The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-24

expressed a desire to hear Clara Nor,
ris. Colonel Watterson happened te
he at the White House. The president
requested him to escort Mrs. Cleve-
land. which the gallant Kentuckfan
was happy to do. Between the acts
Mrs. Cleveland suddenly announced
that she desired very much to have
chat with the noted actress. The colo
mel arranged for her to visit Miss Nor
ris in the latter's dressing room. De-
lighted with her experience. Mrs. Cleve-
land enthusiastically told her husband
about 1t as soon as the colonel TOOK
her home.
terson and somewhat angrily reproach-
ed him for permitting the nrst lady OF
the land to visit an actress IN her
dressing room instead OF having the
actress call at the box He had trusted
to the colonePs age and discretion. he
said. to protect Mrs. Cleveland from
Welding to schoolgirl fancy" so I'M
dignifed.
Grover Cleveland was the first Dem
ocratic mayor of Buffalo and the first
Democratic governor of New York
since the civil war. Then he became
the first and only Democrat elected
10 the presidency since James Buch-
anan. who defeated John c. Fremont,
the first Republican candidate, In 1856
These facts enhance his distinction.
HRlDe0 EdnnV STOSDy w
From his boyhood Mr.. Cleveland
manifested those traits Of iron cour-
age which may be termed self conf
dence so characteristic of his Official
career. Young Growers first job away
from home was a clerkship in school
for the blind. Fanny Crosby, the not
ed hymn writer, herself blind, was a
teacher there. Young Cleveland used
to assist her by taking down her
poems in handwriting. The principal
of the school upbraided Miss Crosby
for utilizing Grover in that way. Gro
yer heard of 1t.
Look here" he said to the blind
singer, you have a perfect right to
use my services in this way. Your
hymns do much good for this school.
You tell the principal SO next time ne
objects"
Miss Crosby boldly stood up for her
rights after that, and the principal
meekly submitted, while the young
amanuensis continued the penmanshlp
practice which enabled him later along
in life to write presidential messages
legibly.
Mr.. Cleveland made his own way
IN the world. His father, a Presby-
terrain minister, died when Grover was
sixteen. The boy after his brief ex-
perience in the school for the blind
started for Cleveland, o. 1t is said
that the name of that city was its
chief attraction for him. But he
visited an uncle in Buffalo on his way
west and was induced to remain In
that city. Growers mother when he
left home gave him a little Bible.
Daniel Lamont. who was private secre-
tary to Governor Cleveland and later
a member of President Cleveland
cabinet, told a highly interesting story
of this Bible.
"I first saw it, said Mr.. Lamont
ION a table in Cleveland's law office
came governor the little Bible was
generally to be seen on the bureau In
his bedroom in Albany. Just before
his inauguration as president l found
the book in his rooms at the Airing
ton hotel, Washington. and 1 carried
1t to Chief Justice White, requesting
him to use 1t when he swore the new
chief magistrate into office"
About 10000 witnesses saw Grover
Cleveland press his mothers gift t.
his lips on that memorable occasion.
Later the little Bible lay on Mr.
Cleveland's writing table in mis- iibrar.
at Princeton. On the outside cover i
inscribed in gilt letters the name as
G. Cleveland" and on the fly leaf II
his mothers handwriting are tn
words. my SON Stephen Grove
Cleveland, from his loving mother"
Display of Self Confidence.
The late Senator ingalls,. himself
brilliant orator, once confessed tina
he was stricken dumb with wonder
ment by Mr.. Clevelands display c
self confidence at his first Inaugural
ton. With 10000 people in hearin
and 7O.oOO,OOO waiting to read tn
words he was about to utter this MAJ
altogether new to Washington an
to the national arena, stood forth t
deliver his inaugural address offhant
He held in the palm of his left han
a scrap of visiting card on which h
had noted the merest catchwords
his address. The sight of this scra
of card caused Senator ingalls, to say
suppose his memory had faile
him. Such things happen to speaker