Newark post., 1912-12-25

moved you, telling MN no" Siaa you aie
to be an American explaining to him, II
you happen to be recently-made Ameri-
can, why you love your adopted country
so much better than your native land.
P,rhaps the patriotic lecturer happens to
be Senator, and he reads your letter
under the vast dome of the State House;
and it occurs to him that he and his emf
nent colleagues, and the stately capitol,
and the glorious flag that floats above it,
all gathered on the hill above the Com
mon do his country no greater honor than
the outspoken admiration of an ardent
young alien.
The Senator replies to your letter, in
viting you to visit him at the State
House; and in the renowned chamber,
where the august business of the State is
conducted. you, an obscure child from the
slums, and he, chosen leader of the
people, seal democratic friendship based
on the love of a common flag.
Even simpler than to meet "A Senator
was it to become acquainted with man
like Edward Everett Hale. 1.-The Grand
Old Man of Boston, the people called
him, from the manner of his life among
them. He kept open house in every pub
lie building in the city. Wherever two
citizens met to devise a measure for the
public veal. he was third. Wherever a
worthy cause needed a champion, DIR.
Hale lifted his mighty voice. At some
time or another his colossal figure tower
ell above an eager multitude from every
pulpit in the city, from every lecture plat
form. And where is the map of Boston
that gives the names of the lost alleys
and backways where the great man went
in search of the lame in body, who could
not join the public assembly, in quest of
the MANNED in spirit, who feared to show
their faces in the open! If all the little
children who have sat ON Dr. Hale S knee
were started in procession on the State
House steps, marching four abreast, there
would be "A lane of merry faces across
the Common, out to the Public Library,
over Harvard Bridge, and away beyond
to remoter landmarks.
That | met DR.. Hale is no wonder. 1t
was as inevitable as that | should be a
year older every twelvemonth. He was Il
part of Boston, as the salt wave is a part
of the sea. | can hardly say whether he
came to me or came to him. We met,
and my adopted country took me closer to
her breast.
4 day or two after our first meeting |
called upon Dr. Hale, at his invitation.
1t wa, only eight clock in the morning,
YOU may be sure. because he had risen
curly 10 attend to hundred great affairs,
and hal risen early so as to talk with
great man before | went to school. |
: think we liked each other little more
for the fact that when 50 many people
were still asleep, we were already busy
| in the interests of citizenship and friend
, ship. We certainly liked each other.
? | am sure | did not stay more than ff
c teen minutes, and all that | recall of oul
n conversation is that DR.. Hale asked mt
= great many questions about Russia, II
: a manner. that made me feel that | was
n an authority on the subject, and with hi'
i great hand in goodbye, he gave me bi
n of homely advice, namely, that | shoul,
e never study before breakfas.
That was all, but for the rest of th
a day | moved against a background o
II grandeur. There was a noble ring to Viz
@ gil that day that even my teacher S firm
s translation had never. brought out be
G fore Obscure points in the history lessol
). were clear to me alone, of the thirty girl
/. in the class. And it happened that tn
Il tulips in Copley Square opened that day
o and shone in the sun like lighted lamps.