Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-01-11
NEW news OF YESTERDAY
Ex-President Who Was Lonely in
Private Life.
General Arthur, After Leaving the
White, House, Found Himself
Mere Atom in the Life of
New York City.
BY {. J. EDWARDS.


Il am sure that | was the last mem.
Der of the original cabinet OF Presi-
dent Arthur who saw him and had a
chat with him." said Thomas l.. James,
who was postmaster general under Ar
thur from September. 1881. to Janll-
airy. 1882. and at eighty years of age
is New York city's dean of national
bank presidents.
One afternoon not long before Ar
thurs death, which occurred in No.
vember. 1856. | had occasion 10 take
a surface cart was before the days
OF the Enthusiastically in front OF the
Grand Central station. New York. As
passed down the aisle | heard my
name called. | looked around and
saw ex.President Arthur occupying
corner seat in the rear end Of the
car. II was he who had called to me
AS passed by him. | am sure that no
person in the car but myself realized
that one OF lis passengers was the
man VINO had been the twenty-first
the man who sat next 10 Arthur did
not recognize him: for when the ex-
president politely asked him to move
up little so as to make room for
me the man granted the request re-
luctantly But observed that his man
ner changed instantly when he heard
me address the cy-prcsident as Gen
eral Arthur.
"'Have you ever regretted quitting
public lifc?' Arthur asked me, apropos
Of nothing. apparently, after we had
talked little on general lines
II suppose. Mr.. President" | said
in reply. that no man has ever held
high public Office, at least in Wash
ington without occasionally. when in
private life. finding himself yearning
again for the excitement and sense of
power that high public Office gives. I
confess that occasionally have felt
that way
Don't you find that you are some
times lonely, now that you are in pri-
vale lile?' the general next asked me.
NO said. not in the sense that
YOU mean | would be lonely though.
we're not engaged in active bust
ness
That is the very reason why l
have decided to resume seriously the
practice of law was Arthmr's reply.
or course. have had many expert
cnccS have discovered what the
inner life OF president is, and have
had my share of the sense of power
which is associated with that office.
| have learned, however. since | LETT
the White House, that almost all of
The friends" Il president makes are
merely superficial friends. have
been very lonely since | returned 10
New York Nobody comes to see
me. am mere atom in the life OF
This city. Therefore. ! am going back
10 the practice Of the law seriously.
When left Washington ! associated
myself with my old law firm. but |
cannot say that | have worked seri.
ously: | have been Il lawyer in name
only. presume that may be II littlo
rusty But il is not 50 mach for The
purpose Of earning Il good income that
am going to renew practice as it is
to occupy my mind. ! shall certainly
rust out completely II am not active.
Is engaged in some kind Of employ
mcnt from now on.
And then" continued General
James. he looked al me with smile
which | remembered from the days OF
our early association when he VAS col
cctor OF the port Of New York and |
was deputy under him-a smile OF
rare sweetness and kind!incsS-and
said:
lyon don't suppose il "iil be a
handicap to nc in getting practice
that was ut one time president OF
INC United States?
N few minutes later. as my car
reached the street at which ! vas 10
leave it. babe my former CHIEF in the
cabinet room at Washington good aft
crnoon and wished him every success
at the bar: and his parting words TO
nc were these:
"Pcrhaps you will hear Of my max
ing an argument before The Supreme
court al washington. ! should be
very glad if had a chance to DO
that But the chance never came.
Ills death occurred before he could
get fairly started in the active prac-
lice Of his profession.
Copyright Ial. BY l.. !. Edwards. VI
Rights Esscr"rhD
Cood Champ Clark Story.