davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-01-04
Only One Man Now Living Can Tell
Name Of Republican Who Persuad-
ed President Garfield to Mako
Judge Robertson Collector.

There is probably only one man
now living who is able to give au-
thoritatively the name of the Repub-
lican who persuaded President Gar
field, in March, 1881, to nominate
Judge William H Robertson collector
of the port of New York-a nomina-
ton that brought about the dramatic
joint resignation Of Roscoe Conkling
and Thomas c. Plat from the United
States senate, and, in the opinion Of
many, the defeat of James G. Blaine
as the Republican presidential nomi-
nee in 1884 The one man is J. Stan
ley Brown, who was private secretary
to President Garfield, and who mar
ried the presidents only daughter.
Mr.. Brown, however, will never tell,
unless posthumously. He regards him.
self as under obligations to reveal
none of the secret history Of the Gar
field administration
have been asked many times who
it was that recommended to Garfield
the appointment of Judge Robertson,
and could only say that in Washing
ton, at the time the appointment was
made, no one was found, excepting
Mr.. Brown, who could answer the
question. Yet, it is probable that the
late John II. Starin, who was in con-
gress with Garfield and was close
friend of the latter, knew; and base
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-01-04
Presidents Tribute to Wife

which the presidents private apart
ment had been fitted up, and after
the business in hand was out of the
way commented on the furnishings
and decorations, venturing to say that,
now that he was at last in the White
House, he must have some sense of
pride in the fact that he was presi-
dent of the United States; that he
must have some concrete idea of what
it ali meant to be the head of so
great a country.
For moment General Arthur did
not answer, me. Then, slowly, he
turned and stood looking at a por-
trait which hung upon the wall 1t
was splendid likeness of Mrs. Ar
thur, and it was the one domestic
adornment of his New York house
which he had insisted on bringing to
Washington with him, and hanging
where, in his private moments, he
could easily look at it.
For several minutes he gazed low
ingly, longingly, at the picture. Then
he turned to me:
Howard he said, slowly, simply
and yet impressively, you say it is a
great thing to be president and oc-
cupy the White House. But 1 have
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-01-04

men off bases by fast throws than 1t
is at any other stage of the contest.
The team that is rallying and sees
victory almost in hand always is ex-
cited, and the base runners take more
liberties, longer leads and lose their
heads quicker than at any other time.
Excitement robs them of their natural
caution and the catcher who keeps
cool and keeps thinking can catch
runners off their bases frequently, and
perhaps break up winning rally and
save the game. The Cubs have done
that many times, and it helped them
win remnants. l am not claiming I
won those games.
Confidence in each other is one Of
the big elements in winning games.
The catcher who does not have con-
f1dence in his infield is afraid to throw,
and even when he does throw he
throws timidly. A bad first baseman
or oEe in whom the others have no
confidence makes bad throwers of all.
believe in helping umpires and do
ing all I can to make their work
easier. If they are let alone and not
nagged at their work is much moro
satisfactory.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-01-04
Jim JeHries.

graphed to Bill Pickens to come to the
coast and prepare for the trip.
Pickens probably will GO to Aus
tralia to arrange for the races there
and Oldfield and his party will follow
in about a month. Oldf1eld's proposal
that Jeffries and Chance go along has
met with their approval. Pickens' re-
turn to the Oldfield camp indicates
that Barney is not likely to be rein
stated by the American Automobile
association.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-01-04
~RQR7zNG
AH!C:;T1Z0
AND


Friends of Battling Nelson are happy
to know benefit in his behalf would
be huge joke.
Ottumwa should not complain. That
little Cub episode has put the town on
the 1911 baseball map.
Both Referee Selig and Moran want
the credit for saving Battling Nelson's
life. Bat would like to take a tap at
both for their impertinence.
Competition is free in one thing,
anyway, and that is athletics. Maybe
that is the reason both the A. A U.
and the A. A F. are thriving.
American baseball players lose
their batting eyes in Cuba" says Um-
pire Bill Evans. Maybe the Cuban
twirlers have little to do with it.
The National Trotting association
is trying to fumigate that sport and it
is hoped the move will travel along at
a dizzy pace.
The question arises: Are barnstorm-
ing trips of championship ball teams
more detrimental than the constant
glare of the footlights in vaudeville?
All the major league magnates are
willing to trade players except Con-
ME Mack. Connie wouldn't break up
his winning combination for love or
money.
Philadelphia is slow town, admits
a newspaper of the Quaker city, but is
not so slow that it would fall for a
bicycle meet like another burg they
call the metropolis.
There is no disposition apparent
among wrestling officials anywhere to
nag Frank Gotch. 1t is much easier
to nab a worlds title if the big IoWan
stays in retirement.
Aviators are becoming almost as
adept as fancy skaters In cutting up
their little capers, but none has been
SO audacious as to cut his name in
the aqueous vapor of the clouds.
A prize fight at Schenectady was
stopped because it was too tame 9th
er cities are suppressing ring bouts
because they are too brutal. What
is the game up against, anywsy!
The way the old-timers Of the ring
hang on is a caution. Jem Mace, who
fought 500 battles, lived to be seventy
nine years old, and his sparring part
ner. Bill Clark, is still kicking around
at eighty.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-01-04
Word Revealed ConkLing viii

the box itself, so the only thing to do
was to attempt to work out the COM
bination. If 1 remember correctly, we
first tried the combination of letters
that spell the word Grant Roscoe,
you know, was a great Grant admirer,
and we felt he might have taken that
name as his combination But we
were wrong
Then word after word we tried.
Roscoe was one, Conkling was an
other, Utica, where the senator lived,
was a third. All the family names
were called into use one after an
other. Still no uragement-abso-
lutely none-and we were about
ready to make up our minds to break
the lock, after all, when one of the
ladies present offered suggestion.
Uncle she said, was very fond
of the word Rome. Don't all of you
remember how he used to roll it out
with great delight in that deep, rich
voice of his? l have heard him say
it thus many and many a time'-and
she gave fair imitation of the way
Roscoe used to pronounce the word.
And she went on, I have heard
Uncle say, oh, so many times, that he
thought in the word Rome was to be
found the finest combination of VOW
els and consonants in any word in the
English language. / am sure he took
the word Rome that he was so fond
of for the combination. Try it, please.
"At once we adopted the suggestion.
AS the letter T. was found there came
faint click from the lock Care
fully, we turned to o. and another
click resulted. An appeal to M pro-
duced a like result, and when finally
the last letter of the word that Roscoe
had delighted in saying was indicated,
behold the lock yielded, the little
steel box opened and lying along with
in it was the will we had been search
ing for so long"
Also on the authority Of Col Fred
erick Conkling, 1 am able to state
that his distinguished brothers
achievements as an orator and as
great master of the English tongue
were due as much to intense applica-
ton as to native gifts. Colonel Conk-
ling had an intimate knowledge of his
brothers methods, and on this knowl-
edge he based his statement.
fCopyrszht, 1910, by E. ]. Edwards. An
Rights Reserved.)
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-01-04
roo MUCH THROWING IS BAD
John King, Premier Catcher .i TOT e
caoo Cubs, Tells How to Wit
Let Umpires Alone.
BY JOHN king.

,.4 ION nv Joseph B. Bowlesl
when 4 was a pitcher in seml-plol0
s;onol +eams around Kansas Cpy
lost many games by trying 70 W ~
much. by throwing too OFTEN, @nu a.+e
wearing myself out by wasted Gnu -.
was a failure as a ball player
several towns before experience tauens
ma that one play at the right INSTALL
;s worth fen at any other time. ~
rJos the old stitch in time saves nine
idea. but it did more for me tnan o.,
thing else to win games ana 10 u nc
me I'D In the profession.
When / began catching, one u M
first things 1 learned was 1n@. 80
catcher can break up a team qui0l
than any one else can. He need noc
even make an error. to do II. On0 u
the easiest ways to lose game 10 ~
the catcher to throw too much
NAV throw perfectly, and yet by he0p-
ing the infieId moving and out OIL PO-
sition, expecting his throws ana stuuy
ing him instead of watching the pat-
ter. he may cause the game to De los''
MY IDEA mas D60u W mani 80
they count and not to use TOO many
signals. The infielders have IoC 70
watch. and If the catcher keeps tneLn
watching him all the time he taxes
their minds off their other duties aho
causes them to make plumbers. FIRST
and foremost in Importance IN Wlnnlns
is that the catcher never snail naho
or attempt to make any play especlal-
" a throw, unless absolutely certain
that the other men in the play nave
caught the signal, understand wnat 10
to be attempted, and are prepared 10
make the play with him.
There comes time in almost every
ball game when the opposing team
has a good chance to win by scoring
a lot of runs in a bunch. The inning
in which that happens is the one In
which the catcher ought to pull OH
his play. In such situation, Wnen
team is having batting rally, 1t IS
twice as easy for catcher to catch
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-01-04
Senator's Niece Remembered He Liz
ed "Rome" and the Combination
of Letters Was Found to Open
Safe Where Testament Lay.

Roscoe Conkling, for IA years
years United States senator from
New York, and during that period one
on the leaders in the national councils
of the Republican party, died as the
result of exposure in the great New
York blizzard of 1888. Not until aft
er his funeral was over was the pub
lie aware that Mr.. Conkling had been
much weather. than it had common
~ believed. His law practice, once
resumed, had proved most profit
able; and yet, seven years before his
death, when he wanted to leave Wash
ington for New York, following his
resignation from the senate, he was
so poor that he actually had to borrow
the necessary car fare from Chamber
lain, the famous hotel and restaurant
man Of the national capital
Since the estate left by the former
senator had a value of several hun
dred thousand dollars, it became ne
cessary for the immediate members
of his family to seach as soon as prac-
ticable after his death for will. 1t
was naturally presumed that Mr..
Conkling had left will; he was
man Of most methGdical habits, and
he surely knew that his estate was of
considerable value. Yet, search
where they would, the family were
unable to locate any sign of docu-
ment making testamentary disposi-
ton Of the estate.
"At last" said the late Col. Freder-
lex A Conkling, the senator's broth
er. who also was a very brilliant man
and for many years lawyer of con-
siderable note in New York state,
some one of the family happened TO
remember that we had not yet looked
into a small steel chest, or box, which
had belonged to Roscoe. This box
had a combination lock which bore
the letters of the alphabet instead of
numbers, and through the proper con-
junction of some of those letters the
box would open. Yet nowhere were
we able to find record of the COM
bination
at was deemed expedient to break
tia lock, or tamper In any way with
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-01-04
An UnsoLued Political Enigma

this statement on a conversation
had with Mr.. Starin several years
after Garf1eld's death.
"Mr. Star1n," / said, did you ever
know that it was suggested to Presi-
dent Garfield, after the designations of
Senators Conkling and Plat and the
confirmation by the senate of Judge
Robertson as collector of the port of
New York, that an ideal way out of
the difficulty would have been the ap-
pointment of you as the collector Of
the port of New York and the nomina-
ton of Judge Robertson as United
States district Attorney"
mo, I never heard that" Mr.. Starin
replied. Garfield and / were always
warm personal friends. My seat,
when / was in congress, was next to
him. When I found that General
Grant could not be nominated for
president in 1880, I was very much
pleased when General Garfield was.
But never heard that anybody had
said to him what you now repeat to
me-"
Well" replied, President Gar
field was told that If he had appointed
you collector of the port the entire
factional trouble between the Stall
warts and the Half-breeds would have
ended, and when he heard this he was
silent for a moment and then replied:
I never thought of Starin; wish
had"
THAT was an extraordinary, / be-
lieve unequaled, irony of fate" said
it has led to. For one thing, it I'M
doubtedly paved the way for the cleo
ton of Grover Cleveland as president.
81 have sometimes heard it said
that General Garfield was persuaded
by Blaine to nominate Judge Robert
son for collector. Blaine, l know, felt
very grateful to Robertson, because
Robertson, through his leadership Of
the bolt in the New York delegation
at the convention of 1880, prevented
the nomination of Grant.
but If Blaine did urge that nomina-
ton 1t was fatal mistake for him to
make. You may remember that, al
though there were several incidents
which caused Blaine to lose the cleo
toral vote of the state of New York in
1884, yet the chief cause of his defeat
was the knitting of him by the friends
of Senator Conkling in the Utica
New York; district.
These friends were firmly persuad-
ed that it was Blaine who induced
Garfield to nominate Robertson for
collector of the port. They bided their
time, and when Blaine became the Re-
publican candidate for president, they
determined to show their resentment
at the polls. Had Blaine received the
normal Republican vote in Oneida
county, New York, he would have OBJ
tanned the electoral vote of New York
state. Therefore, in the nomination
of Judge Robertson for collector OF
the port lay the real cause for the de-
feat of Blaine for president in 1884
and happen to know that Judge Rob-
ertson was ambitious solely to be ap-
pointed United States district attor-
ney, an Office without much political
power"
And ]. Stanley Brown is the only
living man who knows whether or not
it be true that Blaine persuaded Gar
field TO nominate Judge Robertson
for collector of the port of New York.
(Copyright, 1910, by E. ]. Edwards. Al
Rights Reserved)
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-01-04

Western football in 1910 received a
stronger recognition from Walter
Camp, in Golfers Weekly, in his all
American gridiron team, than it has
been accorded for many seasons.
Three players were chosen as team
mates of eastern stars by the Yale
alumnus, and, though the number is
less than half the whole eleven, the
representation of the western section
is gratifying to followers of the game,
and incidentally accords Wells and
Benbrook of Michigan and Walker of
Minnesota the high honor which they
deserve.
Considering that the season recently
brought to close was one of the most
weird In the history of the game, a
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-01-04
BADGERS PLAY SEVEN GAMES
Number of Contests Increased as Re-
suit of Systematic Campaign Car
ried on by Students.

Wisconsin will play seven games of
football next season as the result Of
a systematic campaign which has been
carried on by the students, who de-
manded longer schedule for the grid
iron squad. The decision granting the
extension of the schedule was handed
down by the faculty the other day
after the athletic council had voted I'm
favor of seven games.
Owing to the reform wave which
struck Wisconsin four years ago the
schedule was cut from seven to five
games, but the student body vigorous
ly protested and finally won their
point.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-01-04

gauge of players presents innumerable
difficulties. The three western selec-
lions come from the two teams that
were inestimably stronger than any of
their rivals, with the possible excep-
ton of Illinois, which has as it's strong
est claim to consideration an unbroken
string of victories and an untarnished
goal line.
No school either in the east or west,
has more than two players on the hon.
orary eleven, a change notable in COM
parison with other years, when Yale
and Harvard, in particular, claimed
the bulk of the places. And for this
reason Mr.. Camps eleven is more rep
resentative, probably, than it ever has
been.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-01-04
New NEWS =
OF YESTERDAY
by r. eL E0zZN1%ZL>"

felt every moment that l have been
here, as l have looked upon the por-
trait of my wife, how much meaning
there is in the poem of Heine's you
know so well. All.
What for me is all the blooming
If 1 bloom myself alone"
he repeated, in German, looking ten
derby at the portrait of Mrs. Arthur,
while a tone of infinite tenderness
came into his voice. Then, moment
later, he added:
Howard, that is the way l feel
and have felt ever since 1 entered the
White House And that is the way ]
will feel until I depart from it,"
4 Copyright, 1910, by E. ]. Edwards. All
Rights Reserved.)
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-01-04
Dates for Spring Came.

In the absence of Connie Mack. the
local inter-league series between the
Phillies and Athletics in Philadelpbia
was arranged to start at Shibe park
on April 1. The negotiations were car
ried on between John Shibe, represent.
ing the worlds champions, and Horace
Fogel, president of the Phillies. The
1911 series, as usual, will consist ~
nine games.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-01-04

Frank Isbell, the veteran White Sow
player, is about to move his Wicbtta
team to Pueblo. The Wichita civ
fathers notified Issy that there woulS
be no Sunday baseball In that cit1
this summer and Frank immediatalv
notified them that there would he ~
baseball durinS tie week then.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-01-04
stanu,s Good System.

Stages former stars continue to
make great records for themselves as
coaches in different sections of the
country, thus showing the thorough
ness of the system that the famous
old Yale star uses at the Midway.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-01-04
PARTY GOING TO ANTIPoDEs
Barney OIdfleId, Frank Chance and
Jim Jeffries Plan Trip to Australia
Former to Race.

Barney Oldfeld, Mr.. and Mrs. James
J. Jeffries and Mr.. and Mrs. Frank
Chance are planning trip to Aus
tralia. Oldfeld recently turned down
an offer to go to Australia A larger
offer has been made and he has tele-
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-01-04
A t,elnIess Proprietor.

why don't you sell that old mule
of yours?"
well, SUBJ" replied Uncle Ras-
berry. II jes' doesn' dare. l hasn' de
face to sell him to one o. de neigh
bors, an he wouldn' last fob drive
long enough to sell i'm to stranger"
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-01-04
Rough Landing In Diaz Land.

Mexico will never be popular
country for aviation"
Whats the answer
mo high flyer will care to taA
chances of landing in cactus bed
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-01-04
BY WALTER CAMP.

.nds-K1patriCk, Yale; Wells, Michigan.
TaCkes-McKay, Harvard; Walker Minnesota.
Guards-Benbrook, Michigan; Fisher, Harvard
Center-Cozens Pennsylvania.
Quarter Back-SpraCkling, Brown.
Half Backs-WendeI, Harvard; PendIeton, Princeton.
Full Back-MerCer, Pennsylvania.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-01-04
Possibly a Good Bargain.

'Tn some parts of Africa" dilated
the returned explorer, "one can buy
a wife for half pint of common glass
beads"
WELL" replied the fussy old bach
elor, mo doubt a good wife is worth
that much. "-Lippincott's.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-01-04
A Helpful Dame.

= FTCTpIUI DaHC.
1--WE owe a duty to the proletariat."
"Well?"
Il propose devoting some of my aft
ernoons to teaching poor girls the ru-
diments of bridge whist"
The Sauk Centre herald., 1911-01-26
CHAPTER XIII.

I was a happy Dora that en-
tered Mrs. Winthrop's after
leaving Holcomb, more con-
tented girl than she had been
The Sauk Centre herald., 1911-01-26
THE
HARVEST
MOON
A Noveiizat:on of the Drama
Of
AUGUSTUS THOMAS
By GEORGE HENRY PAYNE
Copyright 1909. by Augustus Thomas

But there was more than sentiment
in the little comedy that he had enact
ed tonight. There was a climax. as
he thought. to life tragedy-a trag-
edy that even his intimates knew lit
tie about. for after his first grand
man extremely taciturn about his own
personal affairs. He had been ready
tonight to do more than play with
these two lovers. and Dora Fullerton's s
happiness necessitated vigorous action
But happily neither had really sus-
pected the depth Of the old mans sym
pathy and had lent themselves to his
cunning in way that made him most
happy.
"A wonderful man indeedw he re:
peated as he stood in the moonlight
and contemplated the glass of wine in
his hand.
TIE servant. who had been with
him for twenty years. discreetly moved
about the room putting out the lights
"She is very like her mother, Henri y
said the old man.
every like her mother. monsieur" "
was the faithful servitor's reply.
The dramatist was silent for a mo-
ment; then, raising his glass as one
who drank to the heavens:
''1t is droll God, Hernia droll God.
with his vintage and autumn. his chill
dren and his harvest moon"
"a droll God, monsieur" And Henri
closed the door softly, leaving his mas
ter alone with his thoughts and his
memories-and his droll God.
The Sauk Centre herald., 1911-01-26

as | believe the latter will probably
know something"
Elliott listened to what by this time
had become "a more extended narrative
of Dora's disappearance. The night
elevator man had been found. and he
had said that he had taken Miss Ful
lerton down in the elevator at u O'Clock
and had called cab for her She had
told the cabman to take her to the
Forty second street station and had
tipped him, the elevator man. dollar
He was perfectly ready to testify that
she seemed thoroughly sane.
81 think" said Elliott. that we had
better talk to Vavin first. as it was at
his hotel that she had supper last
night" The legal mind is really re-
markedly sharp.
II don't know whether Vavin is fool
ing us or not" said Elliott when he
came back from the telephone, "but
he seemed as much put out about this
as we are. don't understand that old
ners of Frenchman. and, although
he has written some ID bad plays
he seems to have the sound morals OF
an American"
THAT isn't as great compliment as
you think it is" snapped Aunt Cor
nelia. who had not been having a very
pleasant morning.
'The thing that don't really care
so much about" said Elliott. ''is the
fact that he asked me to let him call
up Holcomb. He said that both OF
them would be up here as soon as pos.
sible''
II suppose" interjected Winthrop
"that l can blame myself a whole lot
for introducing Dora to that fellow"
They were still discussing the mys-
terry and the possible calamity when
Vavin and HoIcomb arrived.