The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-24
Was the Flash That Went Over
the Associated Press Wires
Into and Through the State
Journal Office This Morning.
THE COUNTRY MOURNS
For a States man Who Has Fill.
ed Our Highest Office.
Tributes of Respect-Messages
of Coincidence.


Princeton, June 24.-The death OF
ex-President Cleveland here this
morning recalls many stories Of his
busy and eventful life.
1.-The most distinguished private citi-
zen in the world" said a celebrated
Republican ex-senator. introducing
Grover Cleveland at the dedication cer-
emonies of the St. Louis Worlds fair
in 1903.
Nobody disputed the characterize
tion. Mr.. Cleveland had spent two full
terms in the White House, divided by
an interim of private citizenship. and
he had survived his retirement for
years. He was not like an ordinary
ex-president, who retires from one
term or from two terms served con-
secutiveiy. This man had suffered de-
feat after victory and had won victory
after defeat. That record is unique in
our history. 1t added to that high
distinction which inheres in any man
who has held the greatest elective Office
in the gift of the worlds nations. 1t
made him indisputably the most dis
tinguished private citizen in the world
But the ex-senator mentioned had
still further justification. Ever since
the ex-president retired to ;he classic
shades of Princeton his distinction
widened as a man. as a parsonage, one
might say as Character. in the best
sense of that term when 1t needs quota
! tion marks to qualify its meaning.
| Known as Grover.
| Early in life Mr. Cleveland discard-7
| ed his first name. Stephen. Therefore
| he could not be called Steve by the
people of the United States. But as
| the one great national character of his
| day he became respectfully and affec-
| tionately known as Grover. Everybody
| was interested in knowing what Grover
| was doing at his Princeton home. When
Grover went fishing. everybody wanted
| to know how many he caught and IL
| they were cats, suckers or founders.
| When Grover went duck hunting. ev-
| erybody waited eagerly to learn how
many he bagged.
| Even the simple story of the self
preservation frog was highly diverting
to the great public. This frog Mr..
| Cleveland was using for bait. He had
not had bite for an hour. Finally he
! happened to glance down at his feet,
and there on a rock sat little Mr.. Frog,
with the hook in his skin. enjoying life
| in the open air.
| Counting at any rate, from the time
| when he first became president, Mr..
| Cleveland never evinced any OF the
| personal magnetism qualities which are
calculated to make people think Of
him by his first name. much less to
| "Teddyize" it. Mr.. Cleveland was all
| ways a dignified person. More than
| that, he was essentially austere and
| ponderous. OF course he may have been
| quite otherwise when he went fishing.
| The statement refers to his public ap-
| pearances. He gave the impression of
| being a mountainous mass of mind,
| moving slowly, but surely, toward its
| ultimate goal, and when he reached
| the goal he stayed there and went into
camp. He did not get there by jumps
| or Jerks, by impulsive catching at con-
| cIusions, but by the laborious method
| of feeling his way and treading care
| fully, though perhaps not softly. Presi-
dent Cleveland was big thinking ma
| chine in constant operation, but so well
| oiled that he. made no unnecessary
| noise He took his work SO seriously
and found II SO exacting that no time
| things, even IL he had had the inclina-
i tion. Yet he was not always devoid
| Of humor.
At White House reception some-
how a seedy looking tramp got in line.
| He was Immediately behind one DIR.
| Lucky. who was introduced to the
president Nobody was acquainted
| with the tramp. Both he and Mr..
Cleveland seemed embarrassed for the
moment, but the president rose to the
| occasion Releasing the hand Of Dr.
Lucky, he grasped that of the tramp
and said cordially:
'And you. I suppose. are DR.. Un-
| lucky"
Messages to Congress.
1t is said that all the presidents to-
gether up to Mr.. Cleveland's- time did
not leave SO many state papers in
their own handwriting as did this
hard worker. Mr.. Cleveland insisted
upon attending personally to many at
fairs which other presidents turned
over to their secretaries. His mind
worked best through his arm and his
finger tips. His messages to congress
he wrote with his own hand, as, In
fact. all his important state papers.
Thus nobody could charge him with
being a dictator.
President Cleveland's severe concep-
ton of dignity was indicated by his
quarrel with Colonel Henry Watterson.
the famous Kentucky editor. Once the
president was too busy to go to the
theater when young Mrs. Cleveland
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