h.
Here I met many friends, chief of whom I am glad to place Senator
Cushman K. Davis, of Minnesota. After a brief stay our little
party returned to Chicago and dispersed, I going back to Mansfield
to engage in the political campaign.

At this period "The Sherman Letters" was published, and at once
attracted attention and general commendation. I though the experiment
was a risky one, but it was the desire of General Sherman's children
to publish them, and especially of his daughter, Rachel Thorndike,
who undertook to compile them. I have been in the habit of preserving
letters written to me on personal matters, or by members of my
family, and, as General Sherman was a copious writer, I placed his
letters in separate books. He did the same with mine, but many of
these had been lost by fire in California. Rachel arranged in
chronological order such letters as she thought worth preserving,
and they were published in a handsome volume. I have a multitude
of letters from almost every man with whom I have been associated
in political life, but will not publish them while the writers live
without their consent, nor even after their death if the letters
would tend to wound the feelings of surviving friends or relatives.
Letters are the best evidence of current thought or events, but
they ought to be guarded by the person to whom they are written as
confidential communications, not to be disclosed to the injury of
the writer. General Sherman's inmost thoughts could be disclosed
without fear of injury to him, and his letters, though rapidly
written, did not indicate a dishonorable thought or action. I have
seen nothing in the comments of the press on these letters but what
is kindly to the "two brothers."

On the 5th of October I made my usual annual visit to Cincinnati.
I called at the chamber of commerce, and had the same hearty welcome
its members have always given me. I made the usual short speech,
and it was all about "King Corn." General surprise was expressed
at my healthy appearance. The remark was frequently made that I
was looking better and healthier than for years. The impression
of my failing health was gathered from the newspaper descriptions
of "the old man" in the debates in the Senate. The effect of the
pure, open air of Nebraska was apparent. While on this visit I
was greatly pleased with a drive to Fort Thomas, and the high lands
on the Kentucky side of the river.

My first political speech o