Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-02-24
Why They Call Him Sunset Cox.

"Why,' asks correspondent, do you
speak OF Congressman Cox as Sunset.
Cox" The name was given to SAM
uel Sullivan Cox years ago, and will
probably stick; for Cox is always ri
sing. Aside from bis Democratic pro-
clivities, he is genial, pleasant main.
He was born at GAINESVILLE, Ohio, was
graduated at Brown University, ran
through the Cambridge Law School,
finished his studies in Cincinnati, mar
ried wealthy wife from the heart of
Muskingum county, Ohio, did Europe
in four months and wrote book, went
to Peru as Secretary'of Legation, serY-
ed several terms IN Congress from
Ohio, removed to New York City, and
was picked up by the Democrats after
short probation, and was again sent
to Congress. tie was an editor for a
short time, and May l9, 1853, he pub
lished in the Ohio Statesman the fol-
lowing gorgeous article, to which he
owes his nickDame:
A GREAT OLD SUNSET.
What stormful sunset was that of
last night! How glorious the storm,
and how splendid the setting of the
sun! We do not remember ever to
have seen the like on our round globe.
The scene opened in the west, with
golden inter-penetrating lHster, which
colored the foliage and Frightened ev-
cry object in its own rich dyes. The
cOlors grew deeper aud richer, until
the golden luster was transformed into
storm-cioud, full of finest lighting,
which leapel in dazzling zigzags all
round and over the city. The wind
arose with fury, the slender shrubs and
giant trees made ObtiSance to its ma
jesty. Some even snapped before its
force. The strawberry beds and grass
plots turned up their whites to see
Zephyrus march by. As the rain came,
and the pools formed, and the cutters
hurried away, thunder roared grandly,
and the fire-bells caught the excite
ment and rang With hearty chorus.
The South and the East received the
copious showers, and the West all at
once frightened up in a long, polished
belt OF azure, worthy of Sicilian sky.
presently cloud appeared in the
azure belt, in the form of castellated
city. 1t became more vivid, revealing
strange forms of peerless faBes and ala
baster temples, and glorious, rare and
grand in this mundane sphere. 1t re-
minds US of WOrdsworth's splendid
verse in his Excursion:
The appearance instantaneously disclosed
Was of mighty city, boldly say
A wilderness Of buildings, sinking far,
And self withdrawn into wondrous depth.
Far sinking into splendor without end,
But the city vanished only to give
place to another isle, where the most
beautiful forms of foliage appeared,
imaging paradise in the distant and
purified air. The sun, wearied of eIe-
commotion, sank behind the
green plains of the West. The ''great
eye of heaven" however, went not
down without dark brow hanging
over its departing light. The rich
flush of the unearthly light had passed
and the rain had ceased, when the sol
3mn church bells pealed, the laughter
Of children, loud and joyous after the
storm, is heard with the carol of birds,
while the forked and purple weapon
Of the skies still darted illumination
lroand the Startling College, trying to
'ival its angles and leap into its dark
windows. Candles are lighted. The
piano strikes up. We feel that it is
rood to have 'home-good to be on
he earth where such revelations of
beauty and power may be made. And
IS we cannot refrain from reminding
,ur readers of everything wonderful
n our city, we have begun and ended
'ur feeble etching of sunset which
omea so rarely that its glory should
70 committed to immortal type.