El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-02-15


of these. But copies of all correspond
ence are preserved ana a card index
kept so that the man-who comes TO pub
fish the correspondence OF a Taft or
Roosevelt will find abundant material
from which to Gull.
Mckinley and Cleveland.
Mckinley was not so much a man Of
letters as many of the other presidents.
His published speeches constitute about
his only effort in the field of literature.
Few presidents have had more written
about them, however, than Mckinley
His tragic death resulted in a veritable
flood OF ill-prepared biographies, most
of them published by the time his body
was laid in the tomb at Canton. They
were got out merely TO catch the sub
ScriptiOn book trade and with little view
TO their permanent value.
Grover Cleveland paid little attention
to letters until after his second term as
president. but from the end of his career
in the white house to the date of his
death he found ready sale for the ar
ticles and books written by him. The
royalties from his published books are
said TO afford his family a comfortable
income.
Benjamin Harrison wrote two excellent
books after leaving the white house.
Chester A. Arthur was little given TO
literary endeavor, and in the big card
not a single card showing a printed
document from his hand Aside from his
message and routine papers he has left
nothing TO literature.
In James A. Garfield the presidency
had its only minister of the gospel He
was also college president While his
utteranceS in congress are compre-
hensive resume of reconstruction times,
he left little else to abiding literature
of the country
Grants Memoirs.
For profitable endeavor in literary
work first place will have to be ac-
corded to Gen. Grant. Ground down to
sheer poverty by the Grant & Ward
failure, he was forced to write his me-
moirs in order to provide for his family.
He had written but little before, but II
developed that the fighter was also
writer and his autobiography has had
sale far above the half million mark
Mrs. Grant received one check for
5000 600 and another for $150,000, to say
nothing of many smaller ones. 1t Is said
that the royalties on the memoirs OF Gen.
Grant represent the highest reward that
has ever come TO the authorship Of
single work.
LincoIn's Classic.
Lincoln enjoyed few educational adj
vautages, yet all the world recognizes
his Gettysburg address as one Of the
writings have been collected into eight
good sized volumes. and reveal the many
sides of this wonderful man. Aside from
Washington he is perhaps the most writ
ten about of all the presidents
James Buchanan wrote a review and
defence of his administration before ne
died. George Bancroft, the historian.
collected the letters and diaries Of James
K Polk. and intended to publish them.
They are now bound in "a quarto vol
umes and are in the possession OF the
Lenox library, New York.
William Henry Harrison once wrote
pamphlet on the aborigines OF the Ohio
valley. and Martin Van Buren, publish
ed an inquiry into the origin and causes
Of political parties. John Quincy Adams
was a literary man., and some of his
poems and essays have survived in the
popular mind His poem on Man wants
but little here below, nor wants that
little long has found an abiding place
in American literature
lfonroe's Essay.
Monroe, who lives in the popular mind
as the author OF the Monroe doctrine,
wrote an extended essay on the conduct
of the executive. and another on a tour
OF observation he made His state pa
pers are. among the most Interesting
written by any president
Madison's notes on the constitution,
ana those on the confederation. are OOCu-
mertS referred TO by constitutional
writers to this day
Jefferson's declaration of independ
ence. his manual of parliamentary prac-
tice. whoch still remains a general code
of rules for the senate and house. and
his notes on Virginia, are among the
most interesting productions from the
pen of any presidential man of letters
John Adams wrote a number Of es
says.
Washington's Maxims. and his Trans
cripts of Revolutionary Correspond
ence, constitute his literary production,
but his farewell address takes front
rank as a state paper
Taking the whole sweep of American
history up to the time of Cleveland. 1t
is probable that the most notable docu-
ments that have come from occupants OF
the white house are Washington's Fare
well Address. Jefferson's Declaration of
independence, Monroe's Monroe Doe
trine. Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and
Grants Memoirs
Observation-Disclosures OF Violins.