GARDINER GREENE HUBBARD 37 



less value. He brought it into hourly use in this country, in 

 England, on the continent of Europe, organizing the Interna- 

 tional, Oriental, and other companies, until, in less than a quarter 

 of a century, it is conveying thought in every civilized language, 

 and has become, more quickly than any other invention of his- 

 tory, a necessity of daily life and an untold blessing to mankind. 



But this man of tireless energy and exhaustless capacity for 

 varied enterprises does not diminish upon a closer view. He 

 recognized his obligations as a citizen of this Capital, and met 

 them promptly and well. He was governor of the Society of Colo- 

 nial Wars in the District of Columbia. It was represented to 

 him that the city should be made interesting and attractive by 

 preserving some of its most notable historic houses, and suitably 

 marking its historic sites. Instantly his mind assented and his 

 heart was enlisted. He gave himself with ardor to the forming 

 of the " Memorial Association of the District of Columbia," and 

 it is largely through his efforts and influence that the Congress 

 has purchased the house in which Mr Lincoln died and set it 

 apart as a perpetual shrine of patriotic pilgrimage. He dispensed 

 a generous and refined hospitality, not only or chiefly for his 

 own pleasure — though he keenly enjoyed good society — but also 

 because he recognized the duty of a suitable welcome to the city's 

 and the nation's guests. It is many years since any man of dis- 

 tinction for real merits or valuable services has come to Wash- 

 ington without finding himself seated at Mr Hubbard's table, 

 and amongSguests whom it was a pleasure and an honor to meet. 

 He read the best books ; and, while evincing no special talent as 

 a writer, he had a fine literary taste and was a judicious and 

 kindly critic. He had a passion for art, especially for etchings 

 and engravings, in knowledge and appreciation of which he was 

 a rare expert, and his collection is one of the finest in this coun- 

 try. Seldom was he seen to better advantage than when show- 

 ing these treasures to some appreciative friend, when his fine 

 face would beam with pleasure and his deep eye scan afresh 

 every detail of beauty that he knew and loved so well. 



Mr Hubbard was a man of marked purity of life, to whom a 

 stain of any sort seemed- utterly foreign. No one would have 

 ventured upon coarseness of word or act in his presence. He 

 was intensely conscientious. He was unselfish, willing to accept 

 the efficient result of his labors, and let others get the praise. He 

 could not be roused to resentment, and was often silent when 

 friends thought he should speak and claim his rights. He served 

 his fellowmen not only in the great ways already noted, but with 

 unstinted gifts of thought and sympathy, and, if need be, of 



