P

ERHAPS few presidents have been more truly representatives of the American people than Rutherford B. Hayes. He was not remarkable in any sense-not a remarkable scholar, or orator, or lawyer, or general, or governor, or president; but did everything he undertook

so well, and filled every place to which he was elected with such signal good sense, that he disarmed criticism and gained approval. He was nothing astonishing or captivating, but was simply a strong, good-sensed, practical man- as was said of another, "he was every inch a man." He was rounded, full of the meat of manliness, genuine in every phase of his ability and character. He was sure, and applied to his methods the rules of practical common sense. His every day and everywhere practical qualities made him a representative man. The common sense and common heart of the people he answered to and illustrated. He was not the marvelous product of a great period, nor the apostle of a great cause, nor the outgrowth of a great revolution, but was a naturally produced man of American society, reared by the rules of good living, and educated in the common, orderly way.

Being reared by his mother, as his father died before his birth, he was from the beginning, under her wise and healthful influence, without any counter influence from paternal misjudgments or misleading habits or practices.

It is common for men to be less thoughtful about the thousand little things that go to influence a boy and to make up his character, than for women. Most men have opinions and practices of which it would be better for boys to know nothing.

Many fathers lead their boys in the way of things of which they ought to be kept clear. Most fathers are skeptical about the need of so much guarding, cautioning and training, as mothers are impelled by their motherly instincts to constantly use in rearing their boys. Fathers often counteract the influence of mothers over their boys. Mothers usually give to fathers too much the direction of their boys, and are less mothers to them than they would be if they had no fathers. In the case of Mr. Hayes, the mother had her full power over him from the beginning, without any counteracting influence; and the harmony and completeness of his character and life are due not a little to this fact. He is another instance of the widow's son rising to life's heights of usefulness and honor. His successor, Mr. Garfield, is another.

BIRTH AND BOYHOOD.

Rutherford Birchard Hayes was born in Delaware, Ohio, October, 1822. His father was Rutherford Hayes, who came from Vermont in 1817. The hardiness and energy of the Vermont quality of men went into this Ohio Rutherford, at the beginning. He started into life with a good ancestral momentum behind him. Such a start is about half the making of a man. His mother was Sophia Birchard. Strictly speaking,

Rutherford was an Ohio Vermonter. He had Vermont blood and qualities on Ohio soil. His father died before Rutherford was born; so that his whole early training was given him by his mother. This was essentially Vermont training. She was reared in Vermont, and had the notions that prevailed there in her day, which were strict, leaning strongly to the puritanic. The moral atmosphere into which Rutherford was born was strong with positive qualities, and especially vigorous in the high moral forces. All the first years of his life he breathed this atmosphere, which was oxygenated by his mother's inward

life. Out of this he went into the common school, where he enjoyed its opportunities through the whole period of his boyhood. A public school is a school in several senses; it trains the mind; it sharpens the common sense in its close intercourse with all kinds of children; it gives a good education in the science of human nature practically applied; in its feats of agility and strength, it develops the physical; and tries the temper and disposition in many ways. Fortunate is the child trained early in a good common school. In a republic, the common school is one of the great sources of self-reliant character and efficient, practical judgment.

THE YOUTH AND STUDENT.

From the common school our young Hayes went into Kenyon college, Ohio, where he went through the prescribed course and graduated in 1842, a little before he was twenty years old. Here was good fortune again; for a small college, where the classes are so small that each student comes directly under the influence of the professors; where acquaintance becomes general and much of the family feeling is engendered, and life-long friendships are formed, exerts a positive and powerful influence for good over a manly and aspiring young mind. The college is the efficient training school of the youthful and ambitious mind. Many grand and brilliant men do well without it, but they feel sorrow over its loss all the years of their manhood. The question of its vast importance is settled by a wide experience in all civilized countries.

All the way, thus far, young Hayes has been moving along the best lines of ascending life. In this good and almost sure foundation everything has been well done. He is well born, well bred, well educated.

He went from college into the law office of Thomas Sparrow, Esq., of Columbus, as a student at law. In 1843 he entered the law school of Harvard university, and studied two years under Judge Story and Professor Greenleaf, and was admitted to the bar in March, 1845. Here was a symmetrical and full education, like the man and life that followed it. There was

no attempt to skip the hard places, or to set up his judgment against the experience of the enlightened ages as to what is best in an educational course, or to take a short cut to his profession. He took the old well-beaten way, and followed it steadily through to the end.

MR. HAYES THE LAWYER.

He was now nearly twenty-three years old. He began the practice of law in Lower Sandusky, now Fremont, in Sandusky county, Ohio. Here he remained till 1850, doing such business and getting such experience as come to a young lawyer in such places, already overrun with lawyers. Not satisfied with the outlook here, and being ambitious of a larger field, he moved to Cincinnati. These first years in a. profession are the trying ones, in many respects. They try the character, the judgment, the ability and preparation. They are not yet removed from youthful temptation and follies, nor free from the misjudgments of inexperience. Mr. Hayes had gone safely through this trying ordeal. His feet were planted on manhood's ground without harm to his heart, character or life. He soon grew into a reasonable practice in his new field, and in 1856 was an unsuccessful candidate for judge of the court of common pleas. In 1859 he was chosen city solicitor, to fill a vacancy, by the city council, a handsome recognition of his rising capacity and merit. The next spring the people elected him to the same. office. In 1851 he lost a re-election by the failure of the republican ticket.

MR. HAYES THE SOLDIER.

Mr. Hayes early identified himself with the republican party. He was a whig, with strong anti-slavery convictions and sentiments, and came naturally into the new party. He took an earnest part in the election of Mr. Lincoln; and when rebellion began to defy the government it defied him, and he at once offered himself to the governor of the state to defend the government against the rebel disunionists. June 7, 1861, Governor Dennison appointed him major of the twenty-third Ohio regi

ment of volunteer infantry, which soon after went into duty in West Virginia. In September General Rosecrans appointed him Judge Advocate of the department of Ohio, which position he held about two months, when he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. In this capacity he commanded the twentythird regiment during the early campaign in West Virginia in 1862, and in the latter part of the year under General McClellan. In the sharp battle of South Mountain he was wounded. During this year he was appointed colonel of the seventy-ninth Ohio regiment, but was prevented from taking the command on account of the wound. Before he was able to go to the seventyninth he was appointed colonel of the twenty-third, and so remained with his old regiment.

In the spring of 1864 Colonel Hayes was given the command. of a brigade in General Crook's army, and went further south with a view to cut the communications between Richmond and the western part of the confederacy. At Cloyd mountain he stormed the enemy's position and gained an important victory. In September, 1864, his command was enlarged to the Kanawha division, which he commanded the rest of the year.

While leading his brigade at the battle of Winchester, his command came suddenly to a morass about one hundred and fifty feet wide. It seemed to be a hinderance to their passage; but the colonel rode in till his horse got mired, then he dismounted and went through on foot, with the water up nearly to his arms, his men following in resolute determination not to be outdone. by their colonel. He was in the heat of this whole action, but escaped without a wound, though men fell thickly all about him. He led his brigade in the battles of Berryville and Opequan. He bore a conspicuous part under General Sheridan, and had command of a division in the battle of Cedar Creek, where his horse was shot under him. On account of his great services in this and the battles that went before it he was made brigadiergeneral, and still later was breveted major-general for "bravery and distinguished services."

The Ohio war record says: "He had three horses shot under him, and was four times wounded, once very severely." His