The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-03-24
SUMMERS WAYS.


HOW HE LIVED AND MovED-HIs HOME AND
TASTE.
A Washington journalist writes: Mr..
Summers habits have always been most
regular. Rising in the morning at about 8
o'clock, he took his breakfast at 8, in the
sitting room, situated on the parlor floor OF
his house, and then Immediately assembled
to his library, where he received all his
callers. These have, until within the past
two wears, been very numerous. AT III 80
O'Clock he left mis- house for the capitol, gen
orally walking on fine days, aud riding In
street car If the weather was unfavoraole.
HI was seldom absent from mis- desk in the
Senate ana as soon as that body adjourned
he returned to his home. At O'Clock he
dined. aud. though not goarmand, he was
still very fond OF good living, and hugely
enjoyed the company of a couple OF friends
at the table. Mr.. Sumner never mingled in
society, and his morbid dread of Doing intro
duced to ladies was one of his most notable
characteristics. Mr.. Sumner was exceed
| ingly economical, though not parsimonious,
his only great indulgence being the purchase
of his books. Though he inherited about
SlO0. 600 from his brother some years ago, he
never changed his style of living until his
marriage, in 1865. At the time OF his death
| he occupied house on the corner OF II street
and Mount Vernon avenue, which not only
was sumptuously furnished, but also con-
tanned a collection, outside of his valuable
/ library, of very rare engravings, statuettes,
casts, etc. 1t was with great pride that Mr..
Sumner showed these treasures to his visitors.
/ He sometimes expressed a wish to be the
possessor of horses and carriage, but would
| add: 81 cannot afford it; either must give
| mp buying books and keep carriage, or
| forego the carriage and keep myself posted
| in literature" He was a fine inguist,
| speaking French huently, and having a
thorough knowledge of the German. He
considered the literature in the latter LAD
| guage superior to that of any other, and
frequently compared Goethe to Shakespeare.
| Metaphysics were also among his tavorite
studies, and he spoke with admiration OF,
though he did not coincide with, Fichte, Kant,
the Able Renan, and others OF philosophical
drift. In the late Franco-German war Mr..
Sumner sided with the Germans. He had
great admiration for that nation, and though
he pitied the French, he exulted in their
defeat as one step toward the great millen-
mum. viz: An universal republic, and
equality all over the world. Mr..
Sumner seldom spoke extemporaneously,
but nearly always prepared his speeches with
great care-as, for instance, his celebrated
speech on San Domingo, which he revise d
four times before delivering. Any c.iti-
cisms or attacks on him by the press were
most keenly felt, and he very frequently
complained of the bitterness of some of the
newspaper articles. In him the journalists
have lost one of Lheir staunchest friends, his
doors were never closed to them. He con-
versed with the greatest willingness upon
any topic preached expressed his views
freely, and was always ready to give any in
formation required, If compatible with his
duty, and il not, he would make some
. polite excuse. Perhaps the following Incl
dent will illustrate: On the day that the
state department issued drafts of certain
treaty to the senators which wereto be treat
ed confidentially, a correspondent called
|, upon the senator at eleven o'clock tonight
with the modest request, "please to give me
the treaty" Mr.. Sumner looked at his Wis.,
, i:or and smilingly said: 81 believe am
the bigger man of the two, and you will GER
tainly have to lick me to obtainit it." Mr.. Sum-
ner was very taciturn upon religious ques-
. tons, but there is no doubt that, though
. belonging to no particular sect, he was a
, good christian. He was one of those, all too
! than in professions. He always dared to do
his duty, and that is a good religion for a
statesman.
> A friend of the late Senator Sumner once
, wrote to him announcing that ne had named
his offspring Charles Sumner, and this is
;; the answer he received.
: My DEAR-Don't make mistake. Never
name a child after a living man. This is
the counsel give always, and most sincere
: ly. Who knows that may not fail?' i, too,
D may grow faint or may turn aside to false
gods. lhOpe not. But this Is one OF the
D mysteries of the future. Therefore, name
your boy some good christian name-i.
! may be Charles il you will, as that is gene
: raj, but do not csmpel him to bear all bis
days label which he may dislike. once
met a strong anti slavery youth who bore
D the name of Martin Van Buren,. He was
J born while New York sat in the presiden
: tial chair. and his father named him after
J the chief of the land. But the youth did
: not find the sentiments of the late Mr.. V. b
g suca as he wished to be associated with.
: Ever yours, CHARLES SUMNER.