The Press., 1916-05-03
uNTACTFuL ADAMS
The Pathetic UnpopuIarity of Our
 Second President.
HE WAS VAIN AND GLAD OF IT
Then, Too, He Had an Obstinate Per. sonaIity That Endowed Him With
 Positive Genius For Putting Himself In the Worst Possible Light

sonaIity That Endowed Him With q
 Positive Genius For Putting Himself
 In the Worst Possible Light The choleric John Adams had been president for more than two years, but as long as Washington lived the coun. try refused to look upon any one else as its real head. The way of the transgressor may be hard indeed, but it is a path of roses compared with the tborny road the sue. cessor to a popular idol must tread, and when one reads the frankly expressed opinion of Adams party friends and party enemies ones sympathies go out to the man upon whom Washington's presidential mantle fell. 4..'
 His superhuous highness" was the title the opposition had suggested for him in the days when discussion ragged as to what the high officials of the gov. ernment were to be called He had great learning, great patriotism and an unquenchable spirit, but overlying and enveloping them all was positive genius for doing and saying untactful things, for appearing at the worst pos sible advantage.
 4 member of his cabinet once said of him that whether he was ''sportful, playful. witty, kind. cold, drunk. sober, angry, easy, stiff, jealous, careless, eau tious, confident, close or open" be was almost always so in the wrong place and with the wrong person." The kindly Franklin characterized nst ,s,I, great. but often mad" One less genial remarked that even in his soberest moments Adams was the greatest i marplot in nature" And John Ran. dolph of Roanoke, whose tongue added the poison of ridicule to the bitterness of gall. called him that political Mall volio" e i@'
 Adams thought Washington's talents overrated and on becoming president in his turn was ambitious to make a record brilliant enough to overshadow him IL was certainly no easy task, even without the handicap of Adams obstinate personality.
 He knew that he was vain. Thank God | am so"' he exclaimed Vanity | is the cordial drop which makes the bitter cup of life go down." But 1t had its lingering after taste, and justly l proud of his record-having, as one of his biographers puts 1t, stepped from his little country law office and proved himself a match for the diplo mats of Europe" resented the narrow margin by which he had been elected, calling himself with some bit. nA only"
 A vice president can be removed by nothing short of crime or physical in. | raparity. and Jefferson remained, an , ever present and irritating thorn in Adams side Adams had found it hard to learn and accept the passive role demanded by the office, and he evi. i dently took some satisfaction in i'm pressing the same uncongenial lessons 1 upon his successor.
 Jefferson asserted that he was never consulted upon any question of govern. ment after Adams had been two days in power And he did not make the charge in the humorous mood of a later incumbent, who used to declare that his chief had asked his advice only once and that was about the wording of Thanksgiving proclama. ton
 "l believe he always liked me-" Ad. ams admitted in a retrospect of bis long career, but he detested Hamilton and my whole administration. Then. ne wished to be president of the Unit. ed States. and stood in his way, So h~ ta me down But if should quarrel with him for that might quarrel with every one had anything to do with in life Did you ever hear the ines:
 T love my friend as well as you, But why should he obstruct my vlew2 I T forgive my enemies and hope they may find mercy in heaven" ."-"Our Ma. tion In the Building" by Helen Nico nay, in Century Magazine.