Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-02-13
Some New Books,

Memoir and Letters of Charles Sumner: by
Edward J.. Pierce. Boston: Roberts Brothers
ltOr sale by Robert Beal.l This memoir
is written in accordance with an article
IN Mr.. Summers will. :bequeathing to Henry
w. LOngfellOw, Francis V. Balch, and Edward
l.. Pierce all his papers, manuscripts and let
ter books: with power to destroy them, to de
post them in some public library or to make
extracts from them for publication. They fel
into good hands, as this publication proves
The biography is written with discrimination
and gives full estimate of Sumner without
being in any degree dauby. Sumner as a col :
lege student was good classical scholar but
entlrely tailed in mathematics, aud this de-
prived him of any chance of taking hi gh rank
in his class. On commencing his law Studies
In Boston he, in the winter of 1884, made
visit to Washington. Marshall, was then Chief
S4S1lce SoSn end OF the supreme Court Webster Cal
the Senate. Young lawyers then sought as
pilgrims this fount of learning and authori-
n.y." At washington, the biographer says, he
house of Mrs. Eliza Peyton, at the corner of
pennsylvania avenue and AZ street. Among
her guests were several members of Congress
and other persons of distinction most worthy
OF note among them was DR.. Francis Lieber.
between whom and Sumner long intimacy
now began Mrs. Peyton recalls the tall youth
IrOm Boston sitting with the guests who gath
ered cred q at II the fireside in the large parlor. DR..
John B. Blake, fellOw-bOarder, still living in
washington, remembers him as modest and
delerential, attracting attention by his re-
ence, and receiving from the judges unusual
ciylllfleS:. In a letter written by Sumner on
this visit he refers, as follows, to some of the
MI. r. S. Key (author of the Star Spangled
Banner) is now speaking i'm the Supreme
court fa tE Mhere write these lines. The case be-
Amos Binney and the Chesapeake Canal.
key, Walter Jones, and Webster on one side.
ana Coke and Swami on the other. Key has
no not prepared himself, and now speaks from
his preparation on the trial below, relying upon
a qulckness and facility of language rather
than upon research. Walter JOneS,-a man of
acknowledged powers in the law. unSur-
country,--is in the same plight. He is now
coming ms papers and maturing his points,
a labor which, of course, he should have gone
And our Webster fills UP the remiss triumvi-
rate. He, like Jones, is doing the labor in
court which he should have done out of court.
In lact pontlcs have swamped his whole time
After hearing Clay speak, Sumner wrote:
Ills his eloquence was splendid and thrilling.
to surrender himself entirely to the guidance
OF his feelings. There was not one there whose
blood did not flow quickly and pulse throb
quickly as he listened. His language, without
being choice, is strong; but it is his manner,
or what DemOsthenes called action, action
ACTON, II On which makes him 50 powerful. ~
VI 1CalnOun he wrote: He is no orator, Very
rugged in his language, unstuded in style,
marching directly to the main points of his
subject without stopping for parley or intro
In view Of his succeeding extended career
In public life here it is little curious to find
Summer writing on this visit i'm 1884 81 shall
prOpaDly never come to Washington again.
have little or no desire ever to come again in
any capacity. Nothing that have ever seen of
p0iitlcS has made me look upon them with any
feeling other than loathing The more 1 see
OF them the more l love law which [ feel will
give me an honorable livelihood" On being
aGmitted to practice at the bar, however,
While succeeding as well as the average of
young lawyers he did not obtain the business
which with his laboriOus studies and many
friends he had expected. According to tradf-
ton, he weighted his arguments with learning
where only a skillful handling of testimony
would have been most effective; and was not
gifted with the quickness of perception which
Is as essential in the courtroom as in the field.
DE was better fitted for the exposition of the
principles OF law; and in this he was soon en-
26) ne visited Europe to study "institutioSs
and laws, courts and parliaments.'
sumner was We'll received abroad i'm the
pest society, his genuineness and enthnSjasm
charming all circles. shelters written home
70 Irlends descriptive of the people, he met
form thoroughly interesting feature of the
nemoir; Inc biography is continued from
SSi9 SuMnsrS return from Europe down to July 4
iS4S the date of his memorable oration on
Inc True Grandeur of NatiOnsn which is
me hfst production included i'm the edition of
ms works, as revised by himself and marks
the beginning Of his public career.