Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1919-06-20

CHAPTER xvlII-contmred.

Is
He had priceless and unusual tai
ent for avoiding school-reader English
and the arts of defamation and for
preparing difficult subject to enter
the average brain. The underlying Sc
cret of his power was soon apparent
70 me. He stood always for that great
thing in America which, since then,
Whitman has called sthe divine aggre-
gate" and seeing clearly how every
measure would be likely to affect its
welfare, he followed the compass. 1t
had led him to q height Of power
above all others and was to lead him
unto the loneliest summit of accom-
vlishment in American history.
Not much In my term of service
there is important to this little task
of mine. ! did my work well. if may
believe the senator. and grew familiar
with the gentle and ungentle arts of
the politician.
One great fact grew in magnitude
and sullen portent as the months
passed: the gigantic slave-holding in
terests of the South viewed with grow
ing alarm the spread of abolition sem
timent. Subtly, quietly and naturally
they were feeling for the means to de-
fend and increase their power. Straws
we're coming 70 the surface in that
session which betrayed this deep I'M
dercurrent Of purpose. We felt it and
the senator was worried, ! knew, but
held his peace. He knew how to keep
his opinions until the hour had struck
that summoned them to service. The
senator never played with his lance.
By and by Spencer openly sounded the
note of conflict.
The most welcome year Of my life
dawned on the first of January, 1874.
] remember that / arose before day
light that morning and dressed and
went out on the street to welcome 1t.
had less than six months to wait
iOf thai day appointed by Sally. had
30 doubt that she would be true to me.
had had my lays or fear and derTes-
sion, but always my sublime faith in
her came back in good time.
Oh, yes, indeed. Washington was
tair of beauty and gallantry those
days. saw it all. have spent many
years In the capital, and tell you the
girls of that time had manners and
knew how to wear their clothes, but
again the magic of old memories kept
NJ lady on her throne. There was
one OF them-jcst one of those others
VINO, sometimes thought, was almost
as graceful and charming and noble
hearted as Sally, and she liked me,
know, but the ideal OF my youth
glowed in the light of the early morn
ing, so to speak, and was brighter than
all others. Above all, had given my
word to Sally. and-well. you know,
tAe old-time Yankee of good stock was
fairly steadfast, whatever else may
De said of him-often a little too
steadfast, as were Ben Grimshaw and
squire Fullerton.
The senator and I went calling that
New Years day. We saw all the
great people and some of them were
nore cheerful than they had right
W De- 1t was weakness of the time.
snail not go into details for fear of
wandering too far from my main road.
1et me step aside a moment to say,
however, that there were two clouds
"a the sky of the Washington society
VI those days. One was strong drink
ana the other was the crude, rough
eoated, aggressive democrat from the
Hohtlers of the West. These latter
were often seen in the holiday regalia
q farm or village at fashionable func-
uons Some Of them changed slowly,
aau oy and by reached the stage of
"nIte linen and diamond breastpins
enu Waistcoats of figured silk. 1t
.nuS' ne said, however, that their mo-
"'es we're always above their taste.
The winter wore away slowly in
uara work. Mr.. Van Buren, came down
" see the senator one day from his
eOuntry seat on the Hudson. The ex-
resident had been solicited to accept
she nomination again. l know that
senator Wright strongly favored the
pian out feared that the South would
Seleat him in convention, it being well
sAoWn that Van Buren, was opposed to
le annexation of Texas. However,
= advised his friend to make fight
.or me nomination and this the latter
.SsoiVed to do. Thenceforward until
= miooie May / gave my tirle largely to
re lnditing of lette.s Tor the senator
" van Buren's beaalf.
. Inc time appointed for the conven-
sOu 10 Baltimore drew near. One day
We senator received an intiynation that
q would be put in nomination if Van
uen tailed. Immediately he wrote
Judge Fine OF Ogdensburg, CHAR
au OIL the delegation from the nqrth-
~ district or New York, forbinding
S suen use Of his name on the ground
Ia 1' lls acquiescence would Involve dis
yaity to his friend the ex-president.
"a. ae gave me leave TO 90 to the con-
1u'loh On my way home TO meet Sally.
.'ll eondded to Mrs. Wright the de-
'9 ~ ny litsls love ae.f-: z-4 -.