The Washington herald., 1909-03-28

"-AiiSaA u o|AlDS a
Mr.. Cleveland resented the lies about
the enormous bags he brought home
from shooting. even more. apparently
than Misrepresentation OF his political
acts. At least. he seemed 10 cherish the
resentment longer. The other lies ceased
TO be believed. I'm no pot-hunter." he
used 10 say with spirit, and never
was"
In his strolls about Princeton he al
ways took appreciative note Of the points
OF any bird-dog that he might happen to
see; and once when a caller was followed
into the library az "Westland" by a toe
devoted Irish setter. the hospltable
master OF the house protested against the
efforts Of the owner TO put the dog out.
mo, no. he doesn't want 10 wait out IN
the cold while we are in here enjoying
ourselves. Let him stay. let him stay.
I always like a good dog" and the setter
seeming 10 understand, as settlers often
do. walked across the room with consid-
erable dignity, settled himself comfort
ably at the feet OF the master of West
land, and with his muzzle on the floor
looked up and blinked Jeerlngly at his
owner.
One thing which helped TO mislead the
outside world as 70 the essential SIM
plicity OF Mr.. Cleveland's nature was the
heavy, Iaborious style OF many. though
not all, OF his writings and public utter
ances. II was so different from the easy
idiomatic collOQuialism OF his conversa-
ton. In his writings he invented several
famous phrases, such as "innocuous
desuetude" and "the restless rich" In
| conversation he was given TO more
homely expressions He was fond OF old
saws. such as THERE (when playing
/ cribbage) I knew I'd get my head into
a bag" or, when something OF a conf
Dental nature was related to him. well.
I'll put that in the back OF my head
where there isn't any mouth" This ap-
parent incongruity can, OF course, be
partly explained by the simple fact that
when expressing himself formally he was
writing IN obedience TO the instinct Of a
trained lawyer and with a view to his
| Official responsibility as a statesman.
Moreover, the influence OF the sOnorous
English Of the Bible and his father S
sermons doubtless had their effect when
he approached the task Of writing;
whereas when engaged IN informal con-
versadon he was man merely talking
20 other humans. most Of whom he had
10 put at ease There may, however, be
another reason which helps 10 explain
this and many other things about Mr.
Cleveland not generally understood. That
was his innate shyness. Though entirely
free from nervousness when delivering
a public address. no public character
ever disliked publicity more. Writing is
/ essentially q public performance. I'm
consciously, perhaps, he hid behind MS
style. This may help 10 account for the
! fact that when under stress OF deep feel
/ ing he forgot all this, and his style was
more direct and clear, his sentences more
terse and simple.
AS in everything he undertook. Mr..
Cleveland was a most careful worker
when he wrote. Whether II was a public
address. a political essay, or a shooting
sketch. he never began the actual. pain
full process Of writing until after a period
OF careful brooding on the subject Then
came mood. known to most writer's. CT
strong aversion to the task He hated 10
write It out. II was a fool to undertake
this. 1 might have known Ia get my
head in a bag haven't time TO DO these
| things I don't know enough" and so
on. until he finally made himself get at
Il. saying, well. this Is the last time I'll
ever do anything OF this sort" Then.
when at last the plunge was made.
/ eheerfUlIy and patiently he forged each
sentence through TO the end. And when
the end was reached, his revissons, though
careful and numerous. were almost never
structural; merely verbal and phrassI.
He often amplifled little, but the frame
work invariably remained as was first
/ planned
I'm afraid it's pretty bad" he used TO
say dejectedly to Mrs. Cleveland or any
other he might chance 10 consult when
the work in hand was finished.
Why don't you read Il aloud?" would
be suggested.
NO, don't want to take your time. -
AT least won't you read the introduc-
ion?"
And then when that was read he would
go on 10 the end. He felt much better
about It after that
! Cicero. in DE Senectute," tells OF the
pleasures and satisfactions OF old age,
but his own latter years, saddened with
family troubles and embittered by politi-
cal strife, were ended al the hands of
paid assassins. who found him an unre-
sisting' victim. alone at his country seat.
It is rare that we find IN history a
great public leader whose life was more
completely rounded or whose death was
more beautiful than that OF our late
President Full OF years. mellow, serene,
loved by his friends. revered by his coun-
try, and admired by the whole world. he
died as ordinary people die, in his own
home, surrounded by those he loved
most His death. like his chief charac-
teristics In life. was normal But for the
very reason that he was "a man Of COM
mon qualities raised 10 the nth power. -
/ his example in history should be the
more useful 10 the sons Of men.