HUGH SEARLES OF LONDON ARRIVES
The next day was Sunday, and the Harris family slept late. Jean was first
to rise, and buying the morning papers left them at Colonel Harris's
door.
It was almost nine o'clock when the family gathered in their private
dining-room. The night's sleep had refreshed all. The mother was very
cheerful over her coffee, and heartily enjoyed planning for the day. She
liked New York best of the American cities. Brown stone and marble
fronts, fine equipage and dress, had charms for her, that almost made
her forget a pleasant home and duties at Harrisville. She was heart and
soul in her husband's newest scheme to close out business, and devote
the balance of life to politics and society. Naturally therefore the
table-talk drifted to a discussion of the possible causes of the
steamer's delay.
Lucille looked up, and said, "Father, the _Tribune_ says, 'Fair weather
for New England and the Atlantic coast.' Cheer up! The 'Majestic' will
bring your Englishman in, I think. This is a lovely day to be in the
metropolis. Come father, let me sweeten your coffee. One or two lumps?"
"Two, my dear, if you please. Now what will give you all the most
pleasure to-day?"
Alfonso answered, "Why not take a drive, and possibly attend some
church?"
This plan was approved. Breakfast over, the Harris family entered
a carriage, and the coachman, with Jean by his side, drove through
Washington Square, under the American Arch of Triumph, and out Fifth
Avenue, the fashionable street of New York. Alfonso acted as guide. "This
white sepulchral looking building on the left at the corner of 34th
street is where A.T. Stewart, the Irish merchant prince, lived."
Gertrude remarked, "How true in his case, the proverb 'Riches certainly
make themselves wings; they fly away, as an eagle towards heaven.'"
"You should quote Scripture correctly, my child," said the mother.
"'Riches take wings.'"
"No, no, mamma--I am sure that I am right. 'Riches _make_ themselves
wings' and the proverb is as true to-day as in Solomon's time."
"Well, Gertrude, we will look at the hotel Bible on our return."
"Yes, mamma, if the hotel has one."
Colonel Harris responded, "I think Gertrude is right. Stewart's millions
have changed hands. Dead men have no need of dollars. No wonder Stewart's
bones were restless."
"Here at West 39th Street is the sumptuous building of the Union League
Club. It has over 1500 members, all pledged to absolute loyalty to the
Government of the United States, to resist every attempt against the
integrity of the nation, and to promote reform in national, state, and
municipal affairs. The club equipped and sent two full regiments to the
front in the Civil War."
Alfonso pointed out Jay Gould's old residence, more club houses,
libraries, the Windsor Hotel, Dr. Hall's handsome Presbyterian Church,
and the brown stone and marble palaces of the Vanderbilt family, two
miles of splendid residences and magnificent churches before you reach
Central Park at 59th Street.
The walks were thronged with beautiful women and well dressed men. It was
now 10:30 o'clock. The chimes had ceased their hallowed music. People of
all nationalities were jostling each other in their haste to enter St.
Patrick's Cathedral, a copy of the Gothic masterpiece in Cologne, and the
most imposing church building in America.
The Harris carriage stopped; Lucille's heart suddenly began to beat
quickly, for she saw Leo Colonna hastening from the Cathedral steps
towards the carriage. "Good morning, Mrs. Harris! Glad you have come to
my church," Leo said; then taking her hand cordially, he added, "And
you have brought the family. Well, I am pleased, for you could not have
come to a more beautiful church or service."
As Leo conducted his friends up the granite steps, all were enthusiastic
in their praise of the Fifth Avenue façade; white marble from granite
base to the topmost stones of the graceful twin spires.
All passed under the twelve apostles, that decorate the grand portal,
and entered the cathedral. The interior is as fine as the exterior. The
columns are massive, the ceiling groined; the style is the decorated or
geometric architecture, that prevailed in Europe in the thirteenth
century. The cardinal's gothic throne is on the right. The four altars
are of carved French walnut, Tennessee marble and bronze. Half of the
seventy windows are memorials, given by parishes and individuals in
various parts of America. The vicar-general was conducting services. His
impressive manner, aided by the sweet tones of singers and organ, and the
sun's rays changed to rainbows by the stained-glass windows, produced
a deep religious feeling in the hearts of the several thousand persons
present.
As the party left the church, Leo said, "In 1786, the Kings of France and
Spain contributed to the erection of the first cathedral church, St.
Peter's, in New York." The Harrises having invited Leo to dinner, said
good-bye to him, and in their carriage returned to the Waldorf for lunch.
While the colonel waited near the reception-room, he chanced to look at
the stained-glass window over the entrance to the Garden Court. Here was
pictured the village of Waldorf, the birthplace of the original John
Jacob Astor. This pretty little hamlet is part of the Duchy of Baden,
Germany, and has been lovingly remembered in the Astor wills. Here
formerly lived the impecunious father of John Jacob Astor and his
brother. Both gained wealth, very likely, because the value of money was
first learned in the early Waldorf school of poverty. It was not an ill
north wind that imprisoned young Astor for weeks in the ice of the
Chesapeake Bay, as there on the small ship that brought him from Germany,
he listened to marvelous tales of fortunes to be made in furs in the
northwest. Shrewdly he determined first to acquire expert knowledge of
skins, and on landing he luckily found employment in a fur store in New
York at two dollars per week. This knowledge became the foundation of the
vast fortune of the Astor family. The colonel was told that the Waldorf
occupies the site of the town-house of John Jacob Astor, third of the
name, and was erected by his son, William Waldorf, ex-minister to Italy.
It was two o'clock when the Harrises entered the main dining-room for
their lunch. The colonel led the party, Alfonso conducting his sister
Lucille, the light blue ribbon at her throat of the tint of her
responsive eyes. Mrs. Harris came with Gertrude. The mother wore a gray
gown, and her daughter a pretty silk. This first entrance of the family
to the public dining-room caused a slight diversion among some of the
guests at lunch, where not a few rightly surmised who they were.
Few markets in the world rival that of New York. The coast, streams, and
valleys of New England and the Central States, send their best food by
swift steamers and express, that the exacting cosmopolitan appetite may
be satisfied.
Before the lunch was over and while Reuben Harris was making reference to
the delay of his English visitor, the waiter placed a white card by his
plate. The color in the colonel's face suddenly deepened, as he read upon
the card the name of Mr. Hugh Searles, representing Messrs. Guerney &
Barring, London.
"What's the matter, Reuben?" anxiously inquired Mrs. Harris.
"Oh, nothing," said the colonel, "only that our overdue English visitor,
Hugh Searles, has sent in his card."
"How surprising," said Lucille; "you remember, father, that I said at
breakfast, that the weather was to be fair. Probably the 'Majestic'
quickened her speed, and stole in unobserved to the docks."
"I will send him my card;" and upon it Mr. Harris wrote in pencil, "I
will soon join you in the reception room."
The black coffee disposed of, it was agreed that all should accompany
Colonel Harris, and give Mr. Searles a cordial welcome to America.
The English agent was a good sailor, and had enjoyed immensely the ocean
voyage. Mr. Searles, of late over-worked in England, was compelled on
board ship to rest both mind and body. A true Englishman, Mr. Searles,
was very practical. He comprehended fully the importance of his mission
to America, and possessed the tact of getting on in the world. If the
proposed deal with Reuben Harris was a success, he expected as commission
not less than five thousand pounds. Before the "Majestic" left the
Mersey, that his mind might be alert on arrival at New York, he had
measured with tape line the promenade deck of the steamer, and resolved
to make enough laps for a mile, both before and after each meal, a walk
of six miles per day, or a total of forty-eight miles for the voyage.
A sturdy Englishman, taking such vigorous and methodical exercise,
created some comment among the passengers, but it was excused on the
ground that Englishmen believe in much outdoor exercise. Searles came
from a good family, who lived north of London in Lincolnshire. His
father, the Hon. George Searles, had a competency, largely invested in
lands, and three per cent consols. His rule of investment was, security
unquestioned and interest not above three per cent, believing that
neither creditors nor enterprise of any kind, in the long run, could
afford to pay more. His ancestors were Germans, who crossed the German
Ocean, soon after the Romans withdrew from England.
A large area of Lincolnshire lies below the level of the sea, from which
it is protected by embankments. This fenny district gradually had been
reclaimed, and to-day the deep loam and peat-soils, not unlike the rich
farms of Holland, are celebrated for their high condition of agriculture.
What mortgages the Hon. George Searles held were secured upon
Lincolnshire estates, some of England's best lands.
Hugh Searles, his son, however, had known only London life since he
graduated from Cambridge. His office was in Chancery Lane, and his
surroundings and teachings had been of the speculative kind, hence he was
a fit agent for his firm. Already he had acquired a sunny suburban home
in Kent, and was ambitious to hold a seat in Parliament. As he walked the
steamer's deck, he looked the typical Englishman, five feet ten inches in
height, broad shoulders and full chest; his weight about two hundred
pounds, or "fifteen stones" as Searles phrased it.
His face was round and ruddy, his beard closely cut, and his hair light
and fine, indicating quality. His step was firm, and he seemed always in
deep study. When addressed by his fellow passengers however, he was
courteous, always talked to the point in his replies, and was anxious to
learn more of America, or as he expressed it, "of the Anglo-Saxon
confederation." He was very proud of his Anglo-Saxon origin, and Empire,
and believed in the final Anglo-Saxon ascendancy over the world.
On board ship were several young Englishmen, who were on their return to
various posts of duty. Three were buyers for cotton firms in Liverpool
and Manchester, and they were hastening back to Norfolk, Va., Memphis,
and New Orleans. Two of the passengers were English officers, returning
to their commands in far away Australia. Others, like Searles, were
crossing the Atlantic for the first time in search of fame and fortune.
These adventurous Englishmen thought it fine sport as the "Majestic"
sighted Fire Light Island to join the enthusiastic Americans in singing
"America." So heartily did they sing, that the Americans in turn, using
the same tune, cordially sang "God save the Queen."
At first Hugh Searles was a little disconcerted, when the whole Harris
family approached him in the Waldorf reception-room. Colonel Harris
cordially extended his hand, and said, "Mr. Searles, we are all glad to
meet you, and bid you hearty welcome to America. Please let me make you
acquainted with my wife, Mrs. Harris, my daughters, Gertrude and Lucille,
and my son, Alfonso."
"An unexpected greeting you give me, Colonel Harris," said Hugh Searles,
as he gave each person a quick hand-shake, thinking that to be an
American he must grasp hands cordially.
The family were much interested in the details of Mr. Searles's voyage,
as they expected soon to be en route for Europe. Mr. Searles said, "The
cause of the 'Majestic's' delay was a broken propeller in rough seas off
the Banks of Newfoundland. I am glad to reach New York." He had arrived
at the Hotel at ten o'clock and already had been to lunch.
Mr. Searles gladly accepted an invitation from Colonel Harris for a
drive, Mrs. Harris and Lucille to accompany them. Searles expressed a
wish to see the famous Roebling suspension bridge, so the coachman drove
first down Broadway to the post office, then past the great newspaper
buildings, and out upon the marvelous highway or bridge suspended in the
air between New York and Brooklyn. When midway, Mr. Searles begged to
step out of the carriage, and putting his arms around one of the four
enormous cables, inquired of Colonel Harris how these huge cables were
carried over the towers.
Colonel Harris explained that each cable was composed of over five
thousand steel wires, and that a shuttle carried the wire back and forth
till the requisite strength of cables was obtained. The expense of the
bridge was about $15,000,000, which the two cities paid. Its great
utility had been abundantly proved by the repeated necessity of enlarging
the approaches.
The drive to the Central Park was up Fifth Avenue, home of America's
multi-millionaires. An unending cavalcade of superb family equipages was
passing through the entrance at 59th Street. Colonel Harris explained
that "Central Park had been planted with over half a million trees,
shrubs and vines, and that which was once a waste of rock and swamp, had
by skill of enthusiastic engineers and landscape gardeners blossomed into
green lawns, shady groves, vine-covered arbors, with miles of roads and
walks, inviting expanses of water, picturesque bits of architecture, and
scenery, that rival the world's parks."
The ride and comments of Mr. Searles afforded the Harris family an
opportunity to study their guest, and on returning to the hotel, all
agreed that Hugh Searles was thoroughly equipped to protect his English
patrons in any deal that he might decide to make. It was planned that all
should dine together at eight, and Leo was to join the party by
invitation of Lucille.
Evidently the Harrises were well pleased with their English visitor, but
their pleasure was also quickened with the bright prospect of several
millions of English money for their manufacturing interest. Then after
their visit to Europe might follow the long looked-for residence in
delightful New York. Already rich Americans, famous authors and artists
gravitate as naturally to this new world metropolis, as the world's elite
to London and Paris.