school of Knox College, from which he graduated in 1854, with the title of A. B. He taught school for a time, and afterwards went to St. Louis as bookkeeper in the wholesale boot and shoe house of Claflin, Allen & Stinde; the senior partner, Mr. William Claflin, being subsequently Governor of Massachusetts, and member of Congress from the Eighth district of that State. Mr. Allen was the brother-in-law of Mr. White, and upon the death of the former-just thirty years after the latter entered the employment of the firm-he contributed $100,000 special capital, rather than see so old and respected a firm retire from business. In 1855, Mr. White began the study of law, under auspices calculated to furnish him a fair start in the foundation work of the profession, entering the law office of Brown & Kasson; the senior partner being Hon. B. Gratz Brown, who was a candidate for vice-president of the United States on the Greeley ticket of 1872, the junior member being Hon. John, Kasson, since member of Congress for several terms from the Seventh Iowa district, and also United States Minister to Austria. Mr. White diligently pursued his studies under the direction of these able men, and was admitted to the bar at St. Louis, on November 4th, 1856. In the following month he located in Des Moines, Iowa, and commenced practice. In 1857 this place was made the capital of the State, and the sessions of the Court of Appeals, and of the Federal Courts, were held there. Before the appointment of the Hon. Samuel F. Miller, to the Supreme Court of the United States, he and Mr. White were close personal friends, and attorneys engaged in practice in the same courts. Mr. White showed the possession of unusual legal abilities from the start, and made his mark in the conduct of a number of important cases. In one of these, that of the United States vs. Hill, the only treason case ever tried in the State of Iowa, he secured the acquittal of his client, the defendant; while in another, that of Gelpe vs. Dubuque, in the United States Court, he made a strenuous fight, and won a most important victory. It was a case that involved the constitutionality of certain municipal bonds that had been issued for railroad construction. Retained by the appellant, Mr. White succeeded in having the case reversed, and as a result several millions were saved to investors, which had been repudiated by the State. This case which is reported in First Wallace, is the leading case on that question. Mr. White also served as United States District Attorney for Iowa, during the illness of the incumbent, exhibiting unusual ability in the discharge of the duties of that important position. But despite the successes he had won in the arena of the law, and the still greater trophies sure to be secured in the future, his active mind led him to desire the more stirring scenes of a business life; and in obedience to this desire he came to New York and commenced his financial, political, and personal success. In January, 1865, he formed the partnership in banking, known under the name of Marvin & White. Two years later Mr. Marvin retired, and Mr. White continued alone until 1882, when the firm of S. V. White & Co. was formed, with Arthur Claflin and Franklin W. Hopkins. Mr. Claflin retired January 1st, 1886. Mr. White has also had a wide and influential connection with other features of financial New York, being a member of the New York Stock Exchange for more than twenty years, and was long since well known in the turbulent experiences of Wall Street as a fearless operator, engaged in dealings of a gigantic character, and always having the courage to follow his convictions and business judgment to the fullest limit. Politically, Mr. White is a Republican, and has devoted himself to the principles of that party from the day of its foundation. He was an earnest worker for John C. Fremont, in the eventful year of 1856, when the "Pathfinder" led his party toward the victory it was to secure four years later; and continued his work in the cause through all the troubled years of the war. In 1886 Mr. White was the Republican candidate for member of Congress from the Third New York Congressional District, and was elected by 172 votes over James D. Bell, the Democratic nominee. In Congress he performed his duties with great fidelity, working not only for the special good of his constituents, but for the general good of the country as well; and always voiced his convictions in his vote. Mr. White has been prominently identified with Plymouth Church, for many years, having been one of its trustees for twenty years, and the treasurer of its board for even a longer period. He was the first presiident of the American Astronomical Society, serving as such for five years, and owns the largest private telescope in the country; and is an accomplished, classical and scientific scholar, who finds in his studies recreation from the cares of business life. Among his literary labors, which. have attracted special attention, is a translation of the "Dies Irae," which, with other poems, has been published privately by his daughter in a volume entitled, "Selections from the portfolio of S. V. White." Personally he is of a quick, nervous temperament, genial, approachable, and honored and respected by the community as much for his personal qualities and high character, as for the wonderful business qualifications that have placed him in the front rank of the financiers and business men of the day. THEODORE JOHNSON, CORDOVA. MR. SESSIONS' SUMMER IN EUROPE AND AFRICA. OUR train to Toledo from Madrid, was a slow one; it is about forty-five miles, and we were three hours going and the same time returning. Our courier, whom we fortunately secured in Madrid, was a very intelligent Spaniard, Prof. Charles Lamotte, who has been for thirty-five years a guide and professor of Spanish. We also had in our compartment on the train an intelligent Englishman, who was a scholar and a gentleman, and a Spaniard, a business man from Madrid. He was engaged in the extension of the telephone, (which is in general use in Madrid) to the adjoining cities and large towns. He gave us much valuable information about Spain and its prospects. Madrid is growing rapidly, and we noticed on every street new buildings being erected, some of them fine architectural structures. One especially on one of the prominent streets in the center of the city, was the finest architectural business block that we saw anywhere in the city; it was being erected by the Equitable Insurance Company of New York, and attracts much attention. We approach old Toledo with great interest, calling to mind that it was, two thousand years ago, a great city and an empire within itself; before England herself began to have much of a history, Toledo had nearly filled up its volume. We call to mind how the Roman succeeded the Jew; how the Goth followed the Roman; how the Goth was thrust forth by the Moors, and when his day was accomplished, he gave way to the re-formed Spaniard. The city seems to have been built upon a rock, and we can see the towers of the old cathedral and other old buildings in the distance. We drive across the bridge over the Pontus through the narrow streets to the Hotel Lino, which was formerly an old inn in the time of the Moors, and the old stone stables and stalls for the horses are shown us; it is a very quaint old building, with its inner court and ancient surroundings which have been preserved. By the stone stairway leading to the breakfast room, there was a row of beautiful evergreens covered with brightcolored flowers, which attracted our attention, but on examining them we found, much to my disgust, that they were paper flowers fastened on. We start out after breakfast through the narrow streets, not more than ten or fifteen feet wide, with buildings. from three to five stories in height on each side, and little shops and stores |