Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-03-14
GADABOUT'S COLUMN.
[ Written for the Erening Star.
Sumner

Art gone, high spiritP Let the tree grow
proudly,
They plant to arch its boughs DER thy remains,
And when the wind shall toss IL hoarse ana
loudly,
Some likeness OF myself the elm retains;
For thou hadst all the anger and the pains
That nature gives her strong things, and the
spite
That only ruffied compromising men,
Walled like a storm at thy unbending height.
But when thy roaring frighted hawk and wren.
The great black rocks and choughs, In new de
light,
Cawed in thy branches and made love again.
so In the greenest foliage DER thy grave,
In song the black man shall thy fame reQute,
Whose courage was the homestead of the slave
Charles Sumner, our Citizen.
MI. Summers death may suggest what an ex
celent friend Washington city has Lost, An
one of the very few who had that taste and
passion for art, tradition, and historical asso
citation necessary to keep up the standard Of
literary and political capital.
In the library of Congress, the Smithsonian
Institution, and the public statuary and archi-
lecture, he was critic and propelIing infiu
ence; Amongst the last acts OF his life We NAV
recall his slusion to a certain fine old tree In
the East Capitol Park, which he rose TO be-
I Ihe, ana 70 say 1t ought to be spared in any
Ioduced a bill to compel the Lower Mary
land railroad to remove their track from tue
grounds OF the insane Asylum, and was pres
ent when some railway folks came to inquire
into his motive. When they were gone he said.
Corporations must be made to respect the
government property of Washington, which has
been recklessly conceded TO interests rich
enough to buy what they want elsewhere"
he SAID, also, in very earnest way that the
time was nearly due when every height over
looking the Potomac would be popuols. |
talked with him about a National University
and although he was little sensitive about the
fame and patronage of Harvard, he said he be.
heved that every intention of General Wash
lngton abont the federal city should be carried
ont, ana this was one of them. His act for the
removal OF the exposed statue of jefferson to
me HAIL OF Representatives, at the question OF
H. X. Brown, the sculptor, W as another instance
OF his regard for art and relics.
Mir. Sumner visited Washington when a very
young man, at the suggestion of Judge Story.
his preceptor. He rode on the outside Of a stage
from Boston TO Hartford, and crossed the state
OF Delaware by the old Frenchtown railroad
aid thence came down the bay to Baltimore.
where he took a stage-this was, | think, IN
ls34-although the railroad was then open 10
Washington. On the road he saw the first
slave which he knew to be such, and said
that he looked upon it with wonder and curl.
osity. He quartered at large boarding house
at the corner Of Pennsylvania avenue and Az
street, where he met DR.: Blake, of the Board OF
Public Works. When he came here to reside
he TOOK private lodgings and lived for a good
while On street, at the corner of 18th. Dur
ing Ihe war ne dined at G autieris and afterwards
at Welcker's restaurant, on the avenue His
short married life was spent on street, in the
square brick house next door 70 General But-
ler's corner. His favorite ride in summer after
the adjournment of Congress, was out 14th
street and out Rock creek, the valley of which
he always expressed desire to see public
reservation. Probably a statue will be reared
IN this city TO Mr.. Sumner by the colored PEG.
pie, or by his Boston friends, or better still, BY
act OF Congress. A good spot for such an object
might be within the railing OF Lafayette park
inst ~
residence.
Major Ben: Perley Poore has enjoyed tn
honor OF Mr.. Summers confidential society, JUS
as his brother. in-law, Charles Lanman, shared
the society OF Daniel Webster. These two great
men cover siXty.two years of public life il
washington, as Mr.. Webster came here In 1872,
tons, until MIR. Sumner took his place Ian
mans Private Life OF Webster is an amiabl.
and exquisite description of the tfuest and best
OF Webster's bours-those spent fishing and
rambling over his farms Poore might dc q
COCO service to himself and Massachusetts, by
relating his conversations with Charles Sum
ner.
websfer's Home.
It is in order at this time TO speak of webster,s
old home, which in its day was thought to be a
fne affair indeed. He occupied it sixteen
years,-next door to the Unitarian Church. in
he tower OF which was placed the first bell
stories high and double. Half Of it has been
since cut on and made into law Offices, with a
separate entrance extending from the gable
Wall. The law rooms were Mr.. Webster's libra
~, very large and commodious, and a door
OF glass and sash opened into his parlor
which was small, but tasteful, with two mantle
pieces on one OF which stands his bust at the pres
ent time. In the rear of the parior is the large
dining room, q rather awkward apsrtment
win sort OF wooden colonnade built across it te
hide an angle, where the plate and buttery were
kept. A beautiful garden, containing a foun
tain, is seen from the dining-room windows
This property belonged TO the estate Of John
son HELEN. who left ii to his daughter Mrs III
G.. FAINT. 1t is to be remodeled this spring and
caiied "ihe webster Law Building"
Items.
Msjor Poore lie said to possess a miniature, or
silho uette, or something reliable of the Inca
ments of Pierre L'Enfant, engineer of Wash
inetoD.
ID. K. Brown, the sculptor, is stopping with
j. Z. Mcguire. Preston Powers, son OF Hiram
Powers, has been guest of Mrs. Hallet Kill
oourn, whom he entertained in Florence. He
Is said to be modelling statue OF Mr.. Chase for
the state of Ohio.
A writer in the New York Tribune makes the
intelligent suggestion to place the new library
Of Congress in the Mall at the foot of Capito
Hill, where it need not be stunted to give the
Capitol its due advantage.
A Torn Love Letter,
Six years, my wife, you have worn nv name,
And still we are wooers and lovers no less-
Our feuds and fondnesses just the same;
"eoh VI apsence is yet distress.
And while you are gone in that distant CITY
MY heart has sweet unquetness.
L hear, tonight, through your chamber door.
Inc babes complaint that 80 long you wait
ana my little girl who plays On the floor
Looks up at bed time disconsoate;
They miss the kiss of their pretty mother
a feeling wherein cooperate.
L tell them the days will soon 90 by.
When the sound of your voice will our chorus
start,
And shout, and laughter, and lullaby
Will mingle in tune by your beautiful art.
. think of the mothers unreturnipg,
And lift to the dear God thanks, my heart,
know Of one who will come no more
To the children who think, this cold, cold
night,
How she lies on the lonely Schuylkill's shore.
In the city OF dead that shines on the height;
And my poor old father waits the signsl
From God, to Join her in glory quite.
call to my mind that woful sun
when grown to manhood sought her knee,
And wept like child, as Oft had done,
In loves great hopeless agony:
The pure heart had lost by folly,