my memories of eighty years-第30节

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In　every　convention　there　is　a　large　number　of　men　prominent　in　their　several　delegations　who　wish　to　secure　general　attention　and　publicity。　　As　there　were　no　disputes　as　to　either　candidate　or　platform；　these　gentlemen　all　became　anxious　to　make　speeches　favoring　the　candidates；　McKinley　and　Roosevelt。　　There　were　so　many　of　these　speeches　which；　of　course；　were　largely　repetitions；　that　the　convention　became　wearied　and　impatient。　　The　last　few　were　not　heard　at　all　on　account　of　the　confusion　and　impatience　of　the　delegates。　　While　one　orator　was　droning　away；　a　delegation　from　a　Western　State　came　over　to　me　and　said：　　〃We　in　the　extreme　West　have　never　heard　you　speak；　and　won't　you　oblige　us　by　taking　the　platform？〃

I　answered：　　〃The　audience　will　not　stand　another　address。〃　Roosevelt；　who　sat　right　in　front　of　me；　then　remarked：　　〃Yes；　they　will　from　you。　　These　speeches　have　pretty　nearly　killed　the　ticket；　and　if　it　keeps　up；　the　election　is　over；　and　McKinley　and　I　are　dead。〃　　He　then　seized　me　and　almost　threw　me　on　the　platform。

The　novelty　of　the　situation；　which　was　grasped　by　the　delegates；　commanded　attention。　　I　recalled　what　Mr。　Lincoln　had　once　said　to　me；　defending　his　frequent　use　of　anecdotes；　and　this　is　what　he　said：　　〃Plain　people；　take　them　as　you　find　them；　are　more　easily　influenced　through　the　medium　of　a　broad　and　humorous　illustration　than　in　any　other　way。〃

I　had　heard　a　new　story；　a　rare　thing；　and　began　with　the　narration　of　it。　　Alongside　the　chairman　sat　Senator　Thurston。　　He　was　a　fine　speaker；　very　ornate　and　highly　rhetorical。　　He　never　indulged　in　humor　or　unbent　his　dignity　and　formality。　　I　heard　him　say　in　a　sepulchral　voice　to　the　chairman：　　〃Great　God；　sir；　the　dignity　and　solemnity　of　this　most　important　and　historical　occasion　is　to　be　ruined　by　a　story。〃　　Happily　the　story　was　a　success　and　gave　the　wearied　audience　two　opportunities　to　hear　my　speech。　　Their　laughter　was　internal　relief；　and　it　was　giving　the　external　relief　of　changing　their　positions　for　new　and　more　restful　ones。

My　friend；　John　M。　Thurston；　came　to　Philadelphia　with　a　most　elaborate　and　excellent　oration。　　Sitting　in　the　audience　on　three　different　occasions；　I　heard　it　with　as　much　pleasure　the　last　time　as　I　had　the　first。

When　Mr。　Roosevelt　as　vice…president　came　to　preside　over　the　Senate；　it　was　soon　evident　that　he　would　not　be　a　success。　　His　talents　were　executive　and　administrative。　　The　position　of　the　presiding　officer　of　the　United　States　Senate　is　at　once　easy　and　difficult。　　The　Senate　desires　impartiality；　equable　temper；　and　knowledge　of　parliamentary　law　from　its　presiding　officer。　　But　it　will　not　submit　to　any　attempt　on　the　part　of　the　presiding　officer　to　direct　or　advise　it；　and　will　instantly　resent　any　arbitrary　ruling。　　Of　course；　Mr。　Roosevelt　presided　only　at　a　few　meetings　before　the　final　adjournment。　　When　Congress　met　again　he　was　President　of　the　United　States。

Senators　and　members　soon　found　that　there　was　a　change　at　the　White　House。　　No　two　men　were　ever　so　radically　different　in　every　respect　as　McKinley　and　Roosevelt。　　Roosevelt　loved　to　see　the　people　in　a　mass　and　rarely　cared　for　private　or　confidential　interviews。　　He　was　most　hospitable　and　constantly　bringing　visitors　to　luncheon　when　the　morning　meetings　in　the　executive　offices　had　closed；　and　he　had　not　had　a　full　opportunity　to　hear　or　see　them。

Senator　Hanna　was　accustomed　to　have　a　few　of　his　colleagues　of　the　Senate　dine　with　him　frequently；　in　order　to　consult　on　more　effective　action　upon　pending　measures。　　President　Roosevelt；　who　knew　everything　that　was　going　on；　often　burst　into　Hanna's　house　after　dinner　and　with　the　utmost　frankness　submitted　the　problems　which　had　arisen　at　the　White　House；　and　upon　which　he　wished　advice　or；　if　not　advice；　supportmore　frequently　support。

Any　one　who　attended　the　morning　conferences；　where　he　saw　senators　and　members　of　the　House；　and　the　public；　was　quite　sure　to　be　entertained。　　I　remember　on　one　occasion　I　had　been　requested　by　several　friends　of　his；　men　of　influence　and　prominence　in　New　York；　to　ask　for　the　appointment　of　minister　to　a　foreign　government　for　a　journalist　of　some　eminence。　　When　I　entered　the　Cabinet　room　it　was　crowded；　and　the　president　knew　that　I　was　far　from　well；　so　he　at　once　called　my　name；　asked　how　I　was　and　what　I　wanted。　I　told　him　that　I　had　to　leave　Washington　that　day　on　the　advice　of　my　doctor　for　a　rest；　and　what　I　wanted　was　to　present　the　name　of　a　gentleman　for　appointment　as　a　minister；　if　I　could　see　him　for　five　minutes。

The　president　exclaimed：　　〃We　have　no　secrets　here。　　Tell　it　right　out。〃　　I　then　stated　the　case。　　He　asked　who　was　behind　the　applicant。　　I　told　him。　　Then　he　said；　〃Yes；　that's　all　right；〃　to　each　one　until　I　mentioned　also　the　staff　of　the　gentleman's　newspaper；　which　was　one　of　the　most　prominent　and　powerful　in　the　country　but　a　merciless　critic　of　the　president。　　He　shouted　at　once：　　〃That　settles　it。　　Nothing　which　that　paper　wishes　will　receive　any　consideration　from　me。〃　　Singularly　enough；　the　paper　subsequently　became　one　of　his　ardent　advocates　and　supporters。

On　another　occasion　I　was　entering　his　private　office　as　another　senator　was　coming　out　of　the　Cabinet　room；　which　was　filled。　He　called　out：　　〃Senator　Depew；　do　you　know　that　man　going　out？〃　I　answered：　　〃Yes；　he　is　a　colleague　of　mine　in　the　Senate。〃　〃Well；〃　he　shouted；　〃he　is　a　crook。〃　　His　judgment　subsequently　proved　correct。

Mr。　Roosevelt　and　his　wife　were　all　their　lives　in　the　social　life　of　the　old　families　of　New　York　who　were　admitted　leaders。　　They　carried　to　the　White　House　the　culture　and　conventions　of　what　is　called　the　best　society　of　the　great　capitals　of　the　world。　This　experience　and　education　came　to　a　couple　who　were　most　democratic　in　their　views。　　They　loved　to　see　people　and　met　and　entertained　every　one　with　delightful　hospitality。

Roosevelt　was　a　marvel　of　many…sidedness。　　Besides　being　an　executive　as　governor　of　a　great　State　and　administrator　as　civil…service　commissioner　and　police　commissioner　of　New　York；　he　was　an　author　of　popular　books　and　a　field　naturalist　of　rare　acquirements。　　He　was　also　a　wonderful　athlete。　　I　often　had　occasion　to　see　him　upon　urgent　matters；　and　was　summoned　to　his　gymnasium；　where　he　was　having　a　boxing　match　with　a　well…known　pugilist；　and　getting　the　better　of　his　antagonist；　or　else　launching　at　his　fencing　master。　　The　athletics　would　cease；　to　be　resumed　as　soon　as　he　had　in　his　quick　and　direct　way　disposed　of　what　I　presented。

Horseback　riding　was　a　favorite　exercise　with　him；　and　his　experience　on　his　Western　ranch　and　in　the　army　had　made　him　one　of　the　best　riders　in　the　world。　　The　foreign　diplomats　in　Washington；　with　their　education　that　their　first　duty　was　to　be　in　close　touch　with　the　chief　magistrate；　whether　czar；　queen；　king；　or　president；　found　their　training　unequal　to　keeping　close　to　President　Roosevelt；　except　one；　and　he　told　me　with　great　pleasure　that　though　a　poor　rider　he　joined　the　president　in　his　horseback　morning　excursions。　Sometimes；　he　said；　when　they　came　to　a　very　steep；　high；　and　rough　hill　the　president　would　shout；　〃Let　us　climb　to　the　top；〃　and　the　diplomat　would　struggle　over　the　stones；　the　underbrush　and　gullies；　and　return　to　his　horse　with　torn　garments　after　sliding　down　the　hill。　　At　another　time；　when　on　the　banks　of　the　Potomac；　where　the　waters　were　raging　rapids　the　president　said；　〃We　will　go　to　that　island　in　the　middle　of　the　river；〃　and　immediately　plunge　in。　　The　diplomat　followed　and　reached　the　island　after　wading　and　swimming；　and　with　great　difficulty　returned　with　sufficient　strength　to　reach　home。　　He　had　an　attack　of　pneumonia　from　this　unusual　exposure；　but　thereafter　was　the　envy　and　admiration　of　his　colleagues　and　increased　the　confidence　of　his　own　government　by　this　intimacy　with　the　president。

The　president's　dinners　and　luncheons　were　unique　because　of　his　universal　acquaintance　with　literary　and　scientific　people。　　There　were　generally　some　of　them　present。　　His　infectious　enthusiasm　and　hearty　cordiality　drew　out　the　best　points　of　each　guest。　I　was　present　at　a　large　dinner　one　evening　when　an　instance　occurred　which　greatly　amused　him。　　There　were　some　forty　guests。　When　they　were　seated；　the　president　noticed　four　vacant　chairs。　He　sent　one　of　his　aides　to　ascertain　the　trouble。　　The　aide　discovered　an　elderly　senator　standing　with　his　wife；　and　another　senator　and　a　lady　looking　very　disconsolate。　　The　aged　senator　refused　to　take　out　a　lady　as　his　card　directed　or　leave　his　wife　to　a　colleague。　　He　said　to　the　president's　aide；　who　told　him　that　dinner　was　waiting　and　what　he　had　to　do：　　〃When　I　eat　I　eat　with　my　wife；　or　I　don't　eat　at　all。〃　　The　old　gentleman　had　his　way。

The　president　had　one　story　which　he　told　often　and　with　much　glee。　While　he　was　on　the　ranch　the　neighbors　had　caught　a　horse　thief　and　hung　him。　　They　soon　discovered　that　they　had　made　a　mistake　and　hung　the　wrong　man。　　The　most　diplomatic　among　the　ranchers　was　selected　to　take　the　body　home　and　break　the　news　gently　to　his　wife。　　The　cowboy　ambassador　asked　the　wife：　　〃Are　you　the　wife　of