Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-07-01
SECRETARY FAY DEAD.

lI'Z1 1hls InOfniDg AT NeWDury, " IL.
The sigus Immediately preceding his
death were those of pulmonary embolism.
Mr.. Hays condition during all of Fri
day had been entirely satisfactory.
Mrs. Hay and Drs. Scudder and Muir
ply were at the Secretary's bedside
when the end came. The Secretary
bade good night to his wife and to his
attending physicians about 10 O'Clock
last night at the close Of one of the
best days he had had since his illness.
The local trouble was clearing up salts
factorily, according to DIR. Scudder.
The Secretary suffered none of the old
pain in his chest which characterized his
earlier illness. He had been perfectly
comfortable all day, and happy in the
anticipation of leaving his bed for the
greater freedom aud comfort of a couch.
Secretary Hay had long been promi-
nent figure not only in his own country
but throughout the world, he being rec
ognized as a man of extraordinary abili-
ty. He was born at Salem. Washington
county, Ind, October s, 1888, and was
sixty-six years old.
Mr.. Hay came to the State Depart
ment, as the head ofthe Cabinet, Septem-
Der 20, 1898. He had held that place
now nearly seven years, in which time
have occurred most of the successes on
which his fame will rest. All the mem
bers of that Mckinley Cabinet of 1898,
with whom he was associated, have re-
tired, save only the Secretary ofAgricul-
ture, Mr. Wilson.
Secretary Hay was of Scotch extrac-
ton. His ancestors emigrated to Ger
many and then settled in Virginia in
1850. One of the first of these to arrive
in this country was John Hay and his
son Adam, soldier in the revolution,
who counted Washington as personal
friend. The Hays followed the tide of
migration from Virginia to Kentucky,
and John Hay, son of Adam Hay, final
" moved over into Illinois, because it
was a free State. The secretary, third
of the line to bear The name of John,
had from his earliest years a love for
books and learning. His father pros
porous physician of the middle west,
fostered this and sent him to college
Mr.. Hays public career up to the
time he was appointed Secretary of State,
or better, perhaps, up to the time he be-
came Ambassador to Great Britain, was
chiefly interesting for the splendid train
ing it gave him for subsequent work. 1t
was training such as very few men in
this country can have. He was in the
White House with Lincoln during prac
tically all of Lincoln's service as Presi-
dent. The trying events OF that per-
iod passed under his observation at one
of the most impressabe periods of
mans mature life, for Mr. Hay was only
twenty-five years of age when he came
to Washington with Lincoln. At Euro
pean capitals he resided sufficiently long
enough to become acquainted with Euro
pean men and methods of thinking. He
learned French, German and Spanish,
and spoke all of them easily-an i'm
mense advantage for one who would
make friendships with foreign people and
conduct diplomatic negotiations. At
times he was in charge of the legation at
Paris and also at Vienha.
With all his ripe experience among
men Of diverse natiOnalities, MI. Hay
was further reinforced by his five years
service as an editorial writer on the New
YorkTribune. Horace Greeley, then at the
head OF the Tribune, characterized Mr..
Hay Gas the most brilliant writer that
had ever entered the office" But jour
nalism had few attractions for him, and
in 1875 he left the Tribune to take up
his residence in Cleveland, where he re-
NAMED for ten years before moving to
Washington. In 1881, however, he re-
turned to New York for seven months
to act as editorin-chief during the alb
sence in Europe of his friend, Whitelaw
Reid.
Thus at iifty-nine Mr.. Hay was well
equipped for the duties of Ambassador
for which Mckinley designated him.
He knew the Department of State, for
he had served there az Assistant Secre-
tary year and a half under Evarts,
one Of the ablest men of the period. He
was intimate with the official world of
Washington, including its foreign rep
resentatives. For more than twelve
years he had resided in Washington
As a gentleman of culture, education,
and wealth, possessing a magnificent
residence, he enjoyed the highest social
and literary privileges. As a man OF
letters he was already known to the
other side of the Atlantic, and while
he was not then distinguished for diplO-
macy, England welcomed him as one
who would ill worthily the position oc-
cupied by James Russell Lowell.
He served as ambassador for eighteen
months. 1t would hardly more than SUI
fee for most men TO get their bearings.
1t enabled Mr. Hay not only to lay a
splendid foundation for the work he I'M
dertook as Secretary of State, by winning
the friendship and admiration of the in
hueutial men of England, but in that
time he also performed very valuable
services for his government. The hundred
days war was fought with Spain before
Mckinley called him back to become
Secretary of State.
Secretary Hay had most interesting
personality. He was known as the most
conversstionslist in Washing
ton. His friends delight to recall his