The intimate papers of Colonel House arranged as a narrative by Charles Seymour.

26 INTIMATE PAPERS OF COLONEL HOUSE

son Davis among the rest. 'Father counted among his
friends,' wrote House, 'the rich and the poor, the humble
and the great.'
The younger House followed in his footsteps. After moving to Austin, he built a large house which became the focus
of the social and political life of the region.
'The large veranda to the south [wrote House] was the
scene, perhaps, of more political conferences than any similar
place in Texas. It was there that the clans congregated. I
had long made it a rule not to visit, and it was understood
that if any one desired to see me, it must be at my home. I
did this not only to conserve my strength, but because it
enabled me to work under more favorable conditions. I had
an office which I was seldom in, and latterly I refused to
make any appointments there whatsoever. This necessarily
led to much entertaining, and our house was constantly
filled with guests. Those days and guests are among the
pleasantest recollections of my life.
'Many distinguished people, passing through Austin, from
time to time were our guests. Among those that I admired
most was Dr. Charles W. Eliot of Harvard. His life and
devotion to public service were a revelation to me. He
seemed to regulate his life in a way to get the maximum of
service for the public good.
'Baron d'Estournelles de Constant of France was another
guest whose society I enjoyed while he was in Texas. I remember when leaving me at the station he remarked: "My
friends in Paris would be amazed if they could hear me say I
was leaving Austin, Texas, with keen regret."'
Apart from the interest which he took in men and in their
activities, a further characteristic should be noted: constant
and omnivorous reading. This fact is to be deduced less from
his correspondence and papers than from the existence of a