The authorized pictorial lives of Stephen Grover Cleveland and Thomas Andrews Hendricks

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Table Of Contents

LIFE OF GROVER CLEVELAND.

CHAPTER I.— Grover Cleveland— His Birth and Ancestry — The Presbyterian Minister — The village of Caldwell — Removal to Fayetteville — A deathless lyric — a familiar figure — The soul of honesty — An old citizen's opinion— A homely tribute — A child of the people — handicapped with poverty — No favors asked — A noble determination — A thirst for knowledge — The boy's future — Becomes a clerk — The general store — A crude conglomeration — Multifarous duties — A walking encyclopedia — Fifty dollars a year — A young athlete — The slave of duty — Honest and faithful — Noble longings — Heroic resolves, . _ _ . _ - - 33-41

CHAPTER ir.— Death of Cleveland's Father. — A desirable clerk — Offered extravagant wages — At scoool again — A model student — A healthy character — Leader and champion — Fighting others' battles — The village bully beaten — Saving his enemy's life — Cleveland's disposition described — The removal to Holland Patent — A soldier of the cross — Death of Cleveland's father — Grover's visit to Utica — A terrible surprise — A young stoic — A cruel message — A noble comforter — The family broken up — Injustice to country ministers — Following Grover's fortunes — Founded upon a rock — Calumny and enmity — Indomitable energy — Faith and truth, - - 42-50

CHAPTER II.— Political History from 1788 to 1815.— A

farcical political contest — Opposing parties — Federalists and Anti-Federalists — The Constitution goes into effect — General Washington inaugurated — John Adams Vice-President — A noble character — North Carolina and Rhode Island ratify — Madison joins the opposition — The first apportionment of representation — Vermont and Kentucky admitted into the Union — Washington's unanimous nomination — Contest between Federalists and Republicans for Vice-President — Jefferson retires from the Cabinet — An able statesman — Washington's farewell address — Adams and Jefferson — The Alien and Sedition laws — The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions — Party spirit increases — Second contest between Adams and Jefferson— Defects of the Electoral College— Mode of voting — A tie vote— Seat of Government removed to Washington — The first party platform— The first caucus— Congressional Conventions — Change in electoral methods — Jefferson's second election — Republicans adopt the name of Democrats — The people's party— Federalist defeats— Our second foreign war— The Hartford Convention— Its principles— The first na- • tional bank bill, - 413-419

CHAPTER III.— Political History from 1815 to 1844.— An overwhelming Democratic success — Monroe's second election—A wonderful triumph — Missouri becomes a State — The Missouri Compromise measures — Four candidates in the field — The choice of the people defeated — A second crisis — A corrupt coalition — National Convention system adopted — Injustice rebuked — Jackson's appointments — A false accusation. — The new party — The Democratic platform — Public moneys removed — Congressional pairing off invented — The log cabin and hard cider campaign — "Tippecanoe and Tyler too" — Demagogical devices— A Whig success — An Abolitionist can-

XXVI CONTENTS.

didate — Harrisoirs death in office — A new party forming — The Buffalo platform — The first dark horse — A close race — The Libert}^ party — The war with Mexico — Texas annexed — Fate of the Wilmot Proviso — Anti-slavery agitated, - 420-425

CHAPTER IV.— Political History from 1844 to 1864.— The Democratic Convenlioii of 1848 — General Taylor nominated by the Whigs — The Fiee-soil Democrats — The Abolitionist nominee — Spartan heroism — A gallant old hero — Perfidy avenged — Dead at the White House — Scott and Graham — Another dark horse — A grand Democratic victory — The Kansas troubles — A promiscuous opposition — The National Americans — The Know-Nothing shibboleth — A masterly inactivity — Buck and Breck — Fremont's cheap notoriety — A pathfinder by proxy — Helper's Impending Crisis — A fanatical fool — John Brown's prototype — A servile insurrection — A rat in a hole — The Charleston Convention — A stormy session — Suicidal policy — Adjourned to Baltimore — Seceeding delegations — Butler, of Massachusetts — The twin conventions — Dual nominations — The Constitutional Union nominees — Three probabilities — The campaign of 1864 — Lincoln assassinated — John Wilkes Booth, ------ 426-431

CHAPTER v.— Political Histroy from 1864 to 1881.— Johnson's administration — Judicial murder — A reign of terror — Military bastiles — Seward's boast — The campaign of 1868 — Republican tactics — The Liberal Republican party — A foolish endorsement — The Democratic straight-outs — Grant and Wilson — Whisky ring and CreditMobiliers — The Temperance candidate — The Greenbackers — The St. Louis Convention in 1876— Election of Tilden— Tlieft of the Presidency— An infamous commission — Perjured partisans — A miserable imposter — Argument to abolish the Electoral College — A noble man — By force of arms — Reaping its reward — A Paltry creature—Dead sea fruits— Stalwart and half-breed— The third term delegates — Corrui)t b:irgains — A Democratic mistake — Greenback candidates — An interesting vote — Republican dissensions — Guitoau assassinates Garfield — A tailor's block — Star-route prosecutions — A perfect farce — Thieves turned ^loose, ----.--_ 432-437

CHAPTER VI. — Political Measures — Federalism. — Men and measures — The first political difference — Antagonistic measures — The National Bank — A question of supremacy— A difference of opinion — Hamilton and Jefferson — Aristocracy versus Democracy — A noble character — Opposing leaders — The Alien and Sedition laws — Tyrannical measures — Their scope — Penalties for their neglect — Fine and imprisonment — Official egotism — Their date of expiration — Tlie Kentucky and Virginia resolutions — States' Rights doctrine — Madison and Jefferson — The Federal league defined — Assumed powers — No common judge — The proi^er remedy — A Federalist opinion — The evil aggravated — The measures failures — A frank confession, --_--„ 438-442

CONTENTS. XXVII

CHAPTER VIL — Political Measures of Washington's Administrations. — Madison's resolution — Tonnage duties and imports — Creation of the departments — A question of authority — The opposition carjy the point — Supreme Court Justices appointed — Tliank.sgiviug day — Debts of the United States — Vahie of Continental currency — Funding propositions — Duties increased — Assumption of State debts — A fair excliange — A jealous party — Creation and creators — The National Bank bill — Its origin — Meeting of the Second Congress — Representative apportionment — A Cabinet council — Number of members — St. Clair's defeat — A warm debate — An increase of duties — Protection appears — Fishing bounties — Other measures — A new name — An untlngging champion — A bitter enemy — Political organs — Hamilton's card — A Hat denial — A newspaper war — Tlie Whisky Insurrection quelled — Washington's second tei-m — Fugitive Shive Bill — The French Minister — A presumptions individual — An interesting chapter — Hostile complications — A grand leader, - - 448-448

CHAPTER vni.— Political Measures— Democracy.— The Congress of 1793 — An opposition majority — A strict neutrality advised — The piojxn' Indian i)olicy — Foreign restrictions — Jefferson's resignation — The retaliating duties debate — Able political papers — The Algerian piiates — A strong navy recommended — A cheaper plan — A ridiculous idea — American vessels seized — Lord Dorchester's speech — British orders modified — Indian hostilities — Jaj^'s mission — A sinking fund established — Tlie English treaty — Jay burned in effigy — Treaty ratified — An open rupture — Washington's firmness — French complications — An unjust position — Safety to neutrals — Broken promises — Monroe recalled — Washington's farewell address — False ideas — A slight resemblance — A bitter contest — Adams elected — Washington retires — At Mount Vernon — His success as a statesman — Lee's eulogy, - 449-454

CHAPTER IX.— Political Measures— Foreign Difficulties. — The navy department cieated — The First Secretary — A special session — Privateering schemes — A milita organized — Three'frigates commissioned — The Stamp Act — An odious measure — Embassadoi-s to France — Money demanded — Injudicious legislation — Political newspapers — The Aurora and others — The Fries rebellion — The Sixth Congress — Death of Washington — Federalist dissensions — Trouble in Adams' Cabinet — The British faction — Hamilton's intrigues — The Re-organization Act — Partisan appointments — A tie vote — The election in the House— Jefferson elected President — Federal intrigues — A second Cataline — A cold-blooded conspirator — The Twelfth Amendment — Jefferson's inauguration — A model address — Democracy's first triumph — A false accusation — Adams' abuse of power — The midnight appointments — The rights of the majority — A famous phrase — An honest defense — Abuses rectified — Promises well kept. - - - 455-460

XXVIII CONTENTS.

CHAPTER X.— Political Measures — Triumph of the Democracy. — The Seventh Congress — The administration majority — The written message — Natuialization laws amended — A sinkinglfund perfected — The tirst Slave Trade Acts — Spain's secret treaty — Louisiana ceded to France — Able diplomacy — The Federalists checkmated — The acquisition of Louisiana — Disgusted Federalists — The Eastern empire — Napoleon's predictions — Increase of administration majority — Jefferson re-elected — The French Spoliation Bill — The Embargo Act — A change of name — A party faction — The breach cemented — A stormy close — British treaty rejected — Right of search denied — The Chesapeake flred on — A brilliant and successful administration — Madison elected President — A skillful game — Non-intercourse declared — American minister to England recalled — War with England declared — Defeat of the National Bank — A grand orator — The era of statesmen — The Clintonian Democracy — Madison re-elected — The war of 1812 — Eastern opposition — Infamous traitors — Connecticut blue lights — The Hartford Convention — Treaty of Ghent — Postage reduced — Monroe elected President — States admitted — The Monroe Doctrine — A unanimous choice, - - 4G1-466

CHAPTER XI. —Political Measures— Anti-Slavery Agitation. — The ^lissouri Compromise — New party lines — Almost a Federal victory — Patriotic party actions — The sectional line — Federalists hopes — What we owe Democracy — Disruption prevented — Dr. Lloyd's resolution — By right of discovery — Acquisition of Florida — Change of Indian polic)' — The tariff and internal improvements — Debate of Clay and Webster — Increased tariff bill passed — Its broad scope— The campaign of 1824 — Jackson defrauded — The infamous coalition — The facts in the case — The Columbian letter — Trading partisans— Jackson's incorruptibility — Clay's denial — WhatKremer avowed — The balance of proof — "Old Hickory's" firm belief — Conspirators retired to ])i'ivate life — Clay forced into the National Republican (^Vhig) party — The new party policy — Congressional Caucuses abolished — The National Convention plan — An increased opposition, _ _ _ _ 407-472

CHAPTER XII.— Political Measures— Tariff and Nullification. — The Congress of American States — Democratic doctrine— Electoral revision — The Tenure of Office bills— A proposed amendment — A sectional measure — A change of policy — A natural objection — Election of Jackson — A wrong righted — Debate between Ila.vne and Webster — The President's message — A mongrel institution — For and against re-chartering the National Bank — Jackson's veto — Removes the government funds from the bank — A scheming corporation — Embarassment and distress — Resolutions of censure — Arrogant officers — Paltry partisians — Jackson thwarted — The public estranged — The first whitewashing committee — A financial wreck — A family quarrel — South Carolina's nullifi-

CONTENTS. XXIX

cation ordinance — Jackson's proclamation — Clay's Compromise Bill — The course of Daniel Webster — Benton's hard money speech — Democratic legislgtion — French damages paid — Qualver petition — Abolition memorials — Incendiary documents — Fanatics in control — A large reward — Monroe Edwards, the noted forger — John A. Murrell as an Abolitionist — Conservative conduct — The agitation allayed, - 473-479

CHAPTER XIII.— Political Measures— :NrEW Parties.— The Anti-Masonic party — An ephemeral affair — A fanciful crusade — An unscrupulous politician — Clay's Sui-plus Distribution measures — The Democracy deceived — Unwise action and its effects — Van Buren elected President — A fine address — The financial panic of 1887 — Repeal of Jackson's Circular — An extra session called — Democratic views and actions urged — An independent treasury advised — Whig opposition — Land, banking and anti-slavery agitation — Petition of the Vermont Legislature — The Calhoun Resolutions — A Whig Speaker elected — Pairing off invented — The log cabin campaign — Silly sentimentality — Tippecanoe and Tyler too — Harrison elected — His one month's rule — John Tyler succeeds to the Presidency — Democratic measures repealed — All debts abolished — Clay's pet measure — The Hour R»ile adopted — Harrison's widow pensioned — Modern Epaminondases — Jefferson's services and his povert}^ — Monroe's lost fortunes — Jackson's embarassments — Democratic loyalty to the constitution — Great men and invaluable services — Federalist robbery, - 480-485

CHAPTER XrV. — Political measures — Anndxation of TEXAS. — Xaval fund consumed — Wild Whig legislation — The Loan Bill and tariff — Calhoun's answer to Clay — Another bank bill — Tyler's veto — Clay censures the President — Resignation of the Cabinet — Still another veto by Tyler — The Whig address to the people — Caleb Cushing's defence of the President — Clay resigns from tlie Senate — His farewell address — A bankrupt government — The Whigs in despair — A double measure — Administration folly — Losing their power — ^Vau Buren's nomination defeated — The first dark horse — Clay the AVliig candidate — The annexation of Texas — The situation accepted — A new party — Polk's message — Democratic legislation recommended — 54-40, or fight — A definite boundary line sought for — The treaty finally concluded — War with Mexico declared — Introduction of the Willmot Proviso — Furious contentions — Calhoun's Resolution, - - 486-490

CHAPTER XV.— Political Measures— Missouri Compromise Annulled. — A Whig House and Speaker — Anti-slavery agitation and the Missouri Compromise — An amended bill passed — The Democratic Convention of 1848 — Old Rough and Ready — A heroic epigram — Taylor elected President — Polk's last message — A prosperous condition — Department of the Interior created — Whig majority in Congress — A Demo-

XXX CONTENTS.

cratic Speaker — Measures introduced by Clay — Seward's resolution rejected — Infamous schemes — Traitorous doctrines — Abolition or secession — Calhoun's last speech — Webster's tribute to him — Death of General Taylor — A brave soldier and an honest statesman — Bill for admission of California — A Senatorial i)rotest — The Missouri Compromise annulled — The Convention at Nashville, ----- 491-495

CHAPTER XVI.— Political Measures — Secession Proposed. — A skulker's paradise — Abolitionist change of .tone — A peaceful dissolution of the Union demanded — The Whigs of 1852 — A second dark horse — John P. Hale's candidacy — Pierce's overwhelming majority — The Native American party — The test in New York City — Scotched but not killed — A secret organization — What foreigners owe the Democracy — Organization of Nebraska — Douglas' Squatter Sovereignty doctrine — The Kansas troubles again — The President's proclamation — The Dred Scott decision — Appealed to the U. S. Supreme Court — Incendiary threats — The Native American platform — Secret order politics — The Whig endorsement. - 496-501

CHAPTER XVIT.— Political Measures— Debates of Douglas AND Lincoln. — A cast-off title assumed — A mongrel collection — A league against Democracy — John C. Fremont nominated for President — A path-tinder by proxy — A wonderful development — The AVhig part^- disappears — Jonah's gourd — Inauguration of Buchanan — A conscientious officer — The Native Americans disappear — A party without a principle — The joint canvass of Douglas and Lincoln — Democratic bickerings — An unequal contest — An unterrified Democrat — The mob detied — Tactics of the Republicans — Kansas' double constitution — A false statement — The Leeomptou Constitution adopted — The doctiment forwarded — Voting at the election — Bill admitting Kansas — Douglas' amendment — Still a territory — Requirements rejected, - - _ _ 502-506

CONTENTS. XXXI

SUPPLEMENT.

CHAPTER I.— Political Measures— John Brown's Raid.

— Kansas becomes a free State — The Wyandotte Convention of 1859 — A foolish fanatic — John Brown's raid — Capture of Harper's Ferry — Citizens murdered in tlie streets — Surrounded and captured — A tame hero — A patron saint — Hale's denial of participation — Tlie raid condemned iu the North — A detestable crime — Fessenden's denial of complicity — Doolittle's challenge — Kin^ explains Seward's speech — Peaceful and constitutional means — Brown regarded as a lunatic — A friendless ruffian — Praised by poets — Hung for murder and treason — Sectional passion — A conglomerate party — Resistance to aggression — The masses embittered — Ambitious leaders — The conflict outlined, 507-510

CHAPTER II.— Political Measures— Abolition and Secession. — The Charlston Convention— The two-thirds rule — The territorial slavery question — The committee on resolutions — The two reports — Unable to harmonize — The majority report — Adroit political jngglery — Tlie unit rule — The minority report adopted — Withdi-awal of seven States — An effort for peace — Georgia withdraws — Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee — Defeat of Howard's resolution — The Douglas men iu fault — The two-thirds ruletriumphs — An adjournment moved— Tlie Convention reassembles — Tyranny and oppression — Withdrawal of other States — Mr. Gushing resigns the chairmanship — Ben Butler's announcement— Calling the roll of the States — Action of Butler — Carries his point — Leaves the Convention — Douglas nominated — The National Democratic Convention — The majority report adopted — John C. Breckenridge nominated — A Republican victory ensured, 511-515

CHAPTER HI.— Political Measures— War and Reconstruction.— The Republican Convention of 1860— Bickering factions — A new recruit selected — The Constitutional Union Convention — A forlorne hope — Republican success — Eleven States secede — Buchanan's beliefs — Sentiments of Horace Greeley — The dut}^ of Congress — Republican obstinacy — The Crittenden Compromise — Abolition or Secession — Course of the border States — Southern conservatives — Republican enmity — insult and injury — Extreme partisans — What could have been effected — Accusations against Floyd — The Emancipation proclamation — A party without a principle — State reconstruction — Judge Underwood's opinion — Johson's view of reconstruction— Removal of Stanton — The

XXXII ' CONTENTS.

Impeachment trial — Tlie contest of 1864 — Grant's election — Shameless corruption — The legal tender decision— Ground for greenbackers— Complexion of the party — The Prohibitionists — A miserable failure, 516-521

CHAPTER IV.— Political Measures— Theft of the Presidency. — A subject of wonder — Nomination of Tilden — Hayes the Republican candidate — Rising of the people — Rogues' reasons — A patriotic man — A crowning infamy — Hayes' administration—Grant's bayonet rule — The infamous eight — Catching a tarter — Hayes' following — A change of base — Longing for Grantism — The third term heresy — Garfield secures the nomination — General W. S. Hancock — The Republican majority' — An electoral sermon — The corruption fund for Indiana — Star-route thievery — Assassination of Garfield — Guiteau the Stalwart — Greater than John Brown — Arthur inaugurated — A fop and a bon vivant — His prosecutions a failure — Generals and Honorables — The Republic still safe — ^Her course through the centuries, 522-227

CHAPTER V. — The Platform Adopted. — No specious vote begging — No slurring of living issues — Every plank pure gold — Every one can stand on it — The voice of the people — Republican record — Party pledges — Tariff reform — Trade extension — Honest money — Equal rights — A free ballot — Territorial officers— Sumtuary laws — Church and State — Property rights — The labor interest — Public lands — Pauper labor — Protection of citizens — River improvement — The American marine — American policy — A tribute to Tilden 528-539

CHAPTER VI. — Nominations in Order.— Calling the roll — Breckenridge of California — Thurnian of Ohio, nominated — Behold the man — Seconded by Mr. Gray — A battle already won — The old red bandanna — An intellectual Ajax — James A. MTvenzie of Kentucky — John G. Carlisle named — A talismanic name — Honor his birthright — A splendid contrast — Facing the audience — Massachusetts called — Butler hissed — Bayard's nomination seconded by General Hooker of Mississip])! — Governor Cleveland nominated — Promptly seconded — Tammany treachery — Kelly's tool, Grady, - 540-554

CHAPTER VII.— Nominations Continued.— Hendricks of Indiana — A burst of enthusiasm — Cheers for the old ticket — McDonald nominated — Delicate and important duties — Republican excesses — Need of honesty and economy — A vast standing army — Stupendous frauds — The sentiment of '76 — The peer of the proudest — Another storm of applause — Col. Thomas E. Powell — Hoadly, of Ohio, nominated — The importance of the Buckeye State — An acknowledged leader — Senator Wallace, of Pennsylvania — Samuel J. Randall nominated — Promptly seconded. 555-568

GROVER CLEVELAND.

CHAPTER I.

GROVER CLEVELAND HIS BIRTH AND ANCESTRY.

THE PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER. THE VILLAGE OF CALDWELL.-

REMOVALTO FAYETTEVILLE. A DEATHLESS LYRIC. A FAMILIAR

FIGURE. THE SOUL OF HONESTY. AN OLD CITIZEN'S OPINION.

A HOMELY TRIBUTE. A CHILD OF THE PEOPLE. HANDI- CAPPED WITH POVERTY. NO FAVORS ASKED. ANOBLEDETER-

- MINATION. A THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE. THE BOY'S FUTURE.

BECOMES A CLERK. THE GENERAL STORE. A CRUDE CON- GLOMERATION. MULTIFARIOUS DUTIES. A WALKING ENCY- CLOPEDIA. FIFTY DOLLARS A YEAR. A YOUNG ATHLETE.

THE SLAVE OF DUTY. HONEST AND FAITHFUL. NOBLE LONG- INGS. HEROIC RESOLVES.

On the 18th day of March, 1837, there was born, in the little town of Caldwell, Essex county, New Jersey, a child upon whom its parents bestowed the name of Stephen Grover Cleveland. The father of the child was a Presbyterian preacher, blessed, if we consider money the root of all evil, with a small salary and a large family, and who experienced considerable difficulty in making both ends meet. The small village of Caldwell not proving a remunerative field of labor, the minister sought a more extended vineyard, where he could be of greater service in the Master's labor and where, also, there might occur some opening for the children with whom he had been so abundantly blessed.

Grover Cleveland, the subject of this sketch, was only three years old at the time of this removal, which was accomplished by way of the Hudson river and Erie canal. The location selected by Cleveland senior was the straggling village of Fayetteville. This hamlet, as it would be called in the older civilization of Europe, was of the usual type of small country towns; a collection of residences with large yards, an old style inn or tavern, a few stores and a blacksmith shop. There was the public well similar to the one which aroused the eloquence of the New England tramp printer and produced that deathless lyric "The Old Oaken Bucket."

Out of the mossy, dripping bucket that hung in this deep cool well, full many a time and oft did the rosy child, destined to be the next President of the United States, slake his thirst, and no figure was a more familiar one than that of this child of the people. Full of life and animal spirits, his hearty romps and childish pranks have often caused the admiration of the honest burghers of Fayetteville, who could not but sympathize with the handsome, noble spirited boy.

If the brilliancy of genius cast a halo about the boy, the citizens of the village were too dull to note it, but it was a matter of remark to all, that he was the soul of honesty and fairness. Said an old citizen of the town, when told of his career as Mayor of Buffalo and Governor of New York:

'^I never knowed as he'd ever raise to anything great — for you can't tell nothin' about boys — but I always did know that Grove Cleveland couldn't do a mean trick, and that he was jest as honest as the day is long."

A homely but noble tribute from one of the sturdy yeomanry and one most truly deserved. The honorable train-

GROVER CLE\^LAND.

ing of that stern old Presbyterian sire had fixed in the mind of the child, the principles of honor and honesty as firmly and immutably as the rock-ribbed hills. He might never have developed the brilliancy of some of our statesmen, nor might he have made so conspicuous a figure in the arena of politics, but he could do better, he could show us a noble example of Roman honesty and Spartan simplicity and honor. The childhood of young Cleveland, like that of the majority of American born and bred citizens, was not ''lapped in soft luxury," nor ''pampered full with pride." It knew the usual measure of boyish joys and boyish sorrows ; it had its successes and its reverses ; it scored its victories and its defeats. Unlike his opponent, "whose father," says one of his biographers, "prided himself upon being a gentleman of elegant leisure," Grover Cleveland had no golden bulwark to stand between him and the storms of adversity, and no unlimited purse of Fortunatus with which to purchase sure success from adverse circumstances.

He was essentially a child of the people, around whom the gaudy goddess of aristocracy had not wrapped the purple of position to warn the masses from contact with her idol. Handicapped with the dead weight of poverty, his was one of the noble souls born for success; one of those gallant soldiers of fortune, who expect no favors and ask no aid in their contest with the world. The odds were against him, but this served only as a stimulus to renewed exertion, and rendered sweeter the fruits of each successive victory.

He was of the metal from which is forged the heroes, wlio

from

"Low birth and iron fortune, Twin jailors of the daring heart,"

GROVER CLEVELAND.

wring victory at the sword's point of energy and perseverance. Determination characterized him as a child and a youth ; that determination that afterwards enabled him to confront and strangle fraud and corruption in the high places of his native State, and that, in the life struggle, have rewarded his patient toil with a full measure of success.

What intuition gives to its favored darlings he acquired by force of mind and native industry, and while so-called genius and talent lay in inglorious dalliance with indolence and guilt, his noble mind scorned the luring syrens and ever struggled upward to its ideal elevation.

At Fayetteville young Cleveland remained until he was fourteen years old, by which time his bright mind, aided by untiring industry, had mastered all that the village school could teach, and with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge he clamored for a course at some academy more suitable to his attainments than the meager curriculum afforded by the home pedagogues. This very commendable desire found but slight response in the breast of the elder Cleveland, whose purse could ill stand the drain which a collegiate course for the son would make, and who was forced to make him self-supporting at the earliest possible moment.

How was this to be done? was the question. The boy might be put on a farm, or at a trade, or into a store — of other situations there was a dearth. It was finally concluded that the latter promised the highest remuneration and the greatest outcome, and hence application was made to the store-keeper for a position for the hoy. He was a universal favorite, was bright, accommodating and, above all things, strictly honest, and the merchant was delighted to secure him as a clerk.

The store at Fayetteville, in which Cleveland served his

GROVER CLEVELAND.

novitiate to the trade of merchandising, was like those of the Western small towns of to-day. Dry goods and wet goods, groceries and hardware, stationery and clothes were there in close juxtaposition; and the clerk was liable at any moment to be called from weighing out a pound of codfish for farmer Grano^er to sell a bottle of coloo;ne to Miss Belle, the village beauty. His duties were multifarious and his knowledsre of merchandise must be universal. Pins and pickles, lard and leather, flour and fish, rope and sugar, teas and tin pans, all fell within his province, and he was expected to be a good judge of each.

The clerk must be able to keep books and make out accounts; he must be able to advise old Mrs. Smiley as to the best brand of tea, and young Mrs. Mayflower of the proper remedy for nervous headache ; farmer Frugal came to him for his opinion as to the best variety of seeds, and the blacksmith consulted him about a liniment for wind-galls and bone spavins. From this slight enumeration of the every day duties of the clerk in a country store of that time and locality, it may be easily surmised where Buffalo's model mayor and New Ygrk's ideal governor accumulated that store of patience and tact that brought him out winner in his combats for the goddess of his worship, the star-eyed deity of reform.