Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-23
"REMINISCENCES OF CHARLES sUu,
NERs

WRITTEN FOR TIE STAR. BY CHARLES II. BRAINARp.
purng my long acquaintance with Mr.. Sum-
ner never saw him angry but once and this
was when, from a sense of duty and with some
reluctance. informed him that / had heard a
disparagng remark concerning him which I was
unable TO contradict, being ignorant of the cir
cumstances TO which it alluded, although from
nv knowledge OF his character believed it to
be utterly without any foundation In fact
On the day previous. while conversing at the
dinner table of my boarding house with the
Hon. James A. Pearce a Senator from MARYLAND
and STAKEHOLDER who cherished no very kind
feelings towards the anti-slayery ald free-soil
members of Congress. he casually remarked
that Mr. Sumner lacked that nice sense of honor
and deiicacy of feeling which should characterize
man of his extensive requirements and high
social and public position. inasmuch as after
severely critcsing of the official acts of the
Hon. Robert G.. Winthrop. he had accepted an
invitation to dine with him in Washington.
When Mr.. sumner heard this statement he
rose to his feet and, drawing himself up to his
fGii height. with great emphasis pronounced it
q faiSehoOdi For q moment his face was pale
with anger and excitement. and his giant frame
literally trembied with the violence of his emo
tons In few moments. his anger having
somewhat subsidized he proceeded to tell me
that some years before. while visiting Washing
ton in company with Mr.. Prescott the historian.
and some other literary friends. whose names /
have forgotten. the whole party were invited to
dine with Mr. Winthrop. then a Representative
In Congress from Massachusetts between whom
and Mr. Sumner the most friendly relations
existed, and that the invitation was gladly
accepted.
THE UNPLEiSANTNESS BETWEEN SUMNER AND
WINTHROP.
Soon after the beginning of the controversy
between the United States and Mexico concern
ing the boundary line between the two countries
and the resistance of Mexico to the encroaeh-
ments of United States troops on her territory a
war against that country was declared by an
act of Congress, Mr.. Winthrop being one of the
northern representatives who voted in favor of
its passage. As the war thus declared was
generally considered one of aggression on the
part OF our Government. and its sole object the
acquisition of territory for the extension of
Slavery Mr.. WinthrOp's vote almost univer-
sally condemned i'm Massachusetts and no one
more deeply regretted it than did Mr.. Sumner
who addressed to Mr. Winthrop an open letter
under date of October %, 1915 i'm which he
criticized his action in strong language which
gave him great offence. and from that time their
social relations ceased to exist.
SENATOR PEARCE's UNFORTUNATE MISTAKE
Having thus disposed of the story which had
aroused his anger Mr.. Sumner declared his de-
termination to call at once upon It's author and
deny the truth of it to his face; but. at my earn
est request and on my promise to see him my
self, and explain the whole matter. he renewed
his seat and took my leave. On reaching my
lodgings there met my fellow bOarder. the Hon
Justin 5. Morrill,. of Vermont. who was present
when the offensive statement was made. and
therefore gave him an account of my interview
with Mr.. Sumner and proposed to call at once
upon Mr. Pearce. who occupied an adjoining
room; and make the promised explanations, but
temper of the Maryland Senator. kindly
proposed to see him in my stead and cor
rect the erroneous impression under which
he labored when he made the statement which
was so unjust to Mr.. Sumner. L. therefore
gladly left the whole matter to the discretion
of Mr.. Morrill, and afterward had the satisfac-
ton OF learning from him that his interview
with MIR. Pearce resulted in that gentleman's ac-
of his unfortunate mistake. and
an expression of his intention to apologize TO
Mr. sumner for the injustice he had uninten-
tionally done him. Two days afterward Mr.
Sumner and Mr. Pearce were seen standing
together In the Senate chamber and earnestly
engaged in what was evidently pleasant con-
versation. and they were thencefOrth on terms
OF friendly intercourse. though differing widely
on many of the great political questions then
agitatlng the country.
ONCE WHEN SUMNER LAUGHED
Mr.. Sumner can hardly be said to have been
gifted with very keen perception of humOr, as
ne rarely uttered what might be considered
joke, or bon mot yet there were times when
he seemed to take an interest in lighter topics
than were connected with politics. literature,
and art. and would extract amusement from
the newspapers which were brought to him by
every mail.
entered his room in Washington quite early
one morning and found him engaged in reading
the New York HtrCld over which he was enjOy-
Ing hearty laugh. the cause of his merriment
Is he informed NE, being the peculiar phraseol-
Ogy used in long description of prize fight
between Heenan and Sayres. which had lust
taken place i'm England He read aloud for nv
entertainment several paragraphs from the re-
port, commenting as he read. and laughing at
the end Of each sentence, until in the excess of
Ms merriment his eyes were moist with tears
HOW HE SAT FOR HIS PORTRAIT
In the early part of the year 1861 he was in
vited by Thaddeus Hyatt one of his most de-
voted friends, to sit for crayon portrait to
Thomas NJ. Johnston. young and highly gifted
artist Of Boston He cheerfully consented to
Git, and arrangements were accordingly made
for the sittings, which were given at his house
In Hancock street. When the picture was fin
1shed called at the studio of the artist to see it,
and was pleased to find it an excellent likeness.
and highly artistic drawing. although as Mr.
Johnston informed me. it had been made under
somewhat unfayOrable conditions. Mr. Sumner
not being what artists would call good sitter
According to Mr.. JohnstOns statement he would
take his seat when everything was ready for
sitting and for a few minutes give the artist his
undivided attention, and carefully retain the
position which he had been requested to take
when. suddenly becoming distracted he would
leave the char, and going to his library in an
room would take therefrom a book
with which he would quickly return. and. re-
Stunning his seat. begin to read and i'm a few
minutes become so completely absorbed in study
that the artist and the drawing on which he was
engaged. seemed to be temporarily forgotten
word from Mr.. Johnston. however would re-
call his attention, and for a few minutes his
reading would be suspended. but throughout
the entire sittings, which occupied the early
part OF several successive days so strong was
the attraction of the book which he held i'm his
hands at each sitting. that it seemed a difficult
matter for him to remain long in desired posi-
ton.
This eccentricity Of Mr.. Sumner was source
OF amusement to Mr. Johnston, who Iaughinelv
related his experiences with his distinguished
sitter.
SUMNER AND PHILLIPS IN THE SAME STUDIO |
Soon after the portrait of Mr. Sumner was
finished gave Mr.. Johnston commission for a
similar portrait of Wendell Phillips, the sittings
Tor which were made at the studio of the artist