Saint Mary's beacon., 1877-11-16
Some Characteristic An Anecdotes. :, i.,.

Some Characteristic Anecdotes.
Mr.. Edward h Pierce, Of fBostoa, has
Just published : most interesfinR s o.
ume ofme moiss nd letters Of ckasles
Sumner. who, whatever the opinion as
to his political career, must be regarded
Intellectually as a prominent figure in
the history Of his country for all time
70 come. IN one Of The lettefsI il il
said: "He had no interest in games
and athletic sports; never, so far as I
know, fshed. .aS shot, or rowcd; had 10
fancy FOR dogs and horses; and, in a
word, was without ill those tastes which
pre- almost universal yi6h ,mSe Of ~
age. As for dancing, think be never
danced step in his life. OF all men I
ever knew at his age, he was the least
susceptible to the charms Of women.
Men he liked best, and with them he
preferred to talk. 1t was in vain for
the lovelIest and liveliest girl TO seek to
absorb his attention. He would at once
desert the most blooming beauty to talk
to the plainest of men. This was a con-
slant source of amusement to US, and
we used to lay wagers with the pretty
girls, that. with all their art, they could
not keep him at their side a quarter Of
an hour. Nor do think we eser lost
one Of these bets.
Il remember particularly one dinner
at my fathers house, when it fell to his
lot to take out a charming woman, so
handsome and full OF esprit, thai any
one at the table might well have en-
We'd him his position. She had de-
termined to hold him captive and win
her bet against US. But her efforts were
all in vain. Unfortunately on his other
side was dry old sayant, packed with
information: and within fve minutes
Sumner had completely turned his back
on his fair companion, and engaged in a
discussion with the other, which lasted
the whole dinner. We all laughed.
She cast up her eyes dcprecatingly, ac-
knowledged herself sanqui>hed, and
paid her bet. Meantime, Sumner was
wholly unconscious OF the Jest of the
laughter. He had what he wanted
sensible mems talk. He had mined
the Savant, as he had mined every one
he met, IN search of ore, and was thor
oughly pleased with what he GOT
An interesting apecdo,e is that relat-
ing 10 Summers visit TO Walter Savage
Landor, as told by Sumner:
''Landor's conversation was not va
ried, but it was animated and energetic
in the extreme. We crossed each other
several times; be called Napoleon the
weakest. littlcst man in history: where
as, YOU know my opinion to the contra
ry. iN considers Shakespeare and Wash
ington the two greatest men that ever
lived, and Cromwell one of the great
est sovereigns. Conversation turned
upon Washington, and was asked why
he was still suffered to rest in the hum
bic tomb at Mount Vernon.
Il then mentioned the resolution of
Congress to remove his body to the
Capitol, and the refusal to allow it to be
done on the part OF his legal represent
tatives. In making this statement |
spoke of the ashes of Washington, say
ing that his ashcs still repoScd at Mount
Vernon Landor at once broke upon
me, with something like frrccnc<s ::
why wiz YOU. Mr.. Sumner, who speak
with such force and correctness, employ
word. which, in the present connec-
ton, Is not English: Washinston's ;
body was never burnt: there are no
ashes-say, rather, remains Itell this
story. compliment and all, Just as j. oc-
CURED, that you may better understand
this eccentric man.
The account of his visit to the family
seat of Lord Brougham j. somew hat
amusing: Yesterday | passed at the
rectory of the venerable Archdeacon
Scotia friend of Horne Tooke and
Parr-and, on his invitation and in his
clerical company, disguised in old
clothes loaned tor the occasion, and
weighed down by heavy shoes, went
on the felis and moors in his neighbor-
hood to shoot grouse and partridges.
Our dog started several coveys; but NV
gun missed as also did that OF the dig
ni.ary OF the church, and I conte nted
myself with peppering to death poor
hare! ! am no Nimrod, as YOU well
know, though my parson is, aud can
we'll bear the modification of an empty
game bag IN such company.
While We were on the moors il
rained constantly. and the shower has
been descending all day. In this rain.
however, l left the archdeacon this
morning, and, mounted on his horse.
and with his groom in attendance Inv
baggage being previously sent on }, spat-
tered over the moors and valleys of
Northumberland, then took an open
gig, and at three o'clock drove into the
court-yard-a'l surrounded bv battle
mcnts-of Brougham Hall. / was
thoroughly wet and covered with mud.
''On my mentioning my situation to
his lordship, who kindly received me
in the hall. he himself at once showed
me my bedroom, where Ienjoyed the
comfort of complete change of dress.
Aitcr | came down stairs he left me i'm
the library and went about writing let
tiers. which were 10 leave bv the mail
before ,d.nner. lie wrote more than the
number which he could frank-that is,
tcu--snd at 6 o clock was an the libra
~ dressed for dinner. The only per.
son besides myself was an old familiar
friend, clergyman (who brought witt,
him as present to the ex-Chancellor
a bottle Of rum upwards OF fftv wears
old), though hord Chief Justice Tindal
and Lord Monerief ithe latter the gre at
judge aud lawyer were expected.
The truly venerable and interesting