The Washington herald., 1915-02-12
HISTORY BUILDERS.
Why Abram Hewitt's Biography Is
Still Unwritten.
Written Expressly for The Washington HeraIdJ
BY DIR. f. J. EDWARDS.

Written Expressly for The Washington HeTaldJ
BY DIR. z. J. EDWARDS.
Several years after the death Of Abram
S. Hewitt, members of his family con-
templated the preparation and publica-
tion of an authoritative biography. A
work of that kind prepared by one who
possessed literary charm and who also
was able to make wise selection from
abundant material would have constitut-
ed a record of much of american life,
industrial commercial and political, for
more than sixty years. Mr. Hewitt left
a great mass of materials. Painstaking
labor would have been involved In MAX
ing appropriate selections from 1t. His
correspondence was very large and was
carried on with many Of the intellectual
forces of his time in all departments of
human activity. lie was a master statis-
tician and possessed the power OF eX-
tracing from dry statistics the meaning
that Law behind them. His long service in
Congress: his craftsmanship Of the Demo-
cratic national committee in the Presi-
Dental campaign Of 1876, when his New
York City ncighbOT Samuel J. Tilden,
was the Democratic candidate for Presi-
dent. and his later career as mayor Of
New York brought him into very close
touch with the leading political forces OF
the time. HIS Grafton at the dedication
Of the Brooklyn Bridge is esteemed by the
best authorities as a classic.
On Mr.. Hewitt's ciGhteth birthday he
said to his wife that if there were any
thing that she particularly wanted she
had only to make her wish known and
he would grant it. In reply. he was told
that it was her wish and that Of her
family that he should begin the prepara-
tiOn Of his autobiography.
Il will begin at once to write my auto
biography" Mr. Hewitt said. but he pro-
crastinatcd, putting off until tomorrow
and then again until the next tomorrow
even the preliminary work necessary for
work of that kind. Yet all who know Mr..
Hewitt well were confident that he could.
had lie put himself to it. have written
an autobiography that would have be-
come a classic. No other man could
have done that work as Mr.. Hewitt him
self would have done it.
A year or two later. ii was beyond the
power Of Mr.. Hewitt to write an auto
biography. as he had passed away. Some
Of those who were interested in him and
who had knowledge Of the desire of his
family. began to look about. hoping that
they would find some one competent in
every respect for this work But their
search was "a losing one, and so at last
in despair they appealed to Whitelaw
Reid.
Mr. Reid knew much Of tho career Of
Mr.. Hewitt and wa confident that
complete biography Of him would be an
invaluable work for the people Of the
United States. He was asked to rec
Ommcnd Just the right man to undertake
this work lie gave the request careful
consideration and at last said II think
/ have found just the man competent for
that work.
Who is he?"
lie is Woodrow Wilson. president Of
Princeton University
Just at that time. however. President
Wilson, of Princeton. was venturing into
tn" higher field of State and national
politics, and it is probable that for that
reason he could not undertake a work
which hal he remained an educator he
would have gladly assumed.
rCnryright. 1911 ~ = J. Edwards. All rights
TCsPTvedt
Tomorrow Or Edwards will tell OF
Two Visitors at the Graves of the Eng
ush Regicides'