CHAPTER XIX
SALMON P. CHASE
Among the very interesting characters with whom I have formed
an acquaintance in Washington was Chief Justice Salmon P.
Chase. I saw him but a few times. But on those occasions
he spoke to me with a freedom with which famous public men
seldom speak, even to intimate friends. I incline to think
it was his habit to speak freely to comparative strangers.
But of that I know nothing.
When I first went to Washington, in the spring of 1869, I
was invited by Commissary-General Eaton, whose daughter was
the wife of my cousin, to attend a meeting of a club at his
house. The club was composed of scientific men who met at
each other's houses. The reading of a paper by the host was
followed by a supper. The host was permitted to invite such
guests as he saw fit, not members of the club. Chief Justice
Chase was one of the guests. I was introduced to him there
for the first time, except that I went, when I was quite a
young man, long before the war, to hear him speak and, with
a great many other persons, went up and shook hands with him
after the speech was over.
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