Evening journal., 1913-06-27
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
How President Arthur Re-
buked a TaIe-Bearer
BY uOnand

General Howard Carroll was from
1870 until 1886 as intimate a person
al and political friend of President
Chester A. Arthur as the latter had,
although his circle of intimates was
a very large one 1t was in recog-
milton Of the very close personal and
political relations between General
Arthur and General Carroll that the
Republicans of New York State nom
mated the latter as their candidate
for cOngressman-a at-large in 1882.
General Carroll was chatting with
little group of friends one evening
shortly after the presidential cleo
tion Of 1908. The conversation turned
upon the relations which we're es-
tablished between President Lincoln
and General Grant, relations which
were characterized by the absolute
confidence Lincoln felt in the man
whom ne had nominated as comman-
der of the American armies.
Some one in the group said
Zone of the best proofs of that con-
hdence was furnished at the time
some busybody went to President
Lincoln and complained of General
Grant, saying that he drank whiskey
sometimes to excess. Then followed
the now historic remark of Lincoln
that he would like TO know what the
brand of whiskey was so that he
could buy some and send it to some
of his other generals.
There have been many apocyphal
stories of Lincoln" said General Car
roll "but that one is true. Il re-
minds me of something that happen
ed when General Arthur was Presi-
dent. and do not repeat the incident
from hearsay but from personal
knowledge.
General Arthur was, l think. the
most carefully considerate man for
the feelings OF others whom ! ever
met. He could be stern and firm, but
he could display those qualities with
out reasonably hurting anyone's feel
ings. He was also gifted with an
ability to say wise things very epi-
dramatically. / heard him once
speak tersely and with almost pro-
verb line significance when the occa-
sion was somewhat similar to the one
which led President Lincoln to ask
what the brand of whiskey was that
General Grant drank.
Il was with President Arthur one
morning in his library when a man
i 3
ident asked me not to 90. saying that
he presumed that the call was of no
special consequence.
when the man had offered few
words of greeting to the President, he
said that he had called to tell him
something which he thought should
be known. Thereupon he said: Mr.
President So-and-so' naming a man
of much influence. fidelity and capac-
ity as a public servavnt-'got very
drunk last night at a dinner.
thought you ought to know It,
For a moment or two President
Arthur said nothing saw by the
expression on his face that he was
annoyed but he mastered his feel
ings. Then he said in a very kind
~ tone; So-and-so is a friend of
yours, isn't he?
Yes.
"He was at a private dinner last
night"
"'Yes.
"Wen. all that have to say in
reply to what you have told me is
this: No gentleman ever sees a friend
drunk. No gentleman ever tells an
other that he saw a friend drunk
Well. this man." continued Gen
eral Carroll was completely abash-
Cd He muttered some sort of ex-
planation and went out General Ar
thur said to me: Tale-bearing Of that
kind is one of the meanest things d
n,r can do. OF course, if man so
lives as to make it impossible wisely
10 direct his business. or, if he is in
public Office, properly to manage his
duties. then some notice must be tax
en- of his incapacity. but tale-bearine
between friends is, in my opinion. Va
most heinous offense. The man OF
whom my visitor complained is one
of the most competent men in public
life, a master Of his responsibilities
He never permits his private life tc
Interfere with his public service
Copyright, 1913. by f. j. Edwards
All Rights Reserved.)
Tomorrow Mr. Edwards will tell
.fTIor.- Mr. Drrarlr Tohneor, ms.