Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-01-28
Editors Letter Box
An Intimate Glimpse
Of a DISTINGUISHED Visitor
Augusta, Maine, January 81, 1922.

I
| Editor, Kennebec Journal
Dear Sir:-Recent brief notices in
| regard to the passing of Viscoun.
Bryce, In England. recall to my mind
moment in itself, may be of interest
to some of your readers.
Some years ago ! acted as secretary
to the director of the New York PUP
lie Library. DIR. John Shaw Billings.
man of international reputation who
possessed a wide circle of friends and
| acquaintance among the great men
of his day.
Naturally, We had a great many Wis
itors. and it was one of my duties. in
the absence of the director. to meet
these and render them whatever SER
vice | could.
On the day in question, DIR. Billings
was attending meeting of the direc-
which body he was secretary, in the
trustees room of the library, and l
had the office to myself.
Everything was quiet my services
didn't seem to be in demand. and |
had just settled myself at the desk
!~tor an uneventful afternoon. when q
slight sound at the door attracted my
attention, and l looked up to sec
standing there a rather small elderly
gentleman, plainly dressed, and with
about him. 1t needed but one glance
at his face. however, to make me GER
tain of his identity: The pointed
white beard and heavy mustache. the
eyebrows. had been depicted, both IN
every newspaper and review in the
country. and one must have been dali
indeed not to have known him at
once.
AS rose to meet him, he said quiet
ly, Il am told that Senator Root IS
here; if possible, I would like to get
in touch with him" He is i'ere, in
the pext ROOM l replied. .ant l will
Bryce is waiting to see him.
Mr.. Bryce took the chair Offered
him. and l departed to send in his
message to the Senator. This accom-
hoped the great man would say some
thing,-something that l could treas
ure in my memory. and hand Gown to
my children and grandchildren. But
could think of no way to open the
conversation. thought of Marx
Twains remark TO General Grant. upon
the occasion of their first meeting
"Mr President. II am embarrassed.
are you?" 1t would have. expressed
ses Senator to Ee Root 0a appeared to be in no
hurry to come out; probably he mad
seen ambassadors before; So tfere we
MFR. Bryce apparently buried in deep
thought and I pretendink to be terri
bly, busy with the important work OF
the library.
unusual opportunity for more or
less furtfve study of man upon
whom the attention of large part OF
the world was at that time conferred:
and I tried to make the most OF my
opportunity.
AS he sat there, turned a little away
from me, so that l could observe.
without attracting his attention, l saw
an oldish man. grown gray in the ser
vice of his country and Of humanity.
calm. reserved, thoughtful. rather
tired. waiting with the patience OF
naturally nervous. energetic person
atty which has learned. by long ex-
pericnce, the futility Of impatlence:;
austerity in the face. although one
would hardly look there for easy
geniality; more of the scholarly
thinker than of the willy diplomat: yet
Quick, sharp retort on occasion, an1
the Impression was almost inevitable
that the reserve which holds back
more than 1t expresses was with nm
bile face. capable of expressing a wide
range of sensibility, self-schooled to
repression.e
The sound of moving chairs in the
next room put an END 10 my nleultd-
lions. The door opened. and Elihu
Root came in. He greeted the Ambas-
sador as one not too glad. and yet MT
sorry to see him; then he turned
cold eye on me. and with curt nod
dismissed me from the presence
stood not upon the order of my going,
but went. with as much dignity as
possible. but expeditiously.
One may imagine that the doors of
that office were guarded jealousy
during the next two hours. and tina;
no one not even the Director himself.
dared enter. ] have never learned
what went on there; but l have al
ways liked to imagine that affairs of
vital Importance to at least two of the
great nations of the world were dis
cussed. and that l had been given