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It is not too great a stretch of imagination； when one knows how traditional interviews and conversations between European rulers affect their relations； present and future； to find in that entertainment and conference that the seed there was sown for the entrance of Italy； at one of the crises of the Great War； on the side of the Allies and against Germany； to whom she was bound by the Triple Alliance。
Mr。 Gladstone said to me at one time： 〃I have recently met a most interesting countryman of yours。 He is one of the best…informed and able men of any country whom I have had the pleasure of talking with for a long time； and he is in London now。 I wish you would tell me all about him。〃
Mr。 Gladstone could not recall his name。 As there were a number of American congressmen in London； I asked： 〃Was he a congressman？〃
〃No；〃 he answered； 〃he had a more important office。〃
I then remembered that DeWitt Clinton； when a United States senator； resigned to become mayor of the City of New York。 On that inspiration I asked： 〃Mayor of the City of New York？〃
〃Yes； that is it；〃 Mr。 Gladstone answered。
I then told him that it was Abram S。 Hewitt； and gave him a description of Mr。 Hewitt's career。 Mr。 Gladstone was most enthusiastic about him。
It was my fortune to know Mr。 Hewitt very well for many years。 He richly merited Mr。 Gladstone's encomium。 He was one of the most versatile and able Americans in public or private life during his time。 His father was an English tenant…farmer who moved with his family to the United States。 Mr。 Hewitt received a liberal education and became a great success both in business and public life。 He was much more than a business man； mayor of New York； or a congressmanhe was public…spirited and a wise reformer。
Mr。 Hewitt told me two interesting incidents in his career。 When he visited England he was received with many and flattering attentions。 Among his invitations was a week…end to the home of the nobleman upon whose estates his father had been a tenant…farmer。 When Mr。 Hewitt told the nobleman； who was entertaining him as a distinguished American； about his father's former relations as one of his tenants； the nobleman said： 〃Your father made a great mistake in giving up his farm and emigrating to the United States。 He should have remained here。〃
Mr。 Hewitt said： 〃But； my lord； so far as I am concerned I do not think so。〃
〃Why？〃 asked his lordship。
〃Because；〃 answered Mr。 Hewitt； 〃then I could never have been a guest on equal terms in your house。〃
Mr。 Hewitt was one of the foremost iron founders and steel manufacturers of the country。 At the time of our Civil War our government was very short of guns； and we were unable to manufacture them because we did not know the secret of gun…metal。
The government sent Mr。 Hewitt abroad to purchase guns。 The English gunmakers at once saw the trouble he was in and took advantage of it。 They demanded prices several times greater than they were asking from other customers； and refused to give him any information about the manufacture of gun…metal。
After he had made the contract； with all its exorbitant conditions； he went to his hotel and invited the foreman of each department of the factory to meet him。 They all came。 Mr。 Hewitt explained to them his mission； and found that they were sympathetic with Mr。 Lincoln and his administration and the Union cause。 Then he told them of the trouble he had had with their employers； and the hard terms which they had imposed。 He asked them then all about the manufacture of gun…metal。 Each one of the foremen was very clear and explicit as to his part； and so when they had all spoken； Mr。 Hewitt； with his expert knowledge of the business； knew all the secrets of the manufacture of gun…metaI； which he； of course； gave to the government at Washington for use in their several arsenals and shops。
〃Now；〃 he said to his guests； 〃you have done me a great favor。 I will return it。 Your company is obliged by the contract to deliver this immense order within a limited time。 They are going to make an enormous amount of money out of it。 You strike and demand what you think is right； and you will get it immediately。〃
The gun company made a huge profit but had to share some of it with their workers。 It was an early instance of the introduction of profit…sharing； which has now become common all over the world。
One of the most interesting Englishmen； whom I saw much of both in London and in the United States； was Sir Henry Irving。 The world of art； drama； and history owes much to him for his revival of Shakespeare。 Irving was a genius in his profession； and in private life perfectly delightful。
He gave me a dinner and it was； like everything he did； original。 Instead of the usual formal entertainment； he had the dinner at one of the old royal castles in the country； which had become a very exclusive hotel。 He carried us out there in coaches。
The company of authors； playwrights； and men of affairs made the entertainment late and the evening memorable。 Returning home on the top of the coach； the full moon would appear and reappear； but was generally under a cloud。 Irving remarked： 〃I do much better with that old moon in my theatre。 I make it shine or obscure it with clouds； as the occasion requires。〃
I received a note from him at the time of his last visit to the United States； in which he said that a friend from the western part of the country was giving him a dinner at Delmonico's to precede his sailing in the early morning on his voyage home。 The company was to be large and all good friends； and he had the positive assurance that there would be no speaking； and wished I would come。
The dinner was everything that could be desired。 The company was a wonderful one of distinguished representatives of American life。 The hours passed along rapidly and joyously； as many of these original men contributed story； racy adventure； or song。
Suddenly the host arose and said： 〃Gentlemen； we have with us to…night〃 Of course； that meant an introductory speech about Irving and a reply from the guest。 Irving turned to me； and in his deepest and most tragic Macbeth voice said： 〃God damn his soul to hell！〃 However； he rose to the occasion； and an hour or so afterwards； when everybody else had spoken； not satisfied with his first effort； he arose and made a much better and longer speech。 He was an admirable after…dinner speaker as well as an unusual actor。 His wonderful presentations； not only of Shakespeare's but of other dramas； did very much for the stage both in his own country and in ours。
Those who heard him only in his last year had no conception of him in his prime。 In his later years he fell into the fault； so common with public speakers and actors； of running words together and failing to articulate clearly。 I have known a fine speech and a superior sermon and a great part in a play ruined because of the failure to articulate clearly。 The audience could not follow the speaker and so lost interest。
Sir Henry told me a delightful story about Disraeli。 A young relative of Irving's took orders and became a clergyman in the Established Church。 At the request of Irving； Disraeli appointed this young man one of the curates at Windsor。
One day the clergyman came to Irving in great distress and said： 〃The unexpected has happened。 Every one has dropped out； and I have been ordered to preach on Sunday。〃
Irving took him to see Disraeli for advice。 The prime minister said to the young clergyman： 〃If you preach thirty minutes； Her Majesty will be bored。 If you preach fifteen minutes； Her Majesty will be pleased。 If you preach ten minutes； Her Majesty will be delighted。〃
〃But；〃 said the young clergyman； 〃my lord； what can a preacher possibly say in only ten minutes？〃
〃That；〃 answered the statesman； 〃will be a matter of indifference to Her Majesty。〃
Sir Frederick Leighton； the eminent English artist； and at one time president of the Royal Academy； was one of the most charming men of his time。 His reminiscences were delightful and told with rare dramatic effect。 I remember a vivid description which he gave me of the wedding of one of the British royalties with a German princess。 Sir Frederick was one of the large and distinguished delegation which accompanied the prince。
The principality of the bride's father had been shorn of territory； power； and revenue during the centuries。 Nevertheless； at the time of the wedding he maintained a ministry； the same as in the Middle Ages； and a miniature army。 Palaces； built centuries before； housed the Cabinet。
The minister of foreign affairs came to Sir Frederick and unbosomed himself of his troubles。 He said： 〃According to the usual procedure I ought to give a ball in honor of the union of our house with the royal family of England。 My palace is large enough； but my salary is only eight hundred a year； and the expense would eat up the whole of it。〃
Sir Frederick said： 〃Your Excellency can overcome the difficulty in an original way。 The state band can furnish the music； and that will cost nothing。 When the time comes for the banquet； usher the guests with due ceremony to a repast of beer and p