Evening star., 1909-02-24

and has devoted himself exclusively to
his public duties. For twelve years he
save his official salary, mileage and sta
tionery allowance. He has declined all
fees for lectures or addresses. and has
invariably insisted upon paying his own
travelling expenses to and from public as
we'll as private engagements. Few public
men have ever been so scrupulouS in this
respect. In many cases Mr.. Fairbanks
has felt clearly entitled to remuneration,
but preferred to err on the right side.
Since he has been Vice President he has
Travelled approximately 5000 miles. and
during the four years has delivered about
700 speeches. The most important were
at the opening of the Portland exhibition,
at the international railway congress. as
representative of the United States gov
ernment at the Quebec tercentenary last
summer. when he responded to the address
of the Prince of Wales; at the national
waterways congress- at two irrigation
congresses and as a member of the joint
high commission which. at the beginning
OF the Mckinley administration. under
took to adjust all the differences between
the United States and Canada.
The remainder of the 100 addresses were
delivered during political campaigns. at
historical celebrations. at religious con-
ventions, assemblies of commercial and
industrial organizations. college com
mencements. meetings of fraternal and
charitable organizations. at the dedication
of public buildings and monuments and
the laying of corner stones, at ami
versaries of cities and patriotic events,
at Y. NJ. c. A. meetings. at schools and
colleges. state fairs, meetings of scientific
and benevolent societies and at innumer-
able banquets.
Since his Inauguration as Vice Presi-
dent Mr.. Fairbanks has not missed a
single dinner of the Gridiron Club, 1 be-
leve. and has been guest of honor on
every occasion, which indicates the es-
TEEN in which he is held by the newspa-
per men of this city; and he has SUBJ
mitted with genial enjoyment to the fam
tastic "roastings" that have fallen to his
share. BY some strange mischance the
impression has prevailed that Mr.. Fair
manks is an iceberg" whereas every one
who knows his can tell you that no man
of official position is more democratic
in his habits or genial in his disposition
none values the friendship OF all classes
more highly than he. Nevertheless this
impression has followed him as persist
emily as the "cocktail' story. which is
equally false. but has caused many good
people to regret that SO great a man
should be addicted to intemperance. The
Vice President does not ever drink any
thing stronger than tea or coffee. No
one ever saw him touch a glass of wine
or liquor whether in public or private
in food or drink, although he is a guest
at a dinner party or a banquet every
night of the social season in Washington
when he Is not entertaining friends at his
own house.
While he was member of the Senate
he occupied spacious mansion on MasSa-
chusettS avenue. Since he has been Vice
President he has lived in a still larger
residence on Farragut Square. and both
have been always open to everybody. No
Washington
such generous and democratic hospitality.
Mrs Fairbanks is undoubtedly the most
popular woman in public life. and few
women have a wider acquaintance. Her
official position and connection with the
Daughters of the American Revolution
have given her not only a national repu-
tation. but a national acquaintance, which
has been enlarged by her visits with the
Vice President to every state in the
Union.
Her tact. her sincerity. her sense of
humor and her genial grace are known
as far as her name. and no woman in the
country has larger number of loyal and
affiectionate friends.
Mr.. and Mrs. Fairbanks have invariably
entertained every member of the diplo-
matte corps, every member of the cab
met. every justice of the Supreme Court.
every member of the Senate and the more
prominent members of the House of Rep
resentatives and their wives annually
and distinguished visitors have always re-
ceived cordial welcome from them. Be
fore the Mckinley administration it was
not customary for the Vice President S
family to take prominent part in social
life at Washington. Mr.. and Mrs. Hobart
introduced that custom. and Mr. and
Mrs. Fairbanks have continued it as a
part of their share of the responsibilities
in the government. They have entertain
ed as many people as the President, and
while their dinners have been frequent
they have not been extravagant. and their
invitation lists have included worthy peo-
pie of every class.
Mr.. Fairbanks returns to the practice
of his profession, and will reopen his
former Office at Indianapolis. At first he
had some misgivings as to his success
in recovering any part of the clientage
that he gave up when he entered public
life. but he has already received sub
stantial assurances that his time will be
fully occupied Before settling down to
practice he will probably make a tour
of the world, and both Mrs Fairbanks
and himself will thoroughly appreciate
the change and rest and wherever they
go the good wishes of all Washington
will follow them