St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-11-23
TALK.

concerning the wife of Charles Sumner,
wherein she is styled the Widow Mason"
She never was the Widow Mason, but she
was the Willow Hooper, the sturdy aud mon
eyed Samuel Hoopcr's dsughter-in-law. aud
gossip said she forfeited handsome fortune
10 become Mrs. Charles Sumner The same
sapient article tells us that Mrs Mason"
did not belong to the circle OF Boston society
To which Mr.. Sumner had the eltree.
This Is true TO the extent that In what
Boston formerly regarded as its best society
Mr. Sumner had no footing whatever, more,
however. on account of his anti-slavery prin-
ciples than from the hum BILE origin of his
family. Even after be had proud national
and European recognition, Beacon street
heading Boston culture had no welcome-no
atoning social graeionsness for Deputy
Sheriff Summers grand and towering son,
who presumed to have principles decidedly
hostile to the sristOeratic set debating the
social laws Of the commonwealth chief city.
Therefore when the widow Alice Hooper mar
ried Sumner it was regarded rather in the
light Of msSqLidios by the solemn snobs in
that guarded circle Of Boston high
lie. True he had tolerahly good position
in Washington, and elsewhere where social
opinions and eminence were fully as valu-
able, but as there must be some drawback in
every lot, why Charles Su.;ner was made to
feel TO the day OF his death that he really
must not hope for Boston To let up on him.
II never was very squsamish about snub5ing
him. It's disfavor affected other quar-
iers. Wendell Phillips is authority for one
memorable exhibition OF it. When the
Prince OF Wales with his suite, visited Har-
ward college, Charles Sumner was Of the
party TO Cam bridge. Presently the company
were to be seated. After the Englshmen
were given places on the platform, President
FELTON, busies himself in summOning
ex- presidents, professors, governors and ex-
governors To chairs near them. Sumner aud
ex-President Quincy were standing chatting
toy Their on the flor FELTON, aud Sumner
had been intimates OF old. You may read
of them, interpOlates Phillips, in Maeready's
book eating oysters with the player at mid
night, after the performance. After Sumner
joined the anIi-slavery party FELTON, never
spoke 10 him FOR years. On this occasion
President FELTON, approaches Quincy, invites
aud conducts him TO the platform without
noticing Sumner, who at the moment stood
talking with the venerable ex-president Eli
qurtte prescribes that on all formal occasions
in a state the first person in dignity is the
governor, next to him came the federal SEN
atOrs OF the state.
Everybody in this instance is seated
while the second digDitary Of the
81 l. n.FN
among the seated thousands-the most con-
spicuous example OF social spite in the history
Of Massachusetts,.
Here was a man who had the most
thorough acquaintance with the varied bril-
liant phases of English life, more than has
ever fallen TO the lot of any American, and
in Confederation let any curious reader turn
TO the Memoir and Letters Of Sumner, by
Edward L. Pierce, and see what information
is given concerning the most distinguished
European society, which in range, intimacy
and minuteness furnish more distinguished
personal "reminiscences than the letters and
notebooks of Macaulsy, James Scarlett,
Lord Abinger and Harriet Martin eau put
together.
This was the man identified in
his own land with every high
and noble cause who was cut by the snobo-
crazy of his native city, and cozened by a
vulgar trickster in power, who wounds him
sorest in displacing his valued friend and
appointee, Mr.. Motley.
AS If 10 ill the measure OF all bitter exper-
fence, the wayward indefensible conduct Of
the woman who married him was the deep
est misery and humiliation he was ordained
10 Dear.
Notwithstanding his immense egotism,
his apparent GOODNESS and exelusiveness of
nature, he was warmhearted and affectionate
and always generous in his estimate Of
others.
1t was excessively said OF him, 'There
might be warm and excited differences;
there might even be the form Of alienation /:
but the living stream ran quick below, aud
the ice was Of a night the stream Of eter-
nifty"
He made a signal mistake in marrying.
He was never intended for dawdling at re-
ceptions, and blowing society chaff about
with the gay crowds whose ambition It is.
Neither was he constituted TO be the escort
of a woman who was never ready to 90
home ''until she had danced her list down.
and ii was not natural that he should be
very patient, when she chose an attending
cavalier whp was always ready 10 stay through
all the hours oI my Iady's pleasure. When
the scandal ended in the recall OF the young
Englishman from his diplomatic duty in
WashingtOn-then Mrs. Sumner wanted to
90 home also, to her notwithstanding
sturdy and moneyed Samuel Hooper, in
Boston. Irate and divorceful, she
might have been more patient could
she have seen relieving death
standing with "petridc mace" close to the
naughty aud obstinate obstacle Of her Wash
ington triumphs.
Poor world of misunderstanding, strife
and disappointment, with all your best tri-
butes, too, wrested from the slow-relaxing
grasp OF dissent, what sorrowful measure of
humiliation you mingled with success and
victory for Charles Sumner.
But while the country lasts he will never
lack friends, defenders and enthusiasts
The magnificent poem of John G. Whittier
voices the eulogium, the affection and la
ment OF the finest hearts over Charles Sum
ner dead-with such an unsullied record be-
hind him as makes even Boston Snobocracy
proud Of him now even If he was a deputy
shrriff's son, and fearless Free Soil cham
pion.
ALL AROUND THE GLOBE.
A IL q L