St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-17
BANCROFT THE HISTORIAN

Graphic Description Of This Notable Nan.
The Washington correspondent oftbe New
York World furnishes Almost readable sketch
OF George Bancroft the historian, who is one
of the most nOtieesAle figures in Washington
society.
The remarkable preservation of his vigor
at the advanced age OF eighty-four wears. is
what makes him most interesting n, e NOT
the most charming eonversationalist in the
world. He fairly roars as he talks. He an
pears always as if he were addressing some
one dozen yards away. He shouts several
sentences at friend in this high kew and
then without waiting or listening TO anv one
else he moves to address some one else. He
calls as much as the most active society
young man. He darts in and out of the
leading houses of the town with light skip
that is almost offensive in its exuberant
/ agility. This veteran still has slim erect
figure. His legs are straight. There is no
weakness there. He holds himself together
with all that goes to make good military
set-up. He is especially agile in the presence
OF ladies, and under the inspiring glance of
a lovely society bud the veteran curvets,
SHES and skips with the lightsome grace of
some Of the thoroughbreds he has been so
fond of riding in the past.
| This is a picture of him as saw him the
other day: He sat in low, easy pony phac-
ton drawn by stout BLACK horse, wearing
plain, unornamented harness. just back
/ OF him in the rumble sat his favOrite colored
groom, who held the reius over the historians
left shoulder. The old man wore dark
blue untrimmed Prussian officers cap pulled
well down upon his cleaning eyes, looking
out through huge pair of round heavily
! gold mounted glasses resting upon a real
hawk nose. snowy white silky mass OF
moustache and beard brought out his high
fresh color, and stood out in strong contrast
with the dull black of his heavy pilot-cloth
oyercoat, while about his legs was an afghan
/ OF redi black and yellow worsteds. 1t was a
warm sunny day His horse logged along
with steady gait, while the veteran reared
/ a soliloquy at his servant about his calling
places. The man leaned forward deferen-
tally and superintended the calling list
Where he said stop the veteran would throw
aside his afghan and skip up the steps, seem
ing to restrain himself by an effort from
turning handsprings on his way.
Mr. Bancroft lives a very regular life, and
as he has always taken great deal of out
door exercise, it is not hard 10 account for
his long life. He has never burdened him
self with work. He has been all his long life
writing history that could have been written
in ten years with moderate labor. One page
OF manuscript day of $50 words he regards
as good days work. Mr.. Blaine, his fellow
! historian, q man in the full vigor of his life,
regards 1000 words day as all any man can
be expected to do we'll for period of protrac-
ted work. Think of this, oh, merciless edi-
tors, who crack the whip over newspaper re-
porters Mr.. Bancroft is a very considerate
individual. He is fierce Democrat aud does
not recognize the word Republicans In
speaking to them he always says, you
Wings"
Up to the close of last fall he has always
devoted several hours day to horseb ack
riding. He has ridden young dancing thor
oughoreds. 1t has been a theory with his
| friends that he would he killed some day by
| his devotion to this class of horsefesh, but
be has very good fortune. He had a narrow
escape this winter and that with another
misfortune has put an end to his riding for
the winte. One horse he had sent to him
from Kentucky he asked his groom to try for
him before mounting. This was an unusual
request as the old gentleman generally tries
his own horses. The horse showed bad tenn
per from the start, reared so violently as to
groom. The second venture was also a Ken
lucky one. This cost Mr., Bancroft 81, 600.
/ The horse went dead lame soon after the
| purchase. and is considered almost total
loss. Upon the vicious horse he got his
money back. Mr.. Bancroft expects to re-
sumo his horseback rides in the spring
| Several gentlemen in Speaker Carisle's
rooms were talking of Bancroft and other
old men who have passed beyond eighty. 1t
was evident from the cases reported with the
| personal knowledge of the men present that
the conditions of modern life are favorable
to longevity One gentleman from Maine
told of seeing at TOpsham, in that state, in
the recent campaign six men who were over
| eighty-ive, while one on the stand was nine
I ty. Another, Capt. Davis, aged ninety-fve,
sent greetings out was unable TO come An
Ohio man spoke of Robert CrOttie who lives
near Toledo. He is 1913. He served as a
Lieut. nant in the battle of Lake Erie. Mr.
Carlisle spoke of Capt. Graham, Joe Black
burne's father-in-law. who danced at a ball
at the age OF ninety-nine, and who sat out a
great dinner given In his honor at Louis nile
upon his Tooth birthday. He is yet living. 1t
was only the other day that Gen. Harvey of
the army, aged eighty-seven, married. What
a lie is the old saw $50 it while you are
| young, for when you are OLD you can't"