image of fancy letter W.

CHAPTER VIII.
THE LAST YEAR

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image of Governor Wolcott in a 1898 ceremony.

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FOR ten years Roger Wolcott had served the Common-wealth: three years as representative, three as lieutenant-governor, one as lieutenant-governor and acting governor, and three as governor. He had brought to each position high character, ability, and devotion; he had grown steadily in force, wisdom, and statesmanship; he had gained the affection as well as the confidence of the people of the Commonwealth, and his name was held in respect at Washington, and In many other parts of the country. His own wishes coincided with the traditions

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of the State, that he should lay down his office of governor at the end of three years.

Seven continuous years of such conscientious and efficient service as he had given draw upon the vitality, and tend to age a man. On the last day of public duty, Mr. Wolcott left his home on Common­wealth Avenue, and walked to the State House with the same elastic step that was his at the first. The body was erect, the smile and bow were as bright and cordial as ever; the hair was white, but that was an Inheritance; the color of his face was bright and fresh. It was clear, however, to those who were near him, that he needed a change, and he himself was anxious to break away from associations which had been happy, but which reminded him only of work. His children, too, had grown up during his public life,

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and although he was a devoted father in the busiest days, lie wanted to know them better, and to have some months of complete companionship with them and his wife., who had been a strong support to him in his public duties as well as in the home. He anticipated, with the zest of a boy before the holidays, a trip with his family in Europe.

Mr. Wolcott was a man of domestic tastes and social temperament. To those who knew him intimately, his public life was the incidental expression of his character, laid upon him by the people, and entered on by him from a sense of duty, public spirit, and the laudable ambition to make himself felt for the good of others, The centre of his life was his home, and not the State House: the chair that best suited him was not in the executive chamber, but in the circle of his nearest friends.

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Like his father, he made his home in Boston, and at Blue Hill, Milton. In each place he built a house for himself, near enough to his parents to be in and out through the day. Until the death of his mother in 1899, his devotion to her was constant beyond measure. Simple, almost severe in his tastes, he desired comfort, but not luxury. He was careful in expenditure, exact in all money matters; realizing like a true Yankee the value of money, and desiring to give to his children an example in judicious living. As soon as he could escape from work, he sought his wife and children. At Blue Hill, it was his delight to explore the by-roads, drop in on the neighbors, and greet his fellow-townsmen. " A decently constituted man goes back to nature as iron to a magnet," he used to say. In all the interests of the community he was interested, the church,

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the school, the roads, and town improvements. When an evening was free in. Boston,, it was given to his home or to the company of his nearer friends. He believed in the abiding influence of the home. He always retained his boyish simplicity, and counted no time lost that was given to the most trivial interest of his children, or to the answering of every question. In their names - Roger, William Prescott, Samuel Huntington, Cornelia Frothingham, and Oliver - he gathered the family associations of past and present, and he delighted to watch the family characteristics revealing themselves. To Mrs. Wolcott he always turned with perfect confidence for sympathy and support. In the first years of marriage, a sorrow had crossed their life in the death of the first son, Huntington Frothingham.

Among his friends, he was at fifty what

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he was at twenty, simple, frank, alert, bright, full of wit and story, or serious in conversation. His force and purity of character created an atmosphere in what­ever company he entered. His presence never suppressed fun or light talk, and the gayest welcomed his coming; the tone, however, was always pure, elevated, and refined. He never lost the reserve of his youth: very few, perhaps none, of his friends ever felt that they reached his inmost self. He knew it and regretted it; but the reserve was something born with him, and no doubt It gave him an advantage In some public associations.

He was sensitive to the feelings and prejudices of others, and to the conditions about him. It was this that gave him the tact to extricate himself from difficult situations, and to say the right thing at the right time in his public speeches. He

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never said of a man behind his back what he would not say to his face; and before he criticized or condemned a .man, was always sure of his facts.

He believed in frankness in public as well as private life, When the Republican party was hesitating as to its position on the question of gold and silver, he said, at a dinner in honor of ex-Governor Boutwell's eightieth birthday: -

"I believe, further, speaking as a Republican to Republicans, that it would be well-nigh fatal to the Republican party to go into the next Congressional election without having shown that it, at all events, whether it succeeds or not, is placed with­out question in the line of aggressive honesty in legislation.

"I believe and have always believed, whether temporary defeat or partial lack of success comes or not that, on a question

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of that nature, an appeal to the educated and intelligent honesty of the people of the United States is absolutely sure to result in victory in the long run. There is honesty abroad through the land, my friends, just exactly as there is heroism among the people of the United States."

He had a large share of the Puritan conscience, which drove him, but drove him happily and by his own consent, from duty to duty throughout the day. Even pleasure, friendly talk, and "loafing" had to him their uses in enabling him to do better work the next day. Such a reasonable conscience creates, perhaps, the most healthy, happy, and useful manhood.

He left his home in the morning earlier than most of his busy friends, and, after a brisk walk, greeting his neighbors, the cabmen, school children, policemen, and other citizens as he passed up the avenue,

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through the Public Garden, and by the Common, was at his desk and well into his mail before nine o'clock. The list of his public duties in his early manhood reveals the industrious nature of the man. Whether in office or out, he worked up to the limit of his strength; he too often worked beyond it. Strong and vigorous as he looked, his physique was too fine and nervous to stand great strain, and four attacks of pneumonia during manhood gave him warning that there was a limit to his endurance.

From his earliest childhood, religion was an element in the daily life of the home. His parents were devout Unitarians. Every morning was opened with family prayer, at which parents, boys, and guests read in order the verses of a chapter of the Bible. Then all joined in the Lord's Prayer. On Sunday the piano was

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closed, and everybody went morning and afternoon to church. Strict as were the religious habits of the household, there were such parental influence and loving guidance as to win the sympathy of the boys. To Roger Wolcott religion was a natural and essential element of life. His faith was simple. He had little interest in dogma or the differences of theologies. He did, however, have a profound belief in the teachings of the Christian faith as he understood them. He had no sympathy with the idea that faith and the church were matters of taste or convenience. To him the Christian Church, representing the Christian faith, was essential to the welfare of society and to the upbuilding of men's characters. He believed in the church and in public worship. He was a communicant. Every Sunday he went with his family to service at King's Chapel

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In Boston or in the Unitarian Church at Milton, and every month received the communion.

His addresses at the annual festivals of the Unitarian Association were always keenly anticipated, and they reveal something of his religious attitude.

Called upon to welcome the clergy in behalf of the laity in 1889, he said:

"Sweep away, if you must, literal faith in the Old or the New Testament, belief in the miracles, or whatever else science or scholarship shall undermine; but remember always that the life and teachings of Christ are the noblest, the most sacred facts within the knowledge of man, and are to be approached, never with flippancy or sensationalism, but with the bowed knee of reverence and faith."

Again, in 1893, he said: "Flippancy in the pulpit and that futile straining after

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effect which aims to make the messenger of greater import than the message, are to me abhorrent. The congregation demands of its minister sincerity of life and consecration and reverence of spirit. If these be lacking, brilliancy of intellect, eloquence, learning, will never possess the lunar force which heaps up the billows and draws the tides."

He said in 1897: "And so we recognize that our religion rests not on dogma or creed. We recognize that true religion is a fair blossom that blooms in the heart of him who strives to pattern his life on the teachings and on the life of Jesus Christ We recognize all who strive humbly to follow in his footsteps. We do not limit the title of 'Christian' to one profession or to another. We recognize all good men of every profession. We know that as good a Christian as stands in a

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pulpit or sits In the pew visits, as the loving physician, the bed of suffering. We know that he who strives In the court of justice to lay clown the rules of everlasting right that shall regulate the conduct of man and man, that the citizen who gives loyal service to the State, that all men inspired with like purpose, are good Christians."

The bond between himself and Harvard University was one of the strong and happy influences of his life. His college career, his oration, and his services as instructor and overseer are already familiar to us.

He always felt it a privilege to respond to the call of the University. Was it to welcome the Freshmen in Sanders Theatre on the first Monday evening of the term? He seized the opportunity to preach his gospel of the college life as a preparation

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for the service of the State. Did he preside at a Harvard-Yale debate? By his tact he kindled the best of feeling and softened the disappointment of defeat. Even in one of the great football games, he with Theodore Roosevelt, then governor of New York, stood before the thousands of students and graduates and led their cheers and songs.

When the class of '70 celebrated their twenty-fifth anniversary in 1895, Roger Wolcott was of course chief marshall. Every graduate who was there remembers the ardor with which, mounted on a chair in the yard near Massachusetts Hall, he called off the classes in their order, and with what enthusiam his ringing voice led the cheers at the dinner in Memorial Hall. It was one of the happiest days of his life, for his position and popularity were a recognition from those by whom he was

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best known and whose judgment he most esteemed.

For four successive Commencements he represented the Commonwealth. Escorted from Boston, according to ancient custom, by the Lancers with their brilliant uniforms, he entered the college gate amid the applause of the graduates. In the theatre, during the procession to Memorial Hall, and at the dinner, he was always sure of cordial greetings.

Behind his official words was always the tender tone of a son receiving the welcome of his alma mater. Upon receiving his first welcome as the representative of the Commonwealth in 1896 he said: -

"It has always seemed to me that, should it ever fall to me to receive words of commendation at this feast, I should prefer to receive them for something done in the public service, that makes today

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man. I would not obscure the services of the quiet scholar and teacher, the physician, the lawyer, the scientist: I mean something a little different. All of this service can be rendered, and is rendered, in every country and under every form of government, but what I wish to emphasize is that the government of America makes further demands upon citizenship, demands that I see answered by the men here.

"I need not speak of the service done by lawyers and business men. To the college man there must be impossible the spirit of snobbishness. Leave that to the merely rich. In him there must be no chilling of enthusiasm, no enfeebled patriotism. The education that Harvard gives must arouse enthusiasm, kindle ardor, add truer flames to the altar of patriotism.

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"The graduates of Harvard are rendering this exalted service all over the land. Do not mistake that 1 refer to those In office simply. It Is the spirit, not the office, by which this college would show her graduates to be true to the highest lessons of her past."

His last official message to the university In 1899 was characteristic in style and thought: -

"This stately and historic Common­wealth comes here and greets the gracious and benign figure of the University whom we, her sons, love to reverence and honor as our alma mater. The "cloth of gold" is made up of the woven tapestry which represents the history of the Common­wealth and the University. It is red with the deep crimson of manhood; it is white with the clear color of a pure life and high endeavor. And here and there, every-

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where shot through the fabric., are the golden, threads that tell of the few happy lives that have attained distinction and are remembered as the years pass by.

"In that great ode, which seems to add something of even greater consecration to this hall, already made sacred by the lives it commemorated, Lowell spoke of the white shields of expectation hung upon the arms of generous youth and catching the rays of morn. Upon these walls hang not only the white shields of expectation, but also the dinted, but unsullied shields of high attainment and noble achievement.

"If we allow the imagination to travel beyond the mystery of death, we may believe that here are assembled today not only the living sons of the Commonwealth and of the University, but also those knightly spirits who, in the past, have won the golden spur of noble manhood, and of

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generous service to Commonwealth and to University.

"If the sphinx of the coming days reclines silent and without utterance, with no prophetic Oedipus to read the riddles of the future that lie within her closed lips, nevertheless may Commonwealth and University alike face the problems of the future, whatever they may be, not with despair, nor with despondency, nor with fear, but with the high and lofty courage which is born of conscious strength."

On the next day, however, he spoke not for the Commonwealth, but for himself. It was at the Phi Beta Kappa dinner. Both orator and poet had touched upon national questions, and had expressed in somewhat pessimistic tones the outlook for the future. Roger Wolcott was by temperament and conviction an optimist. Intelligent and timely criticism he respected; but the

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critical attitude which seeks faults rather than virtues offended him. Only a week before, at Holy Cross College, he had spoken from his own experience: -

"If I have learned nothing else since I have held office, I have learned to believe in the American people, I have learned to believe that virtue is more common than vice ; that noble manhood and woman­hood have not died out from us. I believe God has made a law of progress, not a law of retrogression, and I urge you, young men, not to give way to pessimism. Be courageous, be hopeful. Believe in the destiny of America; believe in the purpose of Almighty God; believe with all hope in the future."

When Mr. Wolcott was called upon to speak, it was evident that his deepest convictions of patriotism and hope had been touched and fired. He had a temper of

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which he had had the mastery for many years; It did not master him now. He gave his convictions, however, freedom of utterance, and. spoke with warmth and power. He presented the nation in her nobler features, and appealed for a deeper loyalty to her chosen leaders. The sun­light, pouring through the windows, was blinding some of those at the upper table: a student, throwing off his college gown, had pinned it across the sash to shut out the light. In the full flood of his speech, appealing to the courage and loyalty of educated men, Mr, Wolcott caught the allegory, and pointing to the window, said, " Do not let the academic gown (absit omen) shut out the sunlight." As he started to leave the hall, the whole assembly rose and cheered enthusiastically. Little they realized that they were giving him his last farewell from Harvard.

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He had spoken his message in word and in life. Amidst the generous applause of Harvard, he passed out of the door of Massachusetts Hall and through the College gate While Mr, Wolcott was planning his trip to Europe, his friends and a great body of citizens were questioning how the nation could make use of such an efficient servant. It is one of the glories of our democracy, and at the same time one of its misfortunes, that after a man has held high office he returns to private citizenship. Unless there happens to come some change in the movement of political life and offices., the State or the nation may lose the benefit of such a man's large experience, high character, and public service.

It was well known that Mr. Wolcott had the laudable ambition to serve the

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nation when he could do so consistently with other duties. In fact, the one compelling motive of his life was that of public service, He never sought an office, but when an office came to him, he accepted it with a sense of pleasure and gratification as an opportunity to use his powers in congenial work, and in the service of his country. For the present he was happy in his freedom. He was conscious that he had done his work well, and that the people were grateful to him and trusted him. The future could take care of itself. A dinner given him "by a number of his old friends, who were also representative citizens, was a pleasant token to him of appreciation by those in whose confidence and affection he took delight. Congratulations through the press and by letter continued to come to him.

Five weeks after his retirement, Presi-

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dent McKinley offered him an honorable though arduous position upon the Philippine Commission, which was to have authority to organize civil government throughout that great archipelago. The work of the commission interested him deeply, and the great opportunity for serving his fellow-men appealed to him, but his duty to his family compelled him to decline. Citizens continued to seize him for public functions. He presided at a public meeting to prepare for the reception by Harvard University of 1400 Cuban teachers. He presided also at a great dinner of the National Association of Manufacturers, at which several members of the President's cabinet were present, and spoke upon the future relations of the nation to the Philippines: -

"If our aim shall be only to see how much we can get out of these new posses-

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sions by extortion, trickery, or corruption, then will our occupancy of them be a curse to their Inhabitants, and a shame to "us and our children. If our purpose shall be to lift them, to a higher civilization, to give them education, honest administration, peace and industrial prosperity, with an ever-increasing degree of self-government, then will these years of the nineteenth century add one other lustrous page to our national story.

"It is not given to man to see with certainty into the future, but unless I mistake the character and purposes of my country-men, they will meet this new crisis and. these novel responsibilities as they have met every other great crisis in our history, with seriousness of judgment, right purpose, intelligence, and courage; and the day will come in the not distant future when these backward peoples shall grate-

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fully concede that the great republic of the west is not only powerful and just, but generous and beneficent as well."

Early in May he, with his family, sailed for Europe. Visiting Paris and the Exposition, to which Mrs. Wolcott, representing the department of charities and correction, was a delegate from the national government, and from the city of Boston, they passed on to Holland, Germany, and Switzerland, Returning by way of England, they arrived home on November 4, in time for Mr. Wolcott, after making a campaign speech the next evening at Quincy, to vote, on November 6, for President McKinley and for his friend and co-worker, Governor Crane, and for the Republican party, of which he was a presidential elector.

While he was in Europe, Mr. Wolcott received from the President an appoint-

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ment to be ambassador to Italy, This was welcomed with hearty commendation by the press throughout the country, With his boys at school and in college, he did not feel at liberty to separate himself from them: for the present,, home was his place, and he declined the mission.

The city of Washington, was preparing for the centennial celebration of the national capital, on December 9. The governors of the States and the national officials were to be there. Mr. Wolcott had been selected as one of the four speakers.

On the sixteenth of November he was taken ill. Symptoms of typhoid fever, which thirty-five years ago bad laid his brother low, appeared. His good constitution, temperate life, and all other conditions, seemed to point towards a favorable result. The disease steadily increased its hold, the strength yielded, life ebbed out.

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On December 21, before the people realized the danger, Roger Wolcott fell asleep.

For the moment the Commonwealth seemed to stand still. It was in the afternoon. The sun dropped to its setting. The news spread fast, faster than the press could carry it. Word went from city to town, from town to village. The mill-hand, leaving work with his dinner-pail in hand, stopped as he heard the news, and then passed on to tell his fellows of the kind word once spoken to him by the governor. The children in the homes sorrowed as they recalled his bright greeting- to them when he passed through the town. The veterans of two wars, citizens of both parties and of all creeds, mourned as for the loss of one of the household, " Our governor is gone," they said one to another.

It was a time when the depths of senti-

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ment are touched. He had been a faithful servant of the State, a wise administrator, a just officer, and a strong leader. He had upheld in political life the banner of purity and honor. He had done his work well. The people loved him, however, not so much for what he had done, as for what he was. He was a true man, transparent,, faithful, and chivalric. Moral force and spiritual light transfigured his life and countenance and made them beautiful and radiant. He had entered into the hearts of the people and dwelt there.

Christmas-eve was a day of mourning in Massachusetts, Noontime, the day before Christmas, is usually the busiest hour for shops in the year. At that hour the shops were closed and silent. Trinity Church, which had been offered for the funeral services, was filled with a representative and sorrowing company. Crowds

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pressed about the doors. Details of military organizations were present on duty, but there was no military pomp, All was as simple and sincere as the character of him who lay in the choir of the church. His two pastors of King's Chapel, Boston, and the Unitarian Church at Milton, read the service, and the body was borne forth.

Huntington's mother had written him in 1865: "After the war is over, we shall need wise men, pure patriots in the councils of the country, and high-minded gentlemen, men of large culture, refinement of taste, Christian integrity, and virtue, more than the soldier."

From the dying breath of Huntington, Roger caught the life of patriotism and service. His brother's image went with him day by clay, and gave him inspiration. The body of Roger was laid at rest beside that of his brother: fit types of Massachu-

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setts In these two generations - a soldier who In war and bloody strife gave his life to save his country; a citizen who, no less chivalrous, gave himself to upbuild his country in unity, peace, and righteousness.

In a noble memorial service citizens of the Commonwealth, officials of the nation and State, representatives of the religious, military and patriotic societies, and members of the chief musical associations of Boston joined in a noble service in his memory. The governor of the Common­wealth presided, and Senator Henry Cabot Lodge was the orator. The mass of people, the prayer, oration, and requiem, gave eloquent and touching expression to the uplifting power of his character.

Knowing that the people wished to erect some memorial, a committee of citizens offered to receive gifts. Without solicita-

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tion and without the mention of the amount of any gifts, offerings poured in.

From fifty newsboys of Park Street corner, who lined up every Sunday morning to salute the governor as with his family he passed them on his way to church, came fifty contributions. Hotel bell-boys, policemen, classmates, cab-drivers, shop­girls, business men, mill-hands, veterans, associations of all kinds, militia regiments, men and women, boys and girls of every station in life, from all parts of the State and nation, from Cuba, Porto Rico, the Philippines, and foreign countries, sent in their gifts.

When over ten thousand persons and organizations, representing from fifteen to twenty thousand individuals, had given offerings amounting to over forty thousand dollars within ninety days, the committee asked that no more be sent.

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Thus, by the grateful and spontaneous gift of many thousands of men, women, and children, a statue of Roger Wolcott will speak, to all who pass, of one who in public office as in private station was pure, chivalrous, and true.

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