in the Court of Appeals at Albany, in our favor, which puts an end to the Post's absurd claim against us for $100,000 damages for not finding the deed which was said to have been in our office for 40 years but lost when it was wanted. * * *”

(October 10.) "Mr. Astor's dinner last night proved to be a splendid affair. Some fifty and more guests sat down at a round table in the large dining room at Delmonico's, among them many distinguished and many notorious men. In the centre of the table was a tall sumach tree in the full colors of Autumn and a huge sheaf of wheat, and the whole surface of the table covered with autumnal flowers and fruits & vegetables. Happily there was no speaking although nearly all the speakers were there, as it seemed to me. The dinner was of course superb and without limits, and not too long as I got home at a little after ten. *** J. H. C."

To the Same

"Albany, N. Y. 17 Octr. 1889. "I did not forget the day yesterday, though so busy from morning till night that I could only think of it on the wing until I got into the cars to come to Albany. An appropriate journey to take on the day, was it not? Next me was a young couple who had chosen the same anniversary- Their heads were together all the way. So close. Something new to say every minute. He so red, and she so white. They could hardly keep hands off of each other, and were ever so happy. **

"Mr. G. Tuckerman kissed me yesterday in the street.

I blushed before all. Eliot is laid up with jaundice, a cruel thing just as he was going into a year of zealous work.

It makes one so feeble.

J. H. C."

To the Same

"Troy, N. Y. 11 Dec. 1889.

"Mr. Burden has provided me with excellent quarters at the Troy Club-a brand-new Club House, which I seem to have pretty much to myself-a fine corner room with lots of sunlight, etc., etc., etc.

"Our case went on today at the City Hall, but so far as I can see it is likely to last a long time yet. The Burdens are famous for protracted law suits. The father of these men had one about spikes that lasted for twenty years, and why should this one about horse shoes come to an untimely end? * * *

"How did you get along with Stickney? And did he move to reconsider? Certainly, he is a very marvel of persistency-not to say obstinacy. I hope you were able to withstand him until Beaman arrived. Don't you think Mrs. Stickney must have a nice time, if she aspires to 'manage' her husband as thoroughly as you do yours? Really we don't know how fortunate we are— do we? until we contrast our lot with other people's.

J. H. C."

CHAPTER VI

THE NINETIES

TYRANNY OF THINGS- CROKER-TO A SCHOOL-BOY-IN WASHINGTON -BEHRING SEA CASE-STOCKBRIDGE IN MARCH-AQUEDUCT CASE -LETTERS FROM STOCKBRIDGE-HOPKINS-SEARLES-TILDEN WILL CASE-SEEN AT THE PATRIARCHS'—A DREAM-CROWDING WORKIN EUROPE-GREAT OFFENSE TO THE IRISH-A SKETCH FROM THE

"TRIBUNE -AS SEEN BY REPORTERS-THE CHICAGO FAIR-AMEND

ING THE CONSTITUTION-A MEDAL TO PRESIDENT ELIOT-VANDERBILT DIVORCE CASE-LAIDLAW VS. SAGE

66

To His Wife

"New York, 17 June 1890.

I note what you say about all the things you want me to do, and I will so far as I can. The plans I will send tomorrow after looking them over with Effie. The horses I am seeing about. But our wants increase so rapidly, and it seems to me so unnecessarily, that my fond hopes of any substantial leisure vanish like the horizon before me.

"Your birthday-Cannot you change it so as to let us enjoy it together? I thought of you all that day and regretted that I was so far away.

To the Same

J. H. C."

"New York, 22 June 1890.

You will be surprised to hear that your praise

is on many a tongue in this Club. It seems that on their return from Stockbridge last summer, Mr. Cooper then at the head of the House Committee, introduced 'boiled

fowl and pork' 'fish cakes' on Sunday morning and 'corn bread' all of which have become very popular and are known by your name, as 'Mrs. Choate's fish cakes' etc. So you see that your hospitality was not wasted. * * * J. H. C."

To the Same

"New York, 24 June 1890. "*** Today I have not been near Wall St. having taken up all day until a late hour with the examination of Mr. & Mrs. Croker. The Tammany hordes fairly swarmed about us, and when it was over I had to go home and take a bath, wash off the fumes of Democracy with which I was reeking, put on clean clothes and come down to the Club and take a good dinner with Richard Butler who starts alone tonight on his yachting tour through the Lakes, on which I wished so much to join him. *

(June 26.) "How shall I answer this letter from the artist of the Choate Fountain? Fig leaf or no. It has an 'Hon. mention' at the Salon.

J. H. C."

This fountain, the Boy and the Stork, now at Stockbridge, was one of MacMonnies's first works made when he was studying in Paris.

To the Same

"Albany, August 1890.

"*** The dinner at General Sherman's last night

was a very quiet affair. Rich'd. Butler, Cyrus Field,

Judge Endicott, Mr. Chamberlain, Genl. Howard were of the party. I sat on the Count's* right and as the General hadn't much to say to him, having had him in his study for the previous two hours, I had him all to myself. He was very chatty, and appeared to be well posted on all familiar subjects—a very agreeable dinner companion-not at all remarkable however in appearance or any way. The Duc d'Orleans however is a very presentable young fellow and I should think might captivate the people sometime or other if he had a chance. They have already left New York, and as they stay here but 30 days their programme is marked out for every day. Mr. Depew and Mr. Morton declined to attend the dinner because of the hostile attitude of the Count to the French Republic. * * *

J. H. C."

To the Same

"Albany, 14 Augt. 1890.

"*** Here we are still hopelessly jabbering. Bourke Cockran is at this moment making over again his last 4th of July oration, which nobody in particular is listening to, while I am looking wistfully out of Eastern windows, wondering how soon I can get back to Stockbridge, and brush those Constitutional cobwebs out of my ears and brain.

"Today at one o'clock we have voted to call on Gov. Hill in a body. Perhaps for such a visit it will be pleasanter to be merged in the body of the commission. * * *

*The Comte de Paris.

J. H. C."