ARTHUR, CLEVELAND, AND ELAINE -1881 -1884 211 



layed and we have had to get another speaker/' I was 

 greatly disappointed, and expressed my feelings somewhat 

 energetically, when the mayor said: "But this speaker is 

 really splendid ; he carries all before him ; he is a thorough 

 Kentucky orator. ' ' My answer was that I knew the breed 

 but too well, and that if I had known that Mr. McKinley 

 was not to come I certainly would not have left my work 

 at the university. By this time we had arrived at the door 

 of the Globe Hotel, whence the speaker entered the car- 

 riage. He was a tall, sturdy Kentuckian, and his appear- 

 ance and manner showed that he had passed a very con- 

 vivial day with the younger members of the committee 

 appointed to receive him. 



His first words on entering the carriage were not very 

 reassuring. No sooner had I been introduced to him than 

 he asked where he could get a glass of brandy. "For," 

 said he, "without a good drink just before I go on the 

 platform I can't make a speech." I attempted to quiet 

 him and to show him the difficulties in the case. I said: 

 "Colonel - , you have been with our young men here 

 all day, and no doubt have had a fairly good time ; but in 

 our meetings here there is just now need of especial care. 

 You will have in your audience to-night a large number of 

 the more sedate and conservative citizens of Syracuse, 

 church members, men active in the various temperance 

 societies, and the like. There never was a campaign when 

 men were in greater doubt ; great numbers of these people 

 have not yet made up their minds how they will vote, and 

 the slightest exhilaration on your part may cost us hun- 

 dreds of votes. ' ' He answered : ' ' That 's all very well, but 

 the simple fact is that I am here to make a speech, and I 

 can 't make it unless I have a good drink beforehand. ' ' I 

 said nothing more, but, as he still pressed the subject on the 

 mayor and the other member of the committee, I quietly 

 said to them as I left the carriage: "If that man drinks 

 anything more before speaking, I will not go on the stage 

 with him, and the reason why I don't will speedily be 

 made known. ' ' The mayor reassured me, and we all went 



