The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-11-26
JOIN BlGELOE, 90 YEARS OLD
HOLDS AN ALL DAY RECEPTION
FOR HIS FRIENDS,

OF INC NhbWs- Bha
Generations Of the Family There.
John Bigelow. lawyer. journalist. states
diplomat. useful citizen. celebrated
his ninetieth birthday in his horne. Fl
Gramercy Park. yesterday. Rather. his
friends celebrated il for him. a. the veteran
sat quietly in the reception room while all
the morning messages OF cOngratulation
End flowers were brought 10 him and all
the afternoon friends called to pay their
respects.
With him during the afternoon reception,
for although not formally arranged for
grew TO be such. were numerous members
II his family. There were four genera
tons represented in the room when Mrs.
ButlerK X. Harding. daughter Of Mr.. Poultney
Bigelow. called with her child. John Bige-
lows first great-grandchild.
With all who came TO him Mr.. Bigelow
chatted in lively spirits. refreshed for the
social features Of the day. he confessed.
by attending to some important business
matters which had been brought to him
in the morning and which could not be
delayed.
Yes, I work." ne said to one who ex-
pressed surprise that he should not have
made it a whole holiday. Il work to keep
out of mischief. No. he added n little more
seriously. II work so that l may not drag
superfuous on the stage. And it is muc
to be permitted TO work AT 90.
Il belong TO an aristocracy, You see. an
aristocracy not in danger of becoming
overcrowded. not even so numerous az not
20 be distinguished. No king or ~pOtentate
except the One above-has power to APP
point 10 our ranks.
Il should like to send a message through
you,' he said to a SUN reporter. -to my
friends, but l should want a little quiet and
repose To prepare anything for print and
here come my good friends bringing mes
saRes TO me instead.
They have been very kind. What pleased
me most. perhaps. is that testimonial from
my friends of the Century Club. l am
president of the club. l guess Stedman
had to do with getting that up. 1t was
kind and thoughtful Of each signer. but
you know how such things are; they do
not get themselves up"
Mr.. BIgelow referred to a parchment.
four feet high. with the names of about
two hundred members OF the Century in
four columns beneath an engrossed testi-
monial which read:
AHE NENIbh1s = AbNf-
The Hon. John Bi0eIov:
DEAR SIR-The approach Of your ninetieth
birthday moves us to express to YOU the
qualification which the suspicious event al
fords us. Life cannot be too long which, like
yours. has been one Of constant devotion
to the interest Of your country and the well
fare Of mankind.
Your public career has been marked by
patriotism. zeal in defending the right and
eminent literary and diplomatic achieve
ments; while the multitude OF your friends
and admirers. of whom We are but a small
portion. attest the excellence of your social
gifts.
Wishing you many happy returns Of the
anniversary and continued health and strength
70 enjoy them, We havethe honor and pleasure
to subscribe ourselves
Yours respectfully.
Mr.. BiRelow was a fine study az he greeted
his friends, his head often thrown rack
TO turn a pleased glance at some new fashion
in flower device a member of the family
would take from the latest arriving box
or TO laugh "a when a mighty package re-
vealed a bag filed with golf clubs all in
flowers.
The veterans abundant hair il not white
hut gray, IA are his flowing side whiskers,
Of an old fashioned cut. Noting these n
the color in his face one could imagine
him a yOungster of 10 uncOmmOnly well
preserved.
Some of his callers referred to Mr.. Big
CLOVIS earlier work-as proprietor and
editor OF the EUening Post half a century
90, as Minister 90 France during our Var
Of the Rebellion, 10 his work d Gov.
Tilden as a member of the Canal Com
mission in 1875 or later as Secretary Of
State of New York.
He accepted these illusions az compil-
ments of the occasion, hut his interest was
keenest in hat was said by those who
spoke OF the events OF to-day. H. was plain
20 be seen that he il not living in the past
but in the present and future, for only
recently he had this to say on the question
Of presidential possibilities:
Il cannot say that ! have in my mind at
this moment any such person who would
be able 90 get the nomination, OF perhaps
would be even willing to accept IL. Most
any man equal to the position would he
reluctant to accept il. There are plenty
of men in this country quite equal to such
q task, but unfortunately and IL is another
illustration Of the vicious influence of
our tariff s~ystcm-they have been attracted
nv the high salaries which protected in
dustries ran afford 10 lavish upon first class
talent. There are many men now con-
Quoting the great industries Of his country
who are quite al competent to fill the Presi-
dents chair "a any who have ever occupied
IL. Our country has always abOunded IN
men whose capacity for wisely managing
the affairs OF a great nation could not be
edualed, 80 far as he public knOws, by
the sov~ereigns, Presidents. or executive
officers of any other country in the world
The difficulty il that tho Legislation Of the
country since our civil war has made the
conditions by which high public station
is generally obtainable so Illuminating tina
such men shrink from it, while the rewards
of talent and CAPACITY in civil life are more
attractive. II not even more honorable"
In all his talks Mr.. Bigelow freely ex'
presses the opinion that the Democratic
party, in the event that il finds a man de
serving the nomination, who would b'
willing 70 accept il. must nominate him or
a tariff reform platform If it hOFcs to cleo
It's candidate.
REWEWBER EVACIlTION DAY.