Evening journal., 1914-07-16
New News Of Yesterday
A Modest Mans Request
For His Position
By HOLLAND.

The late Judge William A. Richard
son, who was Secretary Of the Treas
ury in the last two years Of Gen.
Grants first administration and who
had earlier been Assistant Secretary
Of the Treasury, was a man Of quaint
and charming simplicity and uncon-
yentionality. That fact was especially
observed at the time he was serving
as Chief Justice Of the Court Of
Claims at Washington for he ap-
peared to be at one moment utterly
lacking in self-consciousnes and a
moment later to be little sensitive
lest there had been insufficient ack-
nowledgment of the important judi
cial position which he held
While ! was on a visit TO Boston.
where Judge Richardson was we'll
known-for he was a citizen OF Cam
bridge and he had been brought into
professional association as a Judge
Of probate with many Of the members
Of the Boston bar-an anecdote was
related TO me Of an experience sof Asa
Potter, who for many years was a
banker OF Boston and an intimate
personal friend OF Judge Richardson
There was something quantity de-
lightful in Judge Richardson's rela-
tions with the leading men of Boston
ana ! had good many opportunities
q observe them" said Mr. Potter
~ remember very well meeting with
MIN few weeks after he had sue
eeeded George S Boutwell, as Secre-
tary Of the Treasury in Gen Grants
Cabinet He called on me al NV
office and said TO me that he had
come to Boston from Washington un-
otiicially He wanted 10 call upon
the collector Of the port aud also upon
the subireasurer and had, in fact.
already done SO He had not paid
his calls ais the official superior OF
these officers, but az a nolghbor and
personal friend
Il asked him If he had met any or
the other prominent men of Boston
who were numbered among his
friends and he replied. thought
somewhat sadly, that he had not. I'm
TACT II seemed TO him, that the best
thing he could do was 10 60 imme-
diately back to Washington.
4 said TO him that ! was certain /
Lhat he would have been received
with conspicuous c0urtesies had il
Deen known that he was to nav a
9tslt 70 Boston so soon after he be-
anne Secretary Of the Treasury. and
laded that ! wished he would let me
inown when he nurposed coming
lgain so that an appropriate recep-
ion on dinner could be arranged in
lie honor.
He shook his head slowly and then
aid don't care mach for cere-
nony Of that kind, and vet If I should
ieppeh 70 inform you Of a purposed
lslt 70 Boston i might give my
flends some qualification TO arrange
or some such affair IN my honor.
Now he did not realize that in that
itatement he was revealing some
iense Of his own official consequence
md some desire that this should be
recognized by his old friends.
"a few weeks later he wrote nc
aying that he again purposed visit
ng Boston. I az once called upon
v VI Clapp, then the proprietor Of
he leading Republican newspaper of
lew England, and told him that
udge Richardson was coming TO
oston and | thought would he
leased if some tribute was paid to
i'm
Mr. Clapp said in reply, We will
rrange for a little dinner for him
nd we Will make It good one.
hese arrangements were made and {
udge Richardson did not conceal his
ratification that his old friends in {
oston should have been glad to nav
i'm this little tribute"
Copyright 1914 BY Z. ]. Ed
wards. All rights reserved).
Tomorrow Mr. Edwards will tell l
1oW judge Richardson Provided I
gainst Temptation" ]