108 



with several very bad speeches and none that wouki pay for 

 listening to, unless it might be the remarks of the President 

 himself, who was practical and to the point. The mutual ad- 

 miration style seemed to be most in vogue." 



Just before sailing on this voyage — a little less than two 

 years ago — Mr. Fay gave substantial proof of his devotion to 

 his country. We were then in the most painful throes of the 

 civil war. The city of his residence was filling up her quota 

 of soldiers. Mr. Fay responded to the call by the gift of 

 $1500, to help on the work, and accompanied the same by a 

 letter expressive of his views on the state of the country. 



** I am more hopeful," said he, " of the cause for which we 

 are fighting, because I think I see a slow but steady change 

 of opinion going on. I know it too from looking into my own 

 heart. We are all beginning to see the necessity of giving a 

 less grudging support to the government. One thought, one 

 purpose, should animate us — the restoration of the Union and 

 the integrity of the Nation at any cost. This will be my 

 daily prayer while abroad from the scene of strife." 



And in this connection, an extract from the letter before 

 referred to may not be without interest. He says : " There 

 has been a decided change of feeling in England, since I was 

 here last October, about American affairs. The nobs and 

 other sympathizers with the chivalry have yielded with a quiet 

 grace to their defeat, and conceal their sorrows very creditably. 

 They begin to perceive that there is even nobility in democ- 

 racy. What has most struck them has been our moderation 

 in victory, our lenity and forbearance." 



But we must bring these remarks to a close, and Avill only 

 say that the trait of character for which Mr. Fay was most 

 distinguished was a love for the simple and practical rather 

 than for the extravagant and theoretical. He was eminently 

 conservative and yet truly progressive. His good sense, his 

 wise suggestions, his plain quiet talk at the meeting of the 

 Society and of the Trustees, we shall long and sadly miss. 



We ofier the following resolutions : 



