The Portland daily press., 1869-05-28
An Interview with Senafor Summer.
DESCRIPTION OF HIS HOUSE his VIEWS ON THT
AT r,rA

WASHINGTON, May "A, 1862
One Of the most delightful places to spend
an hour in, if its busy master can spare that
amount of time to you, is the handsome resi-
dence of Charles Sumner-the statesman who
in his supreme devotion to his countrys SER
vice has won the honor of thorough hatred
from the most atrocious oligarchy and the
most selfish nation the modern world has SEEN
1t is three-story brick, handsomely finished,
from the windows of which may be caught
pleasant glimpse of Lafayette Square, the
grounds of which wsre laid out by Downing,
to whose taste, in its monthly offering of fresh
flowers or verdure, it is living monument
But it is the interior of the mansion that
charms. A broad portal, doors, &c., made
a dark, polished wood opens into broad hall,
not long, at the end of which is The stairway
The hall is lined with pictures, mostly photo
graphs of European scenes, or rare prints, en-
cravings of distinguished men, sc. A copy
in Carrara' marble of the mutilated torso and
head of Venus de Medici is at the lower end.
While waiting for your card to be taken in,
the eye will be sure to rest, among other at
fractions, on carved bracket supporting some
article of byoute,ie, which you notice because
of the bold though coarsely carved head of
Grant which looks down at you. To the left
one catches glimpses of the most exquisite of
drawing rooms, the carpet of which is mar
vel of roses and twining tendrils of some rare,
rich hue, and the hangings AMI furniture of
which all fill you with that unforgotten sense
of harmony that floats forever in memory from
some suddenly heard strain of music Yet
there is sadness evoked, for we cannot but re-
member the grief which has fallen here and
been hidden from sight. To the right one
sees two noble rooms, entering one into the
other, and filled walls, tables and mantles,-
with rare pictures, rarer engravings, books,
articles of oirtu, relics from the antique, and
thousand things which mark the scholar and
the travelled man of taste also. Crowded as
are these rooms, they are not overloaded. All
is in perfect taste. Among the things most
priced by Mr.. Sumner and to be most esteem
ed by the Uirtuosi, are his rare engravings,
principally of heads of leading historical char
acters. He has collection of wood engrav-
ings which are considered very rare and are
highly esteemed. have looked long at one of
them-a remarkable and powerful delineation
of Buonarotti ti,-Michael Angelo, the sculptor.
One can readily believe as the wonderful head
and face hang before you, that this man could
see an angel in every block of murbe, and in
divine fury attack the stone to let his vision
free
But we will go up stairs. The servant de-
sires us to ascend. In brief space we are in
Mr.. Summers study-a long, tolerably broad
room, with three clear, bright windows letting
in the light. 1t is hung, as are the rooms be-
low, with pictures, crowded with books, and
the study tables, &C., are Uttered with papers,
pamphlets, letters, sc. The Senator is at his
own desk at the upper end of the room. He
rises to greet you with a pleasant smile, and
in his deep, orotund voice, cheerily invites you
to a comfortable seat near him. In spite of
many sneers to the contrary, Mr.. Sumner is
one of the most accessible men in the capital
He sees nearly everybody that calls on him.
from early morning until late at night, and l
think seldom refuses to see and listen, except
when at dinner with some guest. The house
is often lonely and the Senator is Hospitality
inclined. Just now he is full of interesting
talk regarding the Alabama speech, and its
effect in Great Britain. While he settles in
his chair again, the eyes glance around the
room. There are very many things to attract.
Mr.. Sumner is sure to be the recipient of
choice first proofs of engravings, photo
graphs, chromos and other similar things.
Marshall's grand head of Lincoln looks down
on you, while Carpenters milder and smore
every day countenance of the martyr-Presi-
dent can be seen in another part of the room.
There are many other notables and noteworthy
matters, but near my chair, my eye falls upon
five portraits (engravings) which by their be-
ing placed in .juxtaposition lead to remark.
The first is a picture of Edmund Burke-a
statesman on whom in large degree Charles
Summer has modelled himself, if he has follow
ed any one. But no one can doubt the deep
effect of Burke's style and thought on the
Massachusetts Senator. Next to Burke are
Romiy and Wilberforcc, and then-strange
relation, the Pretender, Prince Charles Ed
ward Stuart, and Joseph Mazzini. Mr..
Sumner has theory regarding the historical
continuity among these five men, and especial
ly deli ghts in a subtitle lkness between "Ron
ME Charlie" and the Italian Republican He
holds that, excepting the age and grand differ
ence in aim, Mazzin' represents in Europe the
same disturbing force that the Pretender did
while he lived
The conversation turned, the day on which
was last at the House have briefly describ-
ed, on the Senator'S speech, more especially on
it's startling effect in Great Britain. Its nom
publication by the pres there has perhaps been