_PUCK, April 11th, 1888._
The editorial article accompanying this picture draws a curious
historical parallel between the characters of Samuel Pepys and Grover
Cleveland, with a side glance at “South Sea Bubble” Law and certain
moderns who resemble him in certain ways. After sketching Pepys’s
career in the British Admiralty Office, the article closes:
“‘A man of the old way of taking pains,’ they called him in that
degenerate day. Is not that even now a good standard by which to test
public service? Is all greatness to lie in bluster, noise, braggadocio,
and what we are pleased to call ‘smartness’? These were the attributes
of the men who were the official superiors of Samuel Pepys just two
centuries ago. The world has forgotten their names. But the old fashion
of honest service is still honorable. Those who have borne with us so
far in this historical recital may forgive us if we suggest a modern
instance. A few weeks ago, the presiding officer of the United States
Senate told his distinguished audience that no man was so mean or so
obscure that he might not be President of the United States, now that
Grover Cleveland held that place. Mr. Grover Cleveland was a lawyer in
one of our smaller cities. He became, successively, Sheriff and Mayor
of his town, Governor of his state, and President of the United States.
In every office he has done his duty ‘in the old way of taking pains.’
He has had no hand in the corruption of political life; he has never
been the pensioner of corporate monopolies. As Sheriff, Mayor, Governor
and President he has served the people honestly and wisely, ‘in the old
way of taking pains.’ To our mind this gives him a claim to the regard
and respect of the people that will not easily be shaken by the bluster
of his enemies. The people will look at the work he has done before
they decide whether or no he is President by accident--whether the Time
has done everything for him, he nothing--but what the little critic
could have done too.”
[Illustration:
There was a great stir made among the Beasts,
which could boast of the largest family.
So they came to the Lioness.
“And how many,” said they, “do you
have at a birth?”
“ONE,” said she, grimly; “but that one
is a Lion!”
_Æsop’s Fables, LXVIII._
]