Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 10.djvu/335

 Fifth Avenue Hotel.

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��with Irvino- A. Evans, of Boston. "S\x. Evans is a l)roker, who let Ives & Stayrer have a large loan. He is a man of me- dium size, with a large browm moustache, who wears a silk hat, and would be mis- taken for a Xew Yorker from his nervous movements and his attire. He is an in- vestor in Senator Sabin's corporation, the Minnesota Thresher Company. Mr. Evans is known as "Nervy" Evans on the Boston Stock Board, from his push and dash. Two influential capitalists are talking together near by. They are J. Pierpont IMorgan, of New York, and A. J. Drexel, of Philadelphia. The for- mer is large and fine looking, with an extremely ruddy complexion. The latter has a square-shaped head and iron gray moustache.

New York politicians are like " leaves in Vallombrosa." Ex-Senator Warner Miller, with his left hand in his trousers pocket and his right full of letters and papers, is engaged in earnest conversation with the stout and gray-headed congress- man from the Saratoga district, George West; the irrepresf.ible and nervously active ex-congressman from Whitehall, H. G. Burleigh; and his faithful right hand man in politics. Clerk John C. Vrooman, of the state senate. Mr. Miller has shown a philosophic temper under defeat that is winning admiration alike from frieiids and opponents. The man whom he succeeded, and who defeated him for reelection, walks by on his way to the state committee rooms, ex-Senator Thomas C. Piatt. He has not the slightest resemblance to the popular conception of a powerful political organizer. He looks, indeed, as though a breeze much less than a Western cyclone could blow him away. Cornelius N. Bliss, with his round, plump figure, English face and mutton chop whiskers, accompanied by Col. S. V. R. Cruger, tall, commanding, and military in his air, comes in from the street and joins Gen. John N. Knapp, whose fiery red whiskers are only equalled by his fiery Republicanism. Among others upon

��whom the eye of the observer falls are ex-Senator Charles H. Knapp of Lewis county, Col. William F. Shaffer, ex-Con- sul Mahlon Chance, Port Warden Clarence V. Mead, Dvvight Lawrence, John J. O'Brien, ex-Marshal John I. Davenport, and Gen. Charles K. Graham.

Secretary Endicott, with a white over- coat on his back and a lady's sacque on his arm, looking the beau-ideal of a gen- tleman, comes to the office to order a coupe, and drives away with his wife on a shopping tour. Not ten steps away is the giant-like frame and big, broad face of S. B. Elkins, who has come to call on a friend, and is immediately surrounded by political and social acquaintances. Adj't-Gen. R. C. Drum, on whom the Democrats attempted to place the odium and responsibility of President Cleve- land's rebel flag order, accompanied by Gen. George A. rorsji;h, who was for- merly on Gen. Hancock's staff, but is now stationed on the frontier, go out on Broadway together, their erectness mark- ing their military service.

T. D. Basselin, the fat and jolly fores- try commissioner, Isaac V. Baker, the energetic prison superintendent, and John D. Kernan, the shock-haired railroad commissioner, three state officials, are seen in a group near the door.

Then the eye rests on two noted char- acters, story-tellers, wits, and hail fellows well met,— Gen. George A. Sheridan, of Louisiana, and Col. Thomas Porterhouse Ochiltree. The general has come l)ack from a New England lecture tour with his wallet stuffed full of greenbacks and his long hail" uncombed for forty-eight hours.

Then the observer discovers es-United States Civil Service Commissioner Dor- man B. Eaton in earnest conversation with a friend on a sofa. Mr. Eaton is using his left hand as a map and his right forefinger as a pointer to lay down some energetic propositions. He passes out through the throng a moment later. As he goes he expresses his opinion that

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