The New York herald., 1877-11-03


IN shakespeare, from whom he perpetually quot
Ing In conversation aud letters. No student Of
class. whom he Ion college. had read widely. His
memory, both Of thought aud language, was remark
able; aud BIO initiated with authors style He
allowed himself bot little recreation much prcerring
his room and his books. He took part IN tho
sports Of the Delta Cards and chess hc played, but
not often. Unlike students with his opportuhi-
ties hc did not 90 into society He seldom took walks
during term tims except on Saturday 10 visit the
family In Boston
Sumner competed for the Dowdoin prlzc In his
senior year. the subject being rhe Present Character
Of the inhabitants OF Now England, Resulting IRON
the Civil Literary and Religious Institutions OF tho
First Settlers" In Juno he sent IN his dissertation,
signed "A Son OF New Engand;' and, In August, re-
cevcd the second prize Of $50 Ho invested his prizo
money In books, among which Byrons Poems,
tho "Piigrm's progress," Burton's .'Anatomy OF
Melancholy" Haxiitts '.Seloct British Poetg" and
Harvcy's Shakespeare. I" The last Two wcrc kept
during life on his dosk tabIo, ready for use and
the Shakespeare was found open on the day Of his
death. a. ho had lott Il. with his marx between tho
leaves AT the Third Part Of Horny W., pages 4Ad AL
HIS pencil had noted tho possage-- g aKt ~
Would q we're assdi as 4 t;oa': good VIII worsso:
srkxER As a LAW STUDENT
Tho year alter leaving college passed ut homo.
He was uncertain what path Of life TO pursue his asso-
clations however. drawing nim to tho law But while
posponing tho choice Of profession no was not idle.
He at halpast avc In tho morning, and retired
At midoght or lascr spending hts time In reading the
classics. Ho oven plunged into mathematcs, and
conquered his old enemies, geometry aud algebrs.
Soon aitsr leaving college no became Interested In the
anti. Masonic movement tnen A. It's height
At tho ago Of twenty Sumner joncd tho law school
OF Harvard University, whore Judge story and John
H. Ashmun were professors He occupied room No.
10 Divinuy Hall, but afterward. being mado librarian
OF tho college. he occupied a dormitory room No.
Dane Hall sumner had now attained the full height
Of his manhood, six foot and two tnchoa Hc was tall
and gaunt, Weighing only lao pounds His hair was
dark brown; his oyes nazol and in1ained by
excessive use; his face sharp-teatured; his
tooth cleaning with whteness; his complexion
dark and NOS clcar bis visage and person not
attractive to The eye, and tar unlike his presence In
later lie, when, with full proportions and classic ca
turcs he arrested attention In tho Senate and tho
street, He never disabed by illnoss and seemed
exempt from tho physical limitations which besct
others denying himself the exercise and sleep which
nature commands Hc was swift on his fcct, sriding
from Boston 10 Cambridge at the pace Of nearly five
miles an hour. and putting out OF breath any COM
panion who had been unlucky enough to undertake
sonoroua HIS countcnance was lighted up With
expression, and his genial smile won friends
upon an Introduction. His spirits were buoyant
IN company and MS laugh was loud and hearty. Al
ways hard student One attraction proved stronger
at ihis timo with sumner than iils books Miss
Frances A. Kcmbe, the daughter oil Charles KcmblC,
the Eoglsn actor and the niece o. mrs: sauons came
after her debut ut Covcnt Garden the character OF
Juliet she was then but lwcnty-ono years old, and
her youth added TO the fascination vi her brilliant
talents Wherever she played hor acting was greatly
nj dnirsd, aud by no class 80 much as by students.
After fulfilling engagements In New York and other
cities she mado her nrst appearance Boston in Apri
1881 Sumner was An enthusiast In hts dovoton,
walking again aud agau city during her engage.
ment ut the fremont Theatre, witnessing her acting
with intense admiration, and dcghtiDg 70 talk or her
with his trends. he did not know her personally at
this tmc but greatly enjoyed her society years
afterward, during q visit 10 Berkshire county.
Professor William Russell. OF Cornell University,
who saw much OF sumner at this timc says:-'I
rather think, however thai owed great deal Of The
kindncss with which he treated mo TO tho fact tFas
personally acquainted though very slightly with
sFanny kcmbie,' we boys used TO Call her. Ho was,
much any OF us infatuated by hcr acting, aud
remember his one DAY stopping me IN tho street aud
drawing out OF the tnoroughfarc, and saying,
Come Russell, tell mo something about Fanny KEN.
ble,' with all the interest OF . lover =
While at the law school sumner wrote letter to
classuate, In which he says-sLale to bed and carly
70 rise. and iuli employ mont whilo up, what
trying ~ bind mysc 70. The ldtor pss uol,sptas am
coveting. had rather be u toad and ivo upon a dun
gcon's vspor than OF those Jumps OF flesh
cnristened lawyers. anu who know only wiring
Qubblcs und ObScurtteS that Justice when clsO
thoy never could reach VINO have Idea Of law
beyond its letter. OF literature boyon their torn
reports ana stalutcs II am u lawyer, 1 wish 10 90
who can dwel upon tho vast heaps OF law matter,
tho tempo o which tho majesty OF right has taken
It's abode; who Will aim, boyond the letter, ut
tie sp,riI-he broad spirit or the law-and who wtu
bring TO his AID liberal and cultivated miod II not
this honest AmbltIonf II not, roprove mo tor u
lawyer Is oi the best worst Of mon. according
hc shapes his course He may brood strife, and he
may settle dissensIons OF years."
Having ansued his studies Al Cambridge sn Decem-
ber, 1883, he entered the law oiice o Benjamin Rand,
Court street, Boston, on tho eth OF January. HIS
sIndics with Mr. Rand were so0n interrupted Dy .
journey to Washington aud an absonce from the occ
IRON February IL 10 April 4, whcro ho attended tho
sessions of tho supreme Court, with Marshall as
Chef Justice.
RARLY PROFESSIONAL
Summers nrst u deieuco Of QUO Waylen, In
dictsd the municipal Court under statute Tor send
ing challenge 10 ono Acssandro Gherardi. Ia his
defence he was associated with George Hlard, who
alterward became his partner, ana under the hrn
name vi Hiiard Sumner, occupied Two rooms on the
second door 0i tho Brooks Building. the sio oi tho
present Sears Building. sumner occupied the room
next 70 tho hail. whicL kept long he remained
y, the Bar In .hc early part Of 1887 strong ir'ond-
W. Longieow, George s. Hiard, Henry L. cleveland
and sumner They called themselves tho "Five vi
Cuba" They were near 70 each other In ase-Long-
ieiow being ihirty years, goiton twentynino, Haru
and Cleveland twonty-eigni and sumner twenty-six.
LErrERs pRoM KuRoPK
In December 1887, at Lne age oi twopty-six years,
sumner carried out tho dream VI his liis by making
trip TO Europe. He WAS PROVIDED with number OF
him footing among the best people, and which was
extsnded Wy h,s personal attractonG
HIS reception by tho great men OF England, who
took him ut once " tncr hearts and homes, was
markabe aud hls scarcely ever beeu equaiicd. Whio
Ia PARIS he spent most ot his tmo acquiring tho
language, winch ho could rcad well enough but could
not speak or Understand when spoken. For tins pur
pose ho visited the theatres aud spoke with every
body who would boar with him, and ia three months
became 90 perfect that he acted rs an Interpreter
court. Gong one night 10 The opera ho heard a
markabie performance. Hc says:--"Notwitb standing
u was Sunday went WIN some trends 10 tho Italian
opcru. lnc opera for the night was .Doa G,ovanui,'
OF the most famous " MOI the 80, Of tue pro-
ductions OF Mozart. The performers were the famous
Italians, who now stand The highest III The musical
world-signort RUBIN (Don oitaviob Tamburni
tDoo GiovannD, Labiachs tLcporeiiol the latter
with the most powerful bass voice ever heard; Nine.
Gris donna Annaj, and Anne. PcrsiAni ,zerlina).
tue latter debututo of tho season. and 70 my taste
equal " Gris herself ~ many points, though not 10
hSrccness and power. have no knowledge Of music,
and but htle scarcely any car for ~ but fsit The
Singular power Of these performers. Their voices,
atuned 10 such various and subtle rmonos, entered
the chambers Of my nearL"
SOCIAL CAREER IN ExGLASn .
Sumner arrived In London on tue evening OF Mny
81 1885, whore hc remained ten months. He came