Evening journal., 1914-05-12
New News Of Yesterday
An AnecdOte of Secretary
of State Seward
BY Holland.

The late Noah Davis, who was for
years justice of the Supreme Court of
New York, and who served term in
Congress and would have served a term
in the United States Senate had his
nomination not been beaten in the Re
publican caucus of the New York legs-
lature at which Roscoe Conkling gained
the nomination by a majority of just
two votes over Judge Davis, was an in
innate personal and political friend OF
William H. Seward. That friendship
began when Seward was governor OF
New York State and was continued, as
well as strengthened, when Seward was
serving in the Federal Senate as Sena
tor from New York.
Judge Davis was one of the most ar
dent of the advocates of the nomination
Of Seward for President in 1860, and he
was bitterly disappointed at the failure
of Stewards friends TO nominate him at
the Republican national convention in
Chicago
"Seward had many personal traits,
once said Judge Davis TO me, (which
served greatly TO increase his popular
ity, / think the best exemplifed in his
associations with his fellow-men the
real spirit of democracy. He was able
to maintain the highest respect for him
self while at the same time he persuad-
cd all men with whom be came in con-
tact that he profoundly believed in the
political equality of men, and especial
ly in American manhood.
"1here were many little things that
he was in the habit of doing which
served to maintain the telling that Sew
ard was really a true demorrat-of
course / do not mean in the partisan
sense of that word. When he was Sec
retary of State in Lincoln's administra-
tion he was accustomed to hold confer
ences of vital Importance at his own
dinner table. He invited distinguished
men TO take dinner with him and with
his family Il was soon understood
that Seward possessed great charm as
a host at his own table, and his little
fanny dinners with one or two guests
were regarded as chief among the social
delights of Washington at that time.
"Seward was also true democrat,
in the nonpartisan use of that term, in
the use of tobacco. / have heard it said
that Mark Twain found his greatest
comfort in smoking a cheap cigar. That
was certainly true Of Seward. No mat
ter how bad cigar was he could smoke
it.
let me tell you a little incident
that came within by political know
ledge. Seward was on his way from
Washington TO New York when he was
secreary of State. think in Lin
coins administration. but it may have
been in ,lohnson's. and found it nee
essary to change cars af the West
Philadelphia station. He had come away
from Washington without providing
himself with cigars. He went up and
down the platform of the station
searching fer some place where he
could buy a cigar. At last a vendor OF
periodicals. candy. and cigars came
along. pushing little hand truck be-
fore him. Seward eagerly scanned the
vendors articles and was delighted TO
discover that among them were two
or three boxes OF cigars. He immedi-
ately began negotiations with the ven
dor. lie bought six cigars, taking them
as they came out of the box, and then,
having paid the vendor, he took oil his
hat and deposited five Of the six cigars
i'm the crown of his hat ana then put
the hat on his head With the crown
Of his hat as an improvised cigar case,
the Secretary of state took his seat
in a smoking car and proceeded on his
way 60 New York in a perfectly con-
tented frame of mind
Copyright. 1914. by f. J. Edwards
Al rights reserved).
Tomorrow Mr. Edwards will tell oI
"rhe Honor Shown by Southern Mer-
chants in Post -Bellum Days"