with whom she was conversing, said, "I wish you had known my father; "You would have loved him. People admired him, but those who knew him in his family reverenced him. We all worshiped him."

5 She often went with her father to Washington during the Congressional session. Great and self-reliant as was the statesman, he took pleasure in talking with his gifted child, and often made her his confidant in perplexing cases.

"Of course," she said, referring to the high compliment 10 he paid her, "I do not understand as he does, for I am comparatively a stranger to the world; yet he likes my opinion, and I frankly tell him my views on any subject about which he inquires of me."

His tenderness and consideration for his children was 15 remarkable in so busy and perplexed a life as his.

A younger daughter, being an invalid, found her favorite occupation in reading. She was allowed to go to the letter-bag when it came from the office, and select the papers she wished to read. Once, two papers concerning 20 news of importance which her father was anxious to see, were taken by her to her own room. But he would allow no one to disturb her until she had finished reading them. Our public men are often tempted to sacrifice their families to official life. If Mr. Calhoun was thus tempted, 25 he never yielded to it. His cheerful home was more attrac

tive to him than the Senate Chamber.

HELPS FOR STUDY

Who was Calhoun?

How did Webster feel toward him?

What is meant by "pronounced his eulogy"?

How was Calhoun regarded by the members of his household?

ADMIRAL DEWEY

In March, 1898, Commodore Dewey sailed for HongKong, a small island off the southeast coast of China, belonging to England. There he remained for more than a month, preparing for the war with Spain, which it was 5 thought the United States could no longer avoid. For the cause of this war, we must turn back many pages in the history of Spain, and learn something of her dealings with her colonies and the nations under her government.

A great many years ago Spain was a great nation. Her 10 ships sailed on all the seas and her fleets were more powerful than those of any other nation. From her ports Columbus sailed when he discovered America and took possession of the West Indie Island in the name of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. From that time until August, 1898, 15 Cuba had been under Spanish rule. Ferdinand De Soto was made governor of the island when he sailed to America, in 1533, and leaving his wife to rule the island, lost his life in the search for gold on the new continent.

Spanish rule has always been marked by cruelty, for 20 her main object was wealth without regard to the rights of others. Once the Cubans were a free and happy people, but for many years they had been worse than slaves. They were not bought and sold, like slaves, nor were they fed and clothed as comfortably as slaves would be. The 25 law offered them no protection, they were kept in poverty, obliged to do the hard, dirty work on the plantations and in the cities, and everything they possessed was heavily taxed to increase the wealth of Spain.

In 1868, the Cubans rebelled, and for ten years fought

for their freedom; but Spain was far too powerful to be conquered by so weak a nation, however brave it might be, and one by one the Cuban leaders were killed or scattered, and Spanish rule became more cruel and oppressive 5 than ever.

Fifty thousand soldiers were sent from Spain, and the Cubans were obliged to pay for the support of this army. Thus the cruel oppression went on for many years, until, in 1895, the Cubans resolved to make one more effort to 10 drive out the tyrants, preferring death rather than life under such conditions.

Then another war began. The Spanish Governor, General Campas, tried in vain to put down the rebellion and General Weyler, a cruel and determined man, was 15 sent to take his place.

The cruelty of General Weyler is beyond description. Thousands of poor people were driven into the towns, where, huddled together in foul sheds and huts, breathing foul air, drinking impure water and starving for food, 20 hundreds of helpless, innocent men, women and children died of hunger and disease. All over the island plantations were destroyed, villages burned, railroads torn up, and the once beautiful "Pearl of the Antilles" became a picture of desolation and death.

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The people of the United States knew all about these cruel acts, for Cuba lies very near our southern coast, and the Cubans are almost our nearest neighbors, but for a long time nothing could be done to help the island. At last, however, the sympathies of the people were thor30 oughly aroused, and President McKinley was obliged to warn the Spaniards that, unless such cruelties ceased and the war ended, the United States would recognize Cuba as an independent nation.

This alarmed Spain; General Weyler was recalled and 35 General Blanco sent in his place. General Blanco tried

to stop the war and do better by the people than General Weyler had done, but it was too late. When the poor starving people were set free, they had no homes to go to, no food to eat and no clothes to wear.

All over their island, which had once been as beautiful and productive as a garden, was the terrible destruction and desolation of war.

Then another event occurred which roused not only the sympathy, but the anger of the United States. Stationed 10 in the harbor of Havana, to protect American citizens and their interests in Cuba, was an American warship, the Maine. Other nations had battleships in the harbor for the same purpose; but Spain had resented President McKinley's warning, and there was bitter feeling against 15 the United States. On the morning of the 15th of February, 1898, a fearful explosion was heard, and without a moment's warning, the grand battleship Maine was shattered and plunged to the bottom of the harbor, carrying with her all her crew, of whom two hundred and sixty-six, 20 officers and men, were killed.

There was great excitement throughout the United States at this treacherous act. It was discovered that a mine had been exploded under the Maine, but it was impossible to find out who had placed it in the harbor, 25 or who had exploded it.

A committee was sent to Cuba to investigate the matter. Congress met and many eloquent speeches were made. Senator John Thurston, who had visited Cuba himself, made an eloquent speech in which he said: "Men, women 30 and children stand silent, starving! The Government of Spain never has and never will give a dollar to save these people. They are being helped by the charity of the United States. We are feeding these citizens of Spain; we are nursing their sick, and yet there are people who say that it is 35 right to send food, but that we must keep hands off! I say

that the time has come when muskets should go with the food!"

Most of the American people agreed with Senator Thurston, and Congress authorized President McKinley 5 to notify Spain that she must abandon all claim to the island of Cuba. This she refused to do, and on April 23, 1898, war was formally declared between the United States and Spain.

During all this time Commodore Dewey had not been 10 idle. He had seen the war clouds gathering before he sailed to Hong-Kong, and the news of the wrecking of the Maine soon reached him. During the month spent in the harbor of Hong-Kong, he had silently and steadily been preparing for war. The Philippine Islands, Spain's greatest 15 and most valuable possessions in the Pacific, are about six hundred miles southeast of Hong-Kong. The Island of Luzon is the largest of the group, and on the western side of this island, on the shore of Manila Bay, lies the city of Manila, the capital of the Philippines.

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Spain's Pacific Squadron was known to be in the vicinity of these islands, and when war was declared, the United States Government telegraphed to Dewey at Hong-Kong to sail at once to the Philippines, find the Spanish fleet, and capture or destroy it.

25 It has been said of Admiral Dewey that he was never found unprepared for any emergency or responsibility, and this certainly was true now. From the time he left the United States to take command of the Asiatic Squadron, he had been planning and preparing for the battle which 30 was fought at Manila. To a gentleman who asked him something about the great victory, he answered: "The battle was won in Hong-Kong harbor."

He made all his preparations while there. His men had been drilled at target-practice, in preparing for action, in 35 landing, in fire-drill and all other conditions of battle that