The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-04-05

don't want to talk won't force con-
versatlon.
II got up and walked about, but at
all times was within speaking distance.
Now and then 1 came back and sat
down, but not a word from Stanton. He
stlH maintained his position on the
rock. And he pulled away at his whis-
kers with pertinacIty that attracted
my attention to the utmost Finally
about the middle of the afternoon, he
broke the silence by saying: Don't you
think it's pretty near time we were
getting baciS?'
II told him was ready at any time;
that I was with him to go at his con-
venIence. But, said I, don't you think
it's pretty near time that we were eat
Ing our gin g" sna 81 I had forgotten
all about them. he saii. I guess you
are right
so 1 opened the bag and We sat
there and ate our luncheon. l was
hungry as bear. and Stanton proved
that he had not entirely lost his appe-
tlte. on the way back hs said to me:
why don't you come to Washington"
told him had never given the mat
ter any thought I don't know what
would do there said, TN give you
place in the war department, he re-
piled. But continued, 1t takes mo-
ncy to get to Washington and to get
started. I am not in condition at
present to consider going anywhere.
without a word he went down into
his vest pocket, and, counting Off from
a roll OF bills, handed me 800. Il want
YOU to come to Washington. and 1
want you to promise me that you will
do So he said, after silence ola few
minutes.
Clerk in War Department.
81 told him would. and / did.
went on to Washington and was duly
installed as a clerk in the war depart
ment. But as told you before. never
did any work. stanton's son Fred was
also clerk. used to report to the
department every day Stanton would
usually say: why don't you and Fred
20 fishing down on tho Potomac? And
at that we would start OF for a days
sport.
THE next day, when We reported for
work, he was likely to say; Well, you
boys didn't seem to have very good
luck yesterday. Better so down and
see II you can't redeem yourselves
And II we had been successful he would
suggest that we 20 back and fish to
keep up our reputation. And that's the
way It went. l can see now what he
wanted. He wns friendly to me and
wanted me to have a good time. There
was no especial work he wanted Of me;
only.to see me occasionally. Yes, Fred
and / put in a pleasant summer and
fall. But It finally became ltlresomc.
and threw up the position ard went
back to steubenville, where practlced
law until the early seventies,
Edwin NJ. Stanton was one Of tho
greatest men that this country ever
produced. He was Nne-grained
man, sensitive to tho extreme. And
his whole soul was given over to the
one thought-the preservation and
maintenance Of the Union. a great
many persons thought him cold and
unsympathetlc. He WINS as klnd-henrt-
ed and sympathetic as Lincoln, but he
knew that there were. times that things
must be ruled with an iron hand.
AZ went TO the white house with him
one day and heard him talk TO Mr..
Lincoln as few men would think OF
talking to an employer. What We
must do was the basis Of his talk, and
II was said with emphasis, Yet tears
were in his eyes when he turned and
left the President. II Lincoln had lived,
| | positively believe that stanton would
have lived longer than he did PresI-
dent Iohnson's attitude toward him
and treatment OF him practically kill
ed him before his time"
Mr.. sharon Is a cousin Of ex-senator
sharon, and was his partner In busi-
ness. Hc huR been resident Of Cali
fornia for more than quarter OF n
century. He IL also n cousin Of scna-
tor Clark. OF Montnnn.
Yes, Bill Clark and I are cousins 50
Mr.. sharon said And do you know,
when Clark bought the Verdi mine he