# Stanford — Poetry character guide

> Stanford in Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Reconciliation Stanford

**First appearance:** 0000-poetry

## Snapshot

A name linked to reconciliation in Bierce's verse, Stanford hovers at the edge of the poems as a figure of uneasy peace.

## Who they are

Stanford enters the collection through the idea of reconciliation, a theme Bierce handles with his usual skepticism about whether any truce is ever sincere. He is less a fully drawn person than a hook on which the poet hangs his suspicion that harmony is often just another word for surrender. His presence gives the early poems a quiet counterweight to their prevailing tone of quarrel and contempt.

## In the story

### [Stanford's Welcome](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/stanford-s-welcome)

The statesman being welcomed by the crowd, who thanks them for allowing him to buy votes.

### [A Political Violet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-political-violet)

Referenced as 'Stanford' in the poem, likely a separate character or alias for Leland Stanford.

### [The Night of Election](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-night-of-election)

Implied reference through 'old Stanislow,' likely a pun on Leland Stanford.

### [Twin Unworthies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/twin-unworthies)

Mentioned as one of the rich men to whom parasites attach themselves.

### [Reconciliation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/reconciliation)

Reconciles with Huntington after a long period of discord.

### [Substance or Shadow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/substance-or-shadow)

Depicted as a philanthropist who gives alms with one hand while owing justice with the other, a hypocrite.

### [Three Candidates for Senator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/three-candidates-for-senator)

Referenced in the line 'The Railroad can’t run Stanford,' suggesting his political ambitions are tied to railroad interests.

### [On Stone: Some Ante-Mortem Epitaphs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/on-stone-some-ante-mortem-epitaphs)

Epitaph XLIV notes Stanford's odd expectation that God should hasten to meet him, rather than the reverse.

### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/xxv)

Elected to the Upper House

### [XLIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/xliv)

The subject of the epitaph, who waited for God to come to him.

### [The Two Cavees](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-two-cavees)

Referenced as the capitalist for whom Mike de Young works; is 'grassed' by the dead cat.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/characters/stanford
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/characters