Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-07-11

men of the state eager to do my bid- ding, whatever it might be. in the house that in return l would take care of them, would admit them to the coveted inclosure round the plum tree. The plum tree! Is there any kind of fruit which gladdens the eyes of ambitious man, that does not glis- ten upon some one of its many boughs, heavy-laden with corporate ! and public honors and wealth?
 Burbank's indirect attack, through his wife and Carlotta, fared better
 The first of it distinctly recall was after children's party at our house. Carlotta singled out Mrs. Burbank for enthusiastic commendation "The oth- CT women sent nurses with their chil- dren," said she, but Mrs. Burbank came herself. She was so sweet in apologizing for coming. She said she hadn't any nurse, and that she was so timid about her children that she never could bring herself to trust them to nurses. And really, Harvey, you don't know how nice she was all the afternoon. She's the kind of mother I approve of, the kind I try to be. Don't you admire her." ft
 'I don't know her." said I. ''The only time met her she struck me as being-well, rather silent"
 That's it." she exclaimed triumph. antly. ''She doesn't care a rap for men. She's absorbed in her children and her husband" Then. after a pause, she added: Well, she's vel. come to him. I can't sec what she finds to care for"
 Why" said I.
 "Oh, he's distinguished-looking ard polite, offensively polite to women he doesn't understand them at all-. thinks they like deference and flattery. the low-grade molasses kind of fiat. tery. He has very nice smile. But he's so suited and tiresome. always serious,-aud such pose, It's what I call the presidential pose. No doubt he'll be President some day"
 Why" said I. It is amusing to watch woman tumble about for req. sons for her munitions.
 Carlotta did uncommonly we'll. "Oh, I don't know. He's the sort of high averaged American that the people go crazy about. He-he-looks like a President, that sort of-solemn-no- af know what I mean. Anyhow. he's go- ing to be President"
 I thought not. A few days later, while what Carlotta had said was fresh in my mind, he overlook me walking to the capitol As we went on together. was smiling to myself. He certainty did look and talk like President He was of the average height, of the average built, and of sort of average facial mold; he had hair that was a compromise among the average shades of brown, gray, and black. with bald spot just where most men have it
 His pose-I saw that Carlotta was shrewdly right He was acutely self conscious, and was acting his pose every instant. He had selected it early in life: he would wear it, even in his nightshirt, until death. He said nothing brilliant, but neither did he say anything that would not have been generally regarded as sound and sem sible. His impressive manner of de- livering his words made one over. value the freight they carried. But I soon found. for studied him with in. creasing interest, thanks to my new point of view upon him,-I soon found that he had one quality the reverse of commonplace. He had magnetism.
 Whenever a new candidate was pro posed for Mazarin's service. he used to ask. first of all. Has he luck?" My first question has been. Has he mag netism?" and I think mine is the bet ter measure. Such of ones luck as is not the blundering blindness of ones opponents is usually the result of ones magnetism. However. 1t Is about the most dangerous of the free gifts of nature,-which are all dangerous. Burbank's merit lay in his discreet use of 1t. It compelled men to center upon him; he turned this to his advantage by making them feel, not how he shone, but how they shone. They went away liking him because they had new reasons for being in love with themselves.
 I found only two serious weak. nesses. The first was that he lacked the moral courage boldly to do either right or wrong. That explained why. in spite of his talents for impressing people both privately and from the platform. he was at the end of his political career. The second weak. ness was that he was ashamed of his very obscure and humble origin. He knew that his being wholly self-made" was a matchless political asset. and he used it accordingly. But he looked on it somewhat as the beggar looks on the deformity he exhibits 10 get aims.
 Neither weakness made him less valuable to my purpose.-the first one, if anything. increased his value. I wanted an instrument that was capa- ble. but strong only when I used it.
 wanted a man suitable for develop ment first into governor of my state. and then into a President I could not have got the presidency for myself. hut neither did want 1t. My iongings were all for poEer.-the reality. not the shadow. Tn a republic the man who has the real power must be out