Evening journal., 1914-04-01
New News Of Yesterday
The Chief Clerk of Three
Distinguished Statesmen
BY Holland.

The state department at Washing
ton never possessed a more compe-
tent chief clerk than was Sevillon
Brown. He served in that capacity
under Hamilton Fish in the admin
istration of President Grant and then
under william NJ Evarts in the ad-
ministration of President Hayes, and
after that under James G. Blaine,
in the administration of Garfield and
a part of that of President Arthur.
Mr.. Brown was a born diplomat.
He had mastered both the science
and the art which are essential If a
man is to serve successfully as chief
clerk of the state department. He
possessed tact, a gift for concealing
thought and ability to say the right
word at the right time, together with
a charming personality, WHICH made
everyone who went to the state de-
partment feel comfortable, even
though unable to obtain an audience
with the secretary of state.
Mr. Brown had a splendid Oppor-
tunity to study the personal peculiar
tiles as well as the intellectual and
the temperamental characteristics of
the distinguished men who served as
secretary of state when he was chief
clerk Of the department.
In conversation with one or two OF
those who had served as cabinet Off
GERS in the administration of Presi-
dent Garfield and Arthur but at a
time when Mr. Blaine had retired
as secretary of state, Mr.. Brown was
asked this question: who was the
hardest worker of the three secretar-
les of state under whom you served? p
The answer was instantaneous: 1T
was Hamilton Fish"
Then, again, the question was put
to Mr.. Brown: How did Mr.. Evarts
work." A faint smile betrayed Mr.
Brown, so that he felt compelled tC
say that the great lawyer took things
very easy when he was secretary OF
state
Mr.. Brown proceeded more care
fully to analyze these three secreta-
ries of state Hamilton Fish was
more laborious patient, conscien-
tious, | believe, than any of the men
who were his predecessors as secre-
tary of state. He shirked no drudg-
cry. He did not have William H
Stewards gift of turning his family
dining-room and his dining table into
a convenient means of imparting ol
gaining diplomatic information. HI
did not trust to intuition. He was &
very kindly and considerate man, anC
/ used to think he took work upor
himself which might more properl,
have been turned over to some of hii
subordinates.
William NJ. Evarts was a roya
man. | believe it is true that wleI
| he was secretary of state he was tn
most popular man in Washington
Certainly the members of the diplo
matte circles were very fond of him
He had wonderful skill in making
these foreign gentlemen perfectly a
home. They sometimes acted a
though they felt honored when h
shook hands with them.
"Nr. Evarts was an expert in IN
art of leaving undone all the wor
that could possibly be left to others
Yet he grasped with firm understand
ing every important question tina
came to the state department. An
there was no diplomat who ever visit
ed the state department who SUI
passed Mr.. Evarts in graceful, an
yet dignified courtesy.
"Mr Blaine had, | think, the mos
wonderful and intuitive grasp {
questions and instantaneous asslm
lation of details and facts of an
man with whom / was ever brougl
into association. IL was never net
essary to explain thing twice
him. / think he disliked drudger
but he knew how TO get the mos
comfort out of drudgery of any ma
ever saw. The three men und'
whom I served were in many n
spects typical of what is best
American manhood. American cult
vation and American character"
Copyright. 1914. by f. ]. Edward
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