of the Kentucky Democratic Committee, and of Col. Stoddard
Johnston, editor of the Frankfort Yeoman, the organ of the Kentucky
Democracy, were brought from below. They had come to look after me--that
was evident. By no chance could they find me in more equivocal company.
In addition to ourselves--bad enough, from the Kentucky point of
view--Theodore Tilton, Donn Piatt and David A. Wells were in the room.

When the Kentuckians crossed the threshold and were presented seriatim
the face of each was a study. Even a proper and immediate application of
whisky and water did not suffice to restore their lost equilibrium and
bring them to their usual state of convivial self-possession. Colonel
Johnston told me years after that when they went away they walked in
silence a block or two, when the old judge, a model of the learned and
sedate school of Kentucky politicians and jurists, turned to him and
said: "It is no use, Stoddart, we cannot keep up with that young man or
with these times. 'Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace!'"

IV

The Jupiter Tonans of reform in attendance upon the convention was Col.
Alexander K. McClure. He was one of the handsomest and most imposing of
men; Halstead himself scarcely more so. McClure was personally unknown
to the Quadrilateral. But this did not stand in the way of our asking
him to dine with us as soon as his claims to fellowship in the good
cause of reform began to make themselves apparent through the need of
bringing the Pennsylvania delegation to a realizing sense.

He looked like a god as he entered the room; nay, he acted like one.
Schurz first took him in hand. With a lofty courtesy I have never seen
equalled he tossed his inquisitor into the air. Halstead came next,
and tried him upon another tack. He fared no better than Schurz. And
hurrying to the rescue of my friends, McClure, looking now a bit bored
and resentful, landed me somewhere near the ceiling.

It would have been laughable if it had not been ignominious. I took my
discomfiture with the bad grace of silence throughout the stiff, formal
and brief meal which was then announced. But when it was over and the
party, risen from table, was about to disperse I collected my energies
and resources for a final stroke. I was not willing to remain so crushed
nor to confess myself so beaten, though I could not disguise from myself
a feeling that all of us had been overmatched.

"McClure," said I with the cool and