF wisdom, sense. w.t.
Not one thing right he hit,
Unless by accident. not skill.
lie blundcred right against his will.
Such am | nOw-no ttansmgTatiOn
Can sink ue to lower station,
Come Porter. come, depOse this clown.
And once for all assume the crown.
II aught in Sewell's blood you find
VIII make your own still more refined;
II found in ClevclaLds blood trait
To aid sou in affairs OF state,
Select such parts. hut spurn the rest,
Never 10 rule my brain or breast,
OF Water blood exrcl the whole,
Let not one drop pullute my soul
This will not only explain to the young
psychologists and metaphysicians at
Princeton much that has been mysterious
in the former Presidents character, but.
correctly appreheuded, it will also enable
them to understand themselves better than
ever before. The Rev. Aaron CleYeland's
poetical textbook on heredity ought 10 b.
made an elective study for senior year as
long as the Rev. Aaron's distinguished
grandson holds his present relation TO the
Princeton system.
II is former President Porter that is oc-
casionalIy exhibited 10 the undergraduates
from the platform of Alexander Hall as a
model of calmncss. wisdom, decorum. and
discretion; an historic exempiar OF states
manship in repose. II Is former President
Sewell that laboriously indites letters and
political addresses beyond the ken OF COM
mon sense and common men. IL is former
President Waters that goes of and plays
pinochle on Sunday afternoons.
Watch tor town Congress Heights. d. G