The Washington herald., 1907-09-15
By DEXTER MARSHALL.

beaten face framed i'm fringe Of white
whiskers, with a voice that sounds Ike
The filing Of a rusty saw, and in appear
ance suggesting the seasoned deep-water
salt-that is f. c. Benedict.
Slight. gentle-mannered. and low-voiced,
with poets hair and poets air. some
times Of a dreamy gaze, but methodical
and businesslike for all Of these things
that is Richard Watson Glider.
Impressing you as burly, Yet showing
the students stoop sometimes when he
stands or walks, with a voice which still
has the honest ring Of the farmers
Son's-that is John Finley.
Successful banker aged seventy-three.
editor of the most exclusive magazine Of
America. aged sixty-three: overworzed
college president, aged fo-ty-tour; these
three men, each utterly unlike the others
are the best known friends Of the only
living ex-President. The first was be-
coming a power in finance when Cleve-
land began his first term in 1855, and the
second had been at the Century's head
for four years. but the third, who later
was 10 be the Youngest college president
in the land, had been free from the uni
versity only a year OF so. and had hardly
begun 10 find himself.
In more ways than one although en-
tirely unacquainted with him when
White House occupant. Finley Is now
closer TO the former Chief Executive than
any other man. For some years they
were neighbors at Princeton-in fact
Finley lived in one Of Cleveland's two
Princeton houses for some time-and each
summer they are neighbors now, since the
Cleveland and Finley farms in New
Hampshire are located on the two sides
Of the same line fence.
Or. Finley and the former President
may have met before 1900 but their close
acquaintance began in that year soon
after Finley was appointed to the chair
Of politics on the Princeton faculty. Nat
urally Cleveland was interested in the
chair Of politics, which was an innovation
decidedly, no university ever having had
a professor Of politics before; and nat
urally ne was interested, also. in the per-
sonaIiy Of the new professor, then only
thirty-seven, and q year more than a
quarter century lis junior
Now. Princeton is a university town.
strictly. Il has no Industries not depend
ing directly or Indirectly upon the big
school. There are no factories there: no
steel mills. no sweat shops. no big stores.
The population is made up of the pro
feSsors. the students. and those who cater
10 their wants, with q few who have re-
tired from active life, as Cleveland has
from the Presidency. and few others
from the farm From q business point Of
view 1t is not a lively place. and its popu-
laton IS practically stationary New
houses in Princeton are a rarity. and.
when Finley began TO look for O place 10
live in- he WAS dismayed 20 find that there
wasn't a vacant house in the village.
Cleveland heard Of this situation about
as soon as anv one else and HIS interest
N the chair and It's prospective incumbent
prompted him 20 offer a solution 0f the
difficulty. The property on which his own
home stood was larger than was neces-
sary; IN fact, II was quite big enough for
another house, his plan was to build
new house especially for the young pro-
fessOT. This pleased everybody. especially
the university authorities and Finley
most OF all, SO as soon as the house could
be put up he moved in and remained the
former Presidents tenant until called 10
the metropolis to serve as president Of
n
Was q natural sequence that a strong in
timacy should spring up between them.
Finley worked on the farm until he
managed TO get to Knox College. at Gales
burg ILL., where he was graduated in 1887.
while yet Cleveland's first term had a
year to run. The young man had 70 work
hard 20 get himself through he devoted
most Of his summer vacations to earning
money for his winter expenses. and, one
day when he was 20 take stif examfna-
tion IN some branch Of mathematics. he
put in part Of the morning blowing
corn, walked eight miles after luncheon
TO the place OF examination. spent TWO or
three hours wrestling with the problems
that had been framed 20 test him. and
then walked home again "in the shank
Of the evening"
He is a versatile man. After serving
the New York State Charities Aid Asso-
citation as secretary for a while he
achieved the presidency Of Knox, his alma
mater. in 1892. when only tWenty-nine, and
held the post seven years. Since then he
has edited several periodicals. written
book or taxation dn collaboration with
Richard T. Ely. and Travelled over a
good part Of the world, in addition to his
educational work
Also. ike Richard Watson Glider he has
written some poetry, and pretty good
poetry at that He is a good speaker,
too, equally happy on the platform and
as a pOst-prandial orator
CIeveIand's Yachtsman Friend.
Dr. Finley has one characteristic In
common with the other two OF the former
Presidents best known friends He is q
devoted fisherman. although none Of the
three can catch as many bass In a day as
Cleveland can.
Finley Is the only college man Of the
three. Like Cleveland. the other two have
Had TO worry along without degree"
Benedict is a native of Westchester Coun-
ty. Just beyond the limits Of the present
Greater New York, where he was born
thirty years before Commodore Wander
bilt abandoned steamboating for railroad
ing Benedict began as clerk in a stock
brokers' Office, and his business head
quarters has been in Wall street and its
vicinity for half a century or more. but
he has long lived In Connecticut. where
for years he was d real power IN State
politics That power exists no longer. but /
his home on the Sound, near Greenwich. /
is one Of the Nutmeg States greatest /
show places. Il is built so close to the I
shore that il seems almost to rise directly /
out OF the water. 1t stands on the site OF /
the old Indian HaTbOr Hotel. which. in I
its turn, stood on the site Of the Americus /
Club, built by Tweed nearly forty years /
ago as retreat at certain times for him /
self and his fellows In politics. Benedict's /
house is one OF the handsomest in the /
country, and he is proud Of It and the /
money 1t cost him.
Benedict was close friend Of Edwin i