The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1908-06-29
BY ROBERTUS LOVE.
(From The Charlotte Observer.)


(From The Charlotte Observer)
THE most distinguished private
citizen in the world" said a Gel
ebrated Republican ex-senator
introducing Grover Cleveland,
at the dedication ceremonies of
the St. Louis worlds fair in
1903.
Nobody disputed the charac-
terization. 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 ordi-
nary ex-President, who retires
from one term or from two terms
served consecutively. This man
had suffered defeat after VIC
tory and had won victory
after defeat. That record is
uniqe in our history. 1t added
to that high distinction which
inhers in any man who has held
the greatest elective Office in
the gift of the worlds nations.
1t made him indisputably the
most distinguished private cit
izen in the world.
But the ex-senator mentioned
had still further justification.
Ever since the ex-President re-
tired to the classic shades OF
Princeton his distinction has Wi
dened as a man, as a parsonage,
one might say, as a character
in the best sense of that tern
when it needs quotation marks tC
qualify its meaning.
AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS
GROVER.
Early in life Mr.. Cleveland dis
carded his first name, Stephen
Therefore he could not be callec
Steve by the people of the Unit
ed States. But as the one grea
national character Of his day h
became respectfully and affec
tionately known as Grover. Ev
erybody was interested in know
ing what Grover was doing a
his Princeton home. WhenGro-
yer went fishing, everybod,
wanted to know how many h
caught and if they were cats
suckers or founders. Whel
Grover went duck hunting, ev
body waited eagerly to learn ho7
many he bagged.
Even the simple story of tn
self preservation frog was higl
ly diverting to the great public
. This frog Mr.. Clevelan
was using for bait. He had NJ
had a bite for an hour. Final
II he happened to glance down ;
n his feet, and there on the roc
If sat little Mr.. Frog, with the hoo
in his skin, enjoying life in tt
open air.
Counting, at any rate, from tt
time he first became Presiden
~ Mr.. Cleveland never evinced al
n of the personal magnetism qua
re tiles which are calculated to NAL
n people think of him by his fir
IN name, much less to "Teddyize
IN it. Mr.. Cleveland was always
dignifed person. More than ths
he was essentially austere al
ponderous. Of course he m;
have been quite otherwise VIII
8 he went fishing. The stateme
refers to his public appearance
He gave the impression of bell
= a mountainous mass of min
moving slowly, but surely,
= ward it's ultimate goal, al
when he reached the goal
stayed there and went into cam
He did not get there by jumps
jerks, by impulsive catching
conclusions, but the laborio
method of feeling his way al
treading careful y, though pc
haps not softly. President Cley
S. land was a big thinking machi
in constant operation, but so w
<. oiled that he made no unnece
sary noise. He took his work
seriously and found it so exacti
that no time was left for h
for the lighter side of thing
even if he had had the inclir
ton. Yet he was not always {
n void of humor.
7 At a White House receipt
somehow a seedy looking tral
got in line. He was immedia
ly behind one DR.. Lucky, W
was introduced to the Preside
! Nobody was acquainted with I
> tramp. Both he and Mr.. Gle
land seemed embarrassed for
moment, but the President r
to the occasion. Releasing
hand of the tramp he said c
daily:
.es. And you, l suppose, are
, Unlucky."
= MESSAGES TO CONGRESS Penn
BY HIMSELF.
! 1t is said that all the Pr
dents together up to Mr.. Gle
lands time did not leave so m
l. L.