Mr. Smith took a leading part in the fight for the gold standard in Pennsylvania, and was selected to uphold that cause before the legislature of his state, participating in a joint debate before that body with Charles Heber Clarke, then the best equipped and most formidable champion of the silver cause in the East.

When in 1890 Mr. Smith was nominated by President Harrison as minister to Russia, he was tendered a banquet at which the foremost men in journalism and politics in the city and state united to do him honor.

The mission to Russia was entirely unsought by Mr. Smith. He had, in fact, declined when requested to be a candidate and had gone to Washington to urge the appointment of a prominent resident of that city to the position. It turned out that President Harrison had already determined, without his knowledge, to appoint him, but did not disclose the fact in the conversation. A few days after his return to Philadelphia he received a note from Secretary Blaine offering him the Russian mission. Although disinclined to accept because of the break it would necessitate in his business relations he finally acquiesced on the appointment being pressed upon him. While in Russia he was one of the leaders in the relief work of the great Russian famine in 1891 and 1892, and had charge of the American contributions, amounting to over $100,000 in money and five ship loads of provisions. He resigned in 1892 to resume his editorial duties.

In 1895 Mr. Smith accompanied the then Governor McKinley at two or three points of his campaign tour in Ohio, and was one of the speakers at the opening mass meeting at Canton in the campaign of 1896. It is generally understood that Mr. Smith wrote a large part of the Republican national platform of that year. He had long been an intimate friend of President McKinley, and, upon the resignation of Postmaster-General Gary, President McKinley requested Mr. Smith to become a member of his official family, and the invitation was accepted. Mr. Smith was accordingly nominated as postmaster-general on April 21, 1898, and the nomination was confirmed by the Senate the same day.

It is not within the scope of this sketch to treat, in detail, of the things accomplished by Mr. Smith as the head of the Post Office Department, and, in fact, if that were done, it

could convey to the reader no just estimate of the value of the services he had rendered his country and its President in the trying times of the last three years. It is said that when President McKinley offered Mr. Smith the portfolio of postmaster-general the editor of the Press at first demurred because he feared that, owing to the vast amount of routine connected with the conduct of the postal business of the gov ernment, he would have but little time to devote to consideration of those larger matters of international and domestic policy which are continually pressing upon the President and his advisers. The President is said to have told him then that he could delegate the details to the subordinates in the department; that a president could get a postmaster-general almost anywhere, but that he wanted Mr. Smith at his council table in order that he might have the benefit of his varied talents in settling the great questions of the day as they arose. Mr. Smith followed the President's suggestion, as far as practicable, in the conduct of his great department, and by leaving to his subordinates the decision of all matters of detail falling properly under their charge, was able to render to the President intelligent co-operation in solving the innumerable, momentous, and perplexing questions which presented themselves during Mr. McKinley's first administration. He was renominated as postmaster-general by the President on March 5, 1901.

One of the qualities which every successful public official should possess is the ability to be absolutely silent or noncommittal when he thinks it necessary or desirable. Mr. Smith is an adept in this art, as all who have business with him can testify, and as was well illustrated in one of the upheavals in municipal politics in Philadelphia several years ago. As editor of the Press he was, of course, making it his business to tell the people of his city everything that was going on. But the forces confronting each other were three : the bosses, the Citizens' Reform Association, and the Union. League. The bosses were in an ugly mood; the Citizens' Reform Association, like such organizations too often, was full of energy but lacked experienced judgment for handling a great crisis; so Mr. Smith, as a skilled politician and head of the Union League, had to do most of the hard, practical work. This responsibility wrought a change in his methods;

instead of following his professional bent he had to keep his own counsel with the utmost care. He became like the sphinx. The news-gatherers of the Press complained that even they could not screw a word out of him. They tried the trick of writing out what they had learned during the day, and sending proofs of it to him, as editor, to revise. But it was useless. If he found some glaring misstatement of fact, he would run his pencil through it, but he never told what ought to be inserted in its place. It is a gift few public men have, and few can acquire, the faculty of calmly smiling under a volley of questions or remarks intended to draw out an expression, and yet keeping absolutely silent.

The fellow-feeling which Mr. Smith has always shown toward younger aspirants for similar honors is well illustrated by a story told by one now prominent in journalism. When a very young man the narrator desired very much to get into the newspaper business, but he lived away back in the country, and do what he could, turn which way he would, there seemed no opening. Finally he wrote a hundred letters to as many newspaper editors, begging each of them to give him some sort of encouragement. One of these letters he sent to Mr. Smith, then editor of the Albany Journal. In due time he began to receive replies; all told there were about sixty of them, but only one gave him the slightest hope. Most of them were discouraging, and some of them even made fun of his untrained aspirations. But the letter from Mr. Smith was of such a character as to make him forget all the others. It did not offer him a place on the Journal, it did not even advise him to push forward in the certainty that he was cut out for a newspaper man, but it was kindly and considerate in tone, and it contained two or three practical suggestions which he followed, and because of which he ultimately succeeded in obtaining a foothold in his chosen profession.

Mr. Smith is in constant demand for public addresses of every character. Each spring brings a large number of invitations from schools and colleges in all parts of the country for commencement addresses; and to all banquets given by large political or commercial organizations of the great cities of the country he receives a cordial invitation, usually coupled with a request for a speech or response to a toast. He has

frequently, on such occasions, voiced the sentiments of the president and cabinet on important questions then before the people.

Mr. Smith has the reputation of being one of the most adroit and resourceful campaigners in public life to day. It has been his fortune to be placed in some peculiar situations while on speechmaking tours, but by the exercise of tact and forensic skill he has been able invariably to extricate himself with credit. One such occasion presented itself during the campaign of 1900, when he canvassed all doubtful states from Maine to Nebraska. He was in Kansas, and was invited to visit one of the principal universities in a near-by city, Methodist in its teachings, and where many Methodist ministers, out of active service from old age, spent their closing days. The president of the university begged Mr. Smith to make a speech to the students, who had pleaded so earnestly for a few remarks that he hoped the postmaster-general would not refuse. Mr. Smith consented, and the chapel was soon completely filled by an eager audience. A political speech pure and simple Mr. Smith could not give to these young men ; but, with subtlety and brilliancy, he led his large audience along on national issues, without once mentioning the name of either candidate or the specific issues involved in the pending campaign. When he began his speech he had no idea of saying more than a few words, but suddenly, from the nearest seat, an aged minister cried out "Amen!" A few more sentences, and again that "Amen!" now reinforced by others, rang through the chapel. The oftener it sounded, the more impassioned and eloquent and fervent Mr. Smith became. It was the most unique applause ever given to a campaign orator.

In his habits Mr. Smith is exceedingly temperate. He does not use tobacco in any form, and it is only upon the occasion of some formal function that he indulges in wine, and then only a glass for form's sake, not because he enjoys it. He has said that he never had the time to be convivial; that he could always find more profitable employment for the little. leisure vouchsafed him during his busy life. He does not find it necessary, as do many speakers, to take a glass of wine. before rising to respond to a toast in order to stimulate thought; his brain is always clear and his thoughts always ready for expression.

The degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred upon Mr. Smith by Union University in 1889, Lafayette College in 1899, Knox College in 1900, and Wesleyan University in 1901.

Upon being asked not long ago to what he attributed his success in the career mapped out for himself while a schoolboy, Mr. Smith replied that it had, in his opinion, been primarily due to "concentration and constancy." He had applied all his energies along the chosen line and had not allowed himself to be swerved from it until success had been achieved. While continuing his newspaper work he endeavored each year to make a substantial addition to his equipment. American biography he found stimulating as well as instructive; in fiction, "Vanity Fair," "David Copperfield," and "The Three Musketeers," delighted him. He has always been fond of the theater, but has found little time to go. He has found his chief pleasure in his work.

It has been well said by one of Mr. Smith's friends that the young men of this generation may learn from his life to be bodily pure, to be temperate in their habits, never to let down their moral tone in intercourse, to be large rather than small in observation and reflection, and to keep their eye on national affairs rather than on village quarrels and small politicians.

CHOOSING AN OCCUPATION.

HE choice of an occupation is a very important factor in the success of life. The earlier it can be done the better. The more nearly the aptitudes of the man or woman fit the occupation, the more congenial and successful is the career. To follow the "natural bent," whenever it is possible, appears to be eminently wise, for "square men should be put into square holes, and round men into round holes." Failing to regard the drift of one's being in the choice of an occupation is almost sure to put square men into round holes, and round men into square holes.

A good mechanic has often been spoiled to make a poor clergyman or merchant, and a good minister has been spoiled to make a commonplace artisan. Overlooking the "natural bent," the youth has selected an occupation for which he has no special aptitude, and he brings little to pass.

Strong minds readily indicate the pursuit for which they