Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 5.djvu/130

 io8 THE GR.\NITE MONTHLY.

sent him his appointment ; but he had no desire for the Hfe of a soldier when his country no longer needed his services, and he declined the offer.

In 1866, '67 and '68, he represented Keene in the New Hampshire Legis- lature, serving the last two years as speaker of the house. He filled that place with marked ability, showing rare talent as a presiding officer, and carrying forward the business with precision and dispatch.

In January, 1867, he presided over the Republican State Convention, and in that same year, Dartmouth College conferred on him the honorary degree of Master of Arts.

In 187 1, he received the Republican nomination for member of Congress in the third district ; but in the election that year the opposition carried the State, and General Griffin, though making a good run, was defeated by a few votes. He was renominated in 1873, but again defeated by a small majority.

At the close of the war, experience in the field having proved that active, out-door life was conducive to his health, he gave up his profession and engaged in manufacturing with Mr. Harris and Company at Harrisville ; but in the financial crash of 1873, they closed their mills and the General retired from business.

Recently General Griffin has been much in the South on more pacific errands than formerly. He has become engaged in extensive landed and rail- road interests in Texas — a State vast enough to take in the Republic of France, and to tuck in the New England States around the edges. The State is filling up rapidly and developing wonderfully ; and there is courteous and hearty welcome for all who go thither to seek sincerely to cast in their lot with the growing State, to build up their homes, and to develop the resources of that vast territory. And so, it seems that " iron," in one shape, is to heal the mischief done by iron in another shape ; that " T rail," engine shaft, and plow are to heal the disaster made by musket and bayonet.

The habits of study, so diligently cultivated by General Griffin in youth and early manhood, have never fallen into abeyance. He has ever been faithful, diligent and constant in several lines of study, e. g. History, Political Economy, International Law, English and French Literature.

As a public speaker, he is olten called upon to deliver orations and addresses. His work is always prepared with thoroughness, and exhibits thoughtfulness, speaking "not for mere speaking's sake, but for the sake of doing work." His addresses are marked by directness, orderliness, and strength. It is always a pleasure to hear him speak. His address, given in Keene by the request of the city government on the day when the earthly remains of President Garfield were committed to the ground, is published in a volume of Garfield's speeches, the supplement of which contains a few selected memorial addresses, the editor of which — a St. Louis gentleman — being an entire stranger to General Griffin, and the selection extending over a wide range.

The home of General Griffin, besides a thoughtful and courteous hospitality, is strong in the things that make for studious endeavor. The family library is rich in the best books, many of which would seem to belong to the technical, working library of the professional student of literature or history, rather than to the quiet corner of the home ; and what is vastly more than having the books, they are read and known.

And while Mrs. Griffin may not exactly, as another lady the writer knows of, "read the ' Church Fathers ' in the original tongues as side reading," she is in many lines of study fully equal even to that ; as she is cool, courageous, straight forward in her convictions ; and most sympathetic and helpful in an equally straight forward way, without " gus!i," in good works among the poor and sorrowful, and in all things that make for the well-being of a community.

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