times as United States senator, "a career," says Mr. Manton Marble, "which left unclouded his title to Club fellowship and Club pride." Mr. Marble tells us that he "waived the highest diplomatic functions, declined the first judicial office, resigned the highest senatorial trust, marks of a character unique in force and style, one of stainless honor through an era of corruption, of unquailing hardihood in a day of desertions and disaster, sincere, manly, constant, incapable of disloyalty to a party or a friend." "These,” says Mr. Marble, "are distinctions beyond the power of antagonists to withhold or of partisans to confer." The last years of his life Mr. Conkling was out of tune with his party, which will account for his membership in the Manhattan Club.

The death of Samuel J. Tilden occurred in 1886, and on August 10 the Club expressed its sense of the loss of one of its most honored members by appointing a committee of thirty to attend his funeral in a body, and by ordering a preamble and resolution on his death to be entered in full upon the minutes of the Club, a copy to be sent to his family. This preamble and resolution express in feeling words the tribute of Democracy "to him who, by the general consent of his fellow-citizens, was entitled to be regarded as one of the ablest statesmen New York State has ever produced, one fully imbued with the belief that the success of the policy of the Democratic Party and the perpetuation of its principles were best adapted to the present and future needs of his nation, and that by the promotion of its success a purified public service might be obtained, while, at the same time, its influence would serve as security against the corrupting effects of centralized power."

He easily acquired and never lost his hold upon the mass and body of the people, the most malignant attacks of his personal and political foes failing to dislodge him from their confidence and regard. "As a champion of public morality, as a firm believer in popular institutions, as a laborious ser

vant of never-questioned integrity, he earned," continues the resolution, "what he deserved-the respect of his people while living, a place with the best of departed leaders when dead. As a wise member of the State legislature, as a governor of the Empire State, as President-elect of the United States, he reaped the richest fruits of a statesman's ambitions."

The Club, in recalling the then recent deaths of Seymour, Hancock, McClellan, Hendricks, and Tilden, congratulated itself and the Democratic Party upon the realization that the whole nation mourned their leaders,-"leaders of Democracy, but also the people's well-loved and trusted servants, one of whom, by his wise forbearance under circumstances of singular injustice, proving his love of country by patient endurance of personal wrong, demonstrating that the serenity of his judgment could not be disturbed by personal ambition, emotion, or interest."

CHAPTER THE TENTH

The Stewart House-Money Troubles-Truax, O'Sullivan, and Rodie -"Uncle Tom" Miller-His Tragic End-Factions of 1896-Colonel "Bill" Brown-His famous Cleveland-Hill Dinner-His Resignation in a "Huff"-The Reception to Dewey-The Admiral's good Memory.

HE era of the Stewart house found the Club again in financial difficulties. These were at times more burdensome and apparently less extricable than those from which it had recently emerged. Truth to say, the Stewart house was never very popular with a large section-especially the older section -of the Club. It was much too splendid for comfort. Some in derision called it the "Marble Mausoleum," and others the "Whited Sepulchre."

Comyns, the head waiter, already quoted, tells us in his interview with Mr. Lyons on the subject of the Club, justly and truly, that "in every survey of the many-sided characters entering into the history of the Manhattan Club, care should be taken not to forget to pay tribute to the men whose well-trained minds, business abilities, and personal attention lifted it out of terrible financial entanglements and replaced it on a sound, safe basis." During the last

years of its occupancy of the Thirty-fourth Street house it certainly encountered many discouragements; it lost a number of its members, reducing its resources, and reached a point which required a thorough overhauling and radical reshaping of its domestic conditions.

It was necessary that the greatest executive ability should be called in. Amid such a concourse it was not impossible to find such men, though naturally of diversified characteristics. In the end a solution was reached so fair in its proposals and so practical in its conclusions that it met with general and hearty approbation. The final success of the scheme justified its authors. These were Sylvester J. O'Sullivan and William S. Rodie. Mr. O'Sullivan became treasurer, and Mr. Rodie was made chairman of the House Committee, a position which he held for many succeeding years. Both gentlemen were noted for their splendid business abilities, strong organizing talents, and intense devotion. They replaced the Club on a firm financial footing, giving it a prosperity and independence which it happily still enjoys.

In 1889 Mr. Frederic R. Coudert was elected president of the Club, with Mr. C. C. Baldwin for vice-president, Mr. J. Edward Simmons (succeeded by Mr. O'Sullivan), treasurer, and Mr. David B. Gilbert, whom we have met in the Benkard house chapters, secretary.

On the House Committee of this period were Messrs. J. Sergeant Cram, Charles H. Truax, and Cyrus Yale.

Of all these old members, who, according to Comyns, "deserve to be remembered with conspicuous affection," none more richly merits the honor than Judge Charles H. Truax. Of a most unassuming, chivalrous character, he was possessed of an amiable temperament that endeared him to all who knew him. The story was current that on the occasion when his fellow-members honored him with a banquet, in his speech dwelling on the friendly footing the company felt for

each other he said: "Every one of you boys here, except one, calls me 'Charlie,' and that one is my son."

Judge Truax was a notable traveller. He had been twice around the world. He was likewise a voracious reader with a good memory. He became a dominant figure in local politics, for which he had a natural bent, and, being a man of admirable tact, was often called upon to settle personal troubles and solve factional problems. He died a Supreme Court justice of New York, having sat upon the bench for over twenty-five years.

He owned the most noted private wine-cellar in New York, and was everywhere recognized as an exquisite gourmet. On the occasion of his death the Club resolution described him "as the most useful, best beloved, and valuable of the members of the Club and the Board." The resolution continued: "Whether as a member, director, or president of the Club, he endeared himself to all by his splendid personal qualities and the charm of his companionship, his warm heart and generous nature-qualities which made him a distinctive feature in the life of the Club, and which left it in his debt for his loyal and unselfish devotion to its interests." As president of the Manhattan he served from 1899 to 1908. Coming into the presidency at a time when its affairs had reached a low ebb, with Messrs. O'Sullivan and Rodie he succeeded in turning the tide effectually and permanently. The Club is the happy possessor of a portrait of Judge "Charlie," presented to it on February 19, 1902. On his voluntary and insistent retirement from the presidency in 1908, a special vote of thanks was tendered to him for his invaluable services.

It is related of those old Stewart house days that, at three every afternoon, there gathered a famous group of cronies, men prominent in many diverse walks of life, who won the nickname of the "Rocking-chair Fleet." They held their sessions in the smoking-room, disbanding punctually as the