“But of all the mean business in the world, the most humiliating to a proud and independant man is dancing attendance upon and asking favors from those in power.”—Horatio Nelson Taft

SATURDAY 14

Weather fine & bright but a little too hot. M. 82. Have been at the Pat office part of the day. Had an interview with the Comr and a long talk with him, and a pretty plain talk. But of all the mean business in the world, the most humiliating to a proud and independant man is dancing attendance upon and asking favors from those in power. Dr David got in this evening from the other side of the River. I was at the National an hour or so, also called at Willards. City quiet.

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The three diary manuscript volumes, Washington during the Civil War: The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865, are available online at The Library of   Congress.