anybody's
leave,--who apparently did not believe in the infallibility of our legal
Bible, the Constitution,--should maintain that the anthracite roads
had formed a combination in restraint of trade, should lay down
the preposterous doctrine--so subversive of the Rights of Man--that
railroads should not own coal mines. Congress had passed a law to meet
this contention, suit had been brought, and in the lower court the
government had won.

As the day wore on our numbers increased, we were joined by other
lawyers of renown, not the least of whom was Mr. Grolier himself, fresh
from his triumph over religious heresy in his Church Convention. The
note of the conference became tinged with exasperation, and certain
gentlemen seized the opportunity to relieve their pent-up feelings on
the subject of the President and his slavish advisers,--some of whom,
before they came under the spell of his sorcery, had once been sound
lawyers and sensible men. With the exception of the great Banker
himself, who made few comments, Theodore Watling was accorded the most
deference; as one of the leaders of that indomitable group of senators
who had dared to stand up against popular clamour, his opinions were
of great value, and his tactical advice was listened to with respect. I
felt more pride than ever in my former chief, who had lost none of his
charm. While in no way minimizing the seriousness of the situation, his
wisdom was tempered, as always, with humour; he managed, as it were,
to neutralize the acid injected into the atmosphere by other gentlemen
present; he alone seemed to bear no animus against the Author of our
troubles; suave and calm, good natured, he sometimes brought the company
into roars of laughter and even succeeded in bringing occasional
smiles to the face of the man who had summoned us--when relating some
characteristic story of the queer genius whom the fates (undoubtedly as
a practical joke) had made the chief magistrate of the United States of
America. All geniuses have weaknesses; Mr. Wading had made a study of
the President's, and more than once had lured him into an impasse.
The case had been appealed to the Supreme Court, and Mr. Wading, with
remarkable conciseness and penetration, reviewed the characteristics of
each and every member of that tribunal, all of whom he knew intimately.
They were, of course, not subject to "advice," as were some of the
gentlemen who sat on our state courts; no sane and self-respecting