thus imposed has oftentimes enabled the once active
participant in great affairs submissively "to entertain the lag
end of his life with quiet hours."

Following the example of such at a great distance and along a
humbler path, I have attempted to write something of events of
which I have been a witness, and of some of the principal actors
therein during the last third of a century.

My book in the main is something of men I have personally known;
the occasional mention of statesmen of the past seems justified by
matters at the time under discussion.

With the hope that it may not be wholly without interest to some
into whose hands it may fall, I now submit this slight contribution
to the political literature of these passing days.

A. E. S.
BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS,
_August 1, 1909._

CONTENTS

CHAPTER
I. ON THE CIRCUIT
II. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
III. AGAIN IN CONGRESS
IV. THE VICE-PRESIDENT
V. THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
VI. A TRIBUTE TO LINCOLN
VII. STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS
VIII. THE FIRST POLITICAL TELEGRAM
IX. ALONG THE BYPATHS OF HISTORY
X. THE CODE OF HONOR
XI. A PRINCELY GIFT
XII. THE OLD RANGER
XIII. THE MORMON EXODUS FROM ILLINOIS
XIV. A KENTUCKY COLONEL
XV. FORGOTTEN EVENTS OF THE LONG AGO
XVI. ROBERT G. INGERSOLL
XVII. A CAMP-MEETING ORATOR
XVIII. CLEVELAND AS I KNEW HIM
XIX. THE UNANIMOUS CHOICE FOR SPEAKER
XX. A LAWYER OF THE OLD SCHOOL
XXI. HIGH DEBATE IN THE MOUNTAINS
XXII. THE SAGE OF THE BAR
XXIII. "THE GENTLEMAN FROM MISSISSIPPI"
XXIV. AN OLD-TIME COUNTRY DOCTOR
XXV. A QUESTION OF AVAILABILITY
XXVI. A STATESMAN OF A PAST ERA
XXVII. NOT GUILTY OF PREACHING THE GOSPEL
XXVIII. AMONG THE ACTORS
XXIX. THE LOST ART OF ORATORY
XXX. THE COLONELS
XXXI. REMINISCENCES
XXXII. A TRIBUTE TO IRELAND
XXXIII. THE BLIND CHAPLAIN
XXXIV. A MEMORABLE CENTENNIAL
XXXV. COLUMBUS MONUMENT IN CENTRAL PARK
XXXVI. A PLATFORM NOT DANGEROUS TO STAND UPON
XXXVII. ANECDOTES OF GOVERNOR OGLESBY
XXXVIII. THE ONE ENEMY
XXXIX. CONTRASTS OF TIMES
XL. ENDORSING THE ADMINISTRATION
XLI. ANECDOTES ABOUT LINCOLN
XLII. FIRST LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY IN AMERICA
XLIII. A NEW DAY ADDED TO THE CALENDAR
XLIV. A MOUNTAIN COLLEGE
XLV. DEDICATION OF A NATIONAL PARK
XLVI. A BAR MEETING STILL IN SESSION
XLVII. TH