Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1914-10-23
New News Of Yesterday
How Garfield Prepared
His Speech
By Holland.

Some time in August, 1879, was at
Portland. Me-. and one of the guests
Of the old Falmouth Hotel. The day
was very warm. The windows in my
room furnished a very fine vista of
Portland Harbor drew my table to
my window and often halted in my
writing to look out upon the charm
ing vista
About the middle of the afternoon
] heard footsteps. apparently those of
two men, in the room adjoining mine.
The window OF that room was open
and these two men began an earnest
conversation.
The voice of one of them was singh
larly vibrant, clear, musical, some
what like the deep tones Of an organ.
] could hear every word that he said,
and as il was not my business to close
my window, | could not help catching
the drift of the conversation, or, at
least that part of it maintained by
one of these two men. The other spoke
Ia low tones, but ! inferred from the
infection of the voice, although ! could
not distinguish the words, that he
frequently interrupted the other to
ask questions.
After a while realized that the man
whose voice was so distinct was pre-
pairing political speech The memo
rable greenback campaign was then
in progress in Maine. and / quickly
perceived that this speech was being
prepared for delivery at Republican
meeting to be held somewhere in that
state. / must have heard nearly all
of The preparatory work, the outlining
Of the draft of The speech, and sur
missed that certain facts and figures
that were statistical were TO be sup
piled by the man whose voice J only
indistinCtly heard.
A day or two later | visited Lewis
ton Me-. for the purpose of reporting
q Republican mass meeting which
was expected to be the supreme ef-
fort Of the party in that State on the
cvo OF the election.
On the following day ] was Invited
by Dr. Alonzo Garcolon TO ride with
him while ne was on his daily round
of visits to his patients. He put me in
TO his old-fashiOnod two-wheeled
chaise This was drawn by as per-
feet a type of the family horse as
over saw. Dr. Garcolon held the reins,
but he did not guide the horse. for the
animal seemed 10 know every place
whore tho doctor made his visits. He
was family physician. greatly be-
loved by all the citizens OF Lewiston
and he was. at the time ! rode with
him. the Democratic candidate fol
governor an office which he subsc-
QueDtiy filled.
He did not talk about the campaign
hut told me much about his patients
seeming to be interested in every
/ case over which he had charge, almost
as much as if the patient we're q
member of his family.
DR.. GarcelOn did ask about thu
great Republican mass meeting. anI
before | had time to answer he said
There was one speaker at tina
meeting / should have liked to hear
Mr.. Frye-who was afterward Unite,
States Senator-tells me that in man!
respects this man is the ablesi of al
the Republicans of the day"
do you mean Gen. Garfeld?"
said.
YES, Wouldn't give a copper cen
to hear any other speaker in the cam
paign on either side. but l would hav,
given a good deal to hear Gen. Gar
| field"
81 heard that speech twice. ] re
] piled, "once in the Falmouth Hotel
at Portland, and then again at th'
great hall i'm Lewiston"
Then | told Dr. Garcelon that / ha,
heard the speech in preparation, no
knowing who the man was who wa
preparing 1t. and that at the mas
meeting when Gen. Garfield began hi
address J recognized his voice i'm
mediately and much of the phraseol
Ogy of the speech.
when you see Frye" said Dr. Gar
celon, 81 wish you would tell him thai
Now I know how Gen. Garfield pre-
pares his speeches"
Copyright. 1914. by r. ]. Edward,
All rights resedved.)
r.