The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-04-17
ARISTIDES
SHEHEE ERGTs
SOME INTERESTING POINTS ABOUT HIS
HABITS AND CHARACTER.

l. MI. Sumner has been frequently in
the Senate this winter. He was very
much excited in regard to the nominal
ton OF Simmons as collector OF Boston,
which he regarded as being mainly in
spired by the presidents personal hos
Utility to him (Sumner). The president
he considered as implacable. He had,
on his part, in Difference to the opinions
of his Massachusetts friends, who felt
differently from himself about General
Grant, refrained for a long time from
assailing himlin his conversation but
he had been Informed Che said) that the
president had, on passing near his house,
remarked: "There is a man who spends
his whole time in denouncing met
The nomination of Simmons was con-
firmed in spite of Mr.. Summers protest,
but, for this disappointment, he was
in part consOled by the action of the
Massachusetts Legislature resembling
their resolutions Of censure upon his
course for proposing to strike from the
army flags the references to the late
civil war.
Whatever the proximate cause of Mr..
Summers death may be, it is certain
that the attack of MI. Brooks upon him
had nothing to do with it. 1t is simply
the familiar Story of hearty and full
living, V habits of study and a
sedentry life, without a particle of tx
eToiso. IN the summer season Mr. sun
ner occasionally rode in q carriage, but
never walked, or rode on horseback,
nor did he take any outdoor exercise.
He went to the capitol in a street car
and returned the san way. The Won
der is that, with such habits, he sur
vived as long as he did, but, as he once
stated to an old friend, he had a perfect
digestion and physical organization.
There can be no doubt that his death
was accelerated by the wounded feeling
and disappointment IN finding himself
repudiated and denounced by his own
party, after helping to build it up, and
also by negroes, and that even in Massa-
chusetts the president, for whom he had
q hearty contempt, was stronger than
Mr.. Summer was a close and constant
student. Though d capital off hand
debater, he usually prepared his speech
es with the greatest care and pains.
His life was divided between his library
and the senate chamber. He never
went to amusements or lectures, or to
parties, levees OIL receptions. Some
times, but very rarely, he went out to
dinner. He had a number of friends
VINO utUkdulhily NlStbfu MIN, anu 10
these as we'll as strangers he was es-
pecially courteous and hospitable, care
fully avoiding anything in uttering his
own political views which might give
0ttense., aAjtt$f 30 sIrt&
Among his special personal friends
were Longfeellow, Whittier, Wendell
Phillips, Carl SEIZURE, Senator Fenton,
Marquis de C%hambrun, MI. Boutwell,,
Mr.. Hooper, and most of the Massacllu-
sets delegation. Ben Butler being a
notable exception. Recent political
events had severed Mr.. Summers friend
ship with many prominent representa-
tives in congress;S and on the other
hand, cordial relations had grown up
with a number of such democratic sena-
tors as Thurman, Bayard, Casserly,
Stockton and others. For Mr.. ,Rayard
he frequently expressed the w:rmest
admiration to gentlemen Of the press.
Nh. Sumner was unusually accessible,
courteous and communicative, giving
his own views with the utmost frank
ness. No man was more keenly solicit
tous to know all important political
events in progress. Mr.. Sumner was con-
nected with no church, andifhe had any
special religious views he was never
heard to express them.
.HH