Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-06

The wit and Humor of the Senator
Elect

Elect.
The election of William NJ. Evarts to
the United States Senate, says the New
York Tribune, has been followed by many
tributes to him based upon different
phases of his long and distinguished
career. His leadership of the American
bar has been dwelt upon. The number
of celebrated cases in which he has
figured has been recOunted. Attention
has been called to his services to the
country as Attorney General and Secre-
tarv of State. The Sull measure OF MS de-
Voti0n To the Republican party has been
portrayed. But there remains another
and most agreeable point OF view from
which Ia observe the new senator. Inc
biogTapher of Thaddeus Stevens tells us
that his hero possessed in remarkable
degree that fond gaitldrd-that basis of
gayety-which CARLYLE attributed TO
Mirabeau. The remark is singularly ap-
plicable to Mr.. Evarts. The cleaning
thread Of gayety runs through the warp
and wcOf Of his life. No one enjoys a
good story more than he, even as no one
tells better one.
One of his professional brothers of the
metropolis who thoroughly appreciates
Mr.. EvaTt's gifts Of wit and humOr, says:
Il am not sure but his choicest mot was
uttered at a dinner which was given
several years ago in this city TO 1nOmas
Bayley Potter, a member OF the English
House of Commons. The Rev. Henry
Potter was the host, while among the
guests were a number OF other well known
members of the Potter family. When 1t
came Mr.. Evarts' turn formally to speak
be began about in this way: When | re-
member that we are beng entertained by
the Rev. Henrv-Pctter; that we were
invited to meet Sir Thomas Bayley-Pot-
ter; when l observed at my right Clark
son N.-POtter and at my lett the Rev.
Eliphalet Nott-POtter, am reminded OF
the young country clergyman who was
unexpectedly summoned to supply city
pulpit. The church was so imposing and
the congregation so fashionable that when
he rose to make the opening invocation he
found himself a good deal illustrated. The
result was that to the CONSERVATION Of
his hearers he lead off with the petitions:
so Lord, help US never to forget that Thou
art the clay and that we are the potters."
One morning the elevator which carried
| him up to his Office in the State Depart
ment contained an unusual number OF
| strangers, presumably applicants for Min
isterships or COnsulships. Turning to
| friend who accompanied him, Mr.. Evarts
whispered: This is the largest collec-
ton for foreign missions that Pye seen
taken up for some time''
A gentleman who listened to Mr.. EYarts
argue a case before the Court Of Appeals
a few years ago, in recalling the circum-
stance, observed: sit takes a good deal
to make that dignifed court of last re-
sort indulge in a smile, but Mr.. Evarts
did it. He was pitted against some great
| corporation, and in order to illustrate the
| quality of its magnanimIty, he said:
'Whv, if the court please, when | think
Of the attitude taken by this road l am re-
minded of the anecdote of the Irish bailif
who wrote to the proprietor OF the estate
who was travelling on the continent, 'SThe
tenantry are behaving very badly and
| have gone so far as to threaten to shoot
| me in case the rents are not reduced"
! And in answer to the bailif the landlord
promptly wrote: "Tell the tenants that
the rents will not be reduced, and impress
it upon them that no threats which they
may make to shoot you Will have the
slightest influence upon me-" believe the
story is an old one, but it became new in
Mr.. Evarts' hands. He told it with ire
sistible effect"
Another story illustrating the great
lawyers quickness is favorite in circles
of ''applied finance" Not long since be
stood with a party of friends on the soil
of Virginia near the famous Natural
Bridge. There is legend that once on a
dollar from the stream TO the surface of
the bridge. 1t is big throw, so big in
fact that some of the tourists were IN
clined to disbelieve the legend. Mr..
Evarts being appealed to for his opinion,
instantly replied as he measured the dis
lance with twinkling eye: "Well, we
must not forget that a dollar went good
| deal further in WashingtOn's day than it
does nOW.'
In 1882 Mr.. Evarts was guest of Brook
lyn's sons of New England at their an
nual dinner, and made brilliant speech.
In the course of his remarks he slyly
| cOmplimented the Mayor Of that city by
commencing the Mayors fellow citizens
for their obedience to Milton's admOni-
ton:
What is Eoao raise and support.
At another New England dinner, re-
| ferring to the assertion that in the cabin
of the MayflOwer was composed the first
written constitution of political State,
| Mr.. Evarts set the table in a roar by this
| comment: Snow it is my duty to say in
! the truth of history that that first meet
ing had something at least of the notion
| of a packed convention, for nobody was
allowed to 20 ashore until he had signed
| the constitution"
The election OF Mr.. Evarts to the Sen
ate recalls his residence in Washington
| Wnlle secretary Vi oIdle' Az IudL Jlule
he occupied the large double house on X
| street, atterward the home of Senator
| Hill, of Colorado, and now owned by Rep
resentative Robert X. Hit, of Illinois
1t was a furnished house, and like all
| furnished houses in Washington, had the
| air of upholstered loneliness which all
the small belongings of the family could
not dispel. But it was in this house that
the "Evarts chocolate" as served by
Miss Evarts at the regular Wednesday re-
| ceptiOns, got its hold on the public palate.
doubt if any one of the thousands max
ing "Cabinet calls" remembers any par
ticular thing about the house, but every
| one remembers the delicious chocolate
of Miss Evarts." When Mr.. Frelinghuy-
sen became Secretary of State the first
question was not whether he would fill
Mr.. EVarts' place as Secretary, but
whether the "Frelinghuysen chocolate"
would be equal TO the ''Evarts chocolate"
1t is needless to add that the 'Freling-
huysen chocolate" has given such entire
satisfaction as to place the "Evarts chocO-
late'' on the retired list, so to speak, and
now society is asking: ''Whom can Mr..
Cleveland get to make chocolate like Miss
FreIinohuvGpn pD