Immersed though he always was in affairs of the most practical and matter-of-fact nature, Mr. Cramp could always find time for the society of the clever Bohemians of literature, art, and the drama. No other association was so congenial to him. No other business man of his time numbered so many friends and close acquaintances in that fraternity as he. In him they always found quick appreciation of their abilities and, when occasion might require, ready and cordial responsiveness to their incidents of vicissitude. During the scores of years through which he figured in a capacity as public and in affairs as momentous as ever fell to the lot of the highest official, constantly engaged in operations closely affecting the vitality and integrity of the nation, incessantly subject to a scrutiny hardly less searching than “the fierce light which beats upon a throne,” the files of American print for a lifetime may be searched in vain for an ill-natured personal criticism upon his acts or achievements or an aspersion upon his character. Even partisans of his rivals, no matter what might be the bitterness of contention or the rancor of faction, always halted at personal animadversion upon him. This was not because he himself was reticent in criticism or always cautious in comment. Having always ready and welcome access to the columns of the most noted periodicals and the greatest newspapers, and being by no means stingy of rhetoric, his innumerable newspaper interviews and frequent magazine papers invariably “spoke his mind” with neither extenuation nor malice, and always hewed to the line. On one occasion he submitted a professional paper in manuscript to a friend of literary pursuits whose judgment he held in high esteem. “In that paper,” he said, “I have done my best to avoid all controversial tendency. Please look it over and give me your view as to whether or not I have succeeded.” It was a paper on the subject of water-tube boilers involving discussion of the various types, and referring to the policies of different naval administrations at home and abroad in dealing with them. “Well,” he inquired, when his friend returned the paper, “what do you think of it?” “I understood you to say, Mr. Cramp, that you desire to avoid controversial matter in this paper?” “Yes.” “And you would strike out anything that might partake of that nature?” “Yes.” “Well, in that case, there would be little left but the title of the paper!”