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P

ERHAPS few presidents have been more truly repre-. sentatives 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