I may as well state here, although it belongs to a later time, that the offer was made to me again, by President McKinley. I give the correspondence with President McKinley when he made me that offer:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D. C.
September 13, 1898.
HON. GEORGE F. HOAR (Confidential),
WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.
It would give me much satisfaction to appoint you Ambassador to London. Will it be agreeable to you?
WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
September 14, 1898.
TO THE PRESIDENT, WASHINGTON, D. C.
I am highly honored by your confidence, for which I am grateful. But I believe I can better serve my country, and better support your Administration by continuing to discharge the legislative duties to which I have been accustomed for thirty years, than by undertaking new responsibilities at my age, now past seventy- two. If it were otherwise, I cannot afford to maintain the scale of living which the social customs of London make almost indispensable to an Ambassador, and I have no right to impose upon my wife, in her present state of health, the burden which would fall upon her. Be assured of my warm personal regard and of my desire to stand by you in the difficult and trying period which is before you.
GEO. F. HOAR
CHAPTER XXXI PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT AND THE SYRIAN CHILDREN
A very touching incident, characteristic of the kind heart of President Roosevelt, ought to be put on record in connection with his visit to Worcester.
During the Christmas holidays of 1901 a very well known Syrian, a man of high standing and character, came into my son's office and told him this story: