New-York tribune., 1885-02-01
Copyright. 1885.
WIEN EVARTS UNBENDS.
TIE WIT AND HUMoR OF THE SENATOR
ELECT.


ELECT.
| The election of William VI. Evarts TO the United
States Senate has been followed by many tributes to
him based upon different phases of his long and dis
| tmgushod career. His leadership OF the American
| bar has been dwet upon. The number OF cele'
| bratcd cases in which he has figured has been re-
counted Attention has been called to his services
10 the country as Attorney-Generll and Secretary
of State. The full measure of his devotion to the
Republican party has been portrayed But there
remains another and most agreeable point of view
from which TO observe the new Senator. The
| biographer Of Thaddeus Stevens t'lls us that his
hero possessed in a remark bile gr e that fond
| oaiHard-that basis of gayety-which Carlyle at
tributed to Mirabeau. The remark is sngularly
appllcablo TO Mr. Evarts. The cleaning thread oi
eayety runs through the warp and wool of his life.
No one enjoys good story more than he, even as no
ono tells n better one.
One of his professional brothers of the metropolis
who thoroughly appreciates Mr.. Evarss gifts oi wit
and humOr. says: al am not sure but his choicest
mot was uttered at dinner which was given several
years ago in this city to Thomas Bayley Potter
member of the English House of Comm"ns. The
Rev Henry Potter was the host, while among the
guests were n number of other well-known mem
hers of the Potter family When it. came Mr..
Eyarts's turn formally to speak he began about IN
thus way: when remember that we are being
entertained by the Rev. Hcnry-Potter; that we were
invited 10 meet Sir Thomas Bayley-Potter; when
observe nj my right ClarksOn N.-Potter and at my
left the Rev. Elphalet Nott-Potter am reminded
of the young country clergyman who was unex-
nectedly summoned to supply IA city pulpit. The
church WAS imposing and the congregation SO
fashionable that when he rose to make the opening
invocation h" found himself a good deal Illustrated
The result was that to the CONSERVATION of his
~ Ia n nrl hnl In
us never TO forget that Thou art the clay ana that
we are the potters." 49,. ,, :. - !.
one morning the elevator which carried him up to
his office in the State Department contained an
unusual number of stl augers, presumably applicants
for Mnstcrships or Consulships turning TO "a
friend who accompanied hun. Mr.. Evarts wins
pered "This is the largest collection Tor foreign
missions that Pye seen taken up for some time,
A gentleman who listened to Mr. Evarts argue
case before the Court OG Appeals cw years ago. IN
recalling the circumstances, observed: III taxes
good deal To make that dgn fled court or last resort
indulge in smile but Mr. Evarts dld II. le was was
pittod against some great corporal on ana IN oraer
to illustrate the quality OF Its uagnanimty he sau
Why, if the Court please when think OF tHe at
ttude taken by this road ! am reminded oi the
preior of the estate who was travelling on the con-
inent. The tenantry are behaving very badly anu
have gone so far threaten TO shoot me IN case
the rents are not reduced" And in answer to the
bailif the landlord promptly wrote: ell the ten
ants that the rents will not be reduced anu IMPRESS
il upon them that no threats which they may make
to snoot you will have the slightest influence upon
me'p | believe the story is an old one. but 1t be-
came new in Mr: Evartss hands. lie told IL Win
irresistible elect"
Another story illustrating the great lawyers
onIckpess is a fav0rite in circles of "applied
finance" Not long since he stood with party OF
friends on tho soil of Virginia near the famous
Natural Bridge. There is legend that once on
time George Washington threw silver dollar from
the stream to the surface of the Bridge IL Is big
throw 10 big fact that some OF the tourists were
inclined to dsbelieve the legend MI Evaras no'hs
appealed to for his opinion instantly repi,eu as no
measured the distance with fw,nxars ,xnt GOOD
"WelI we must not forget that dollar went goo1
deal further in Washingtons day than ~ docs nEw;
In 1882 Mr. Evarts was a guest OF nS DroonSnSs
sons of Ncw-England at their annual dinner anu
made brilliant speech In the course OF In nus sty to-
marks he slyy cOmpllmented the Mayor OF that Sly
by commencing the Mayors fellow citizens ior their
obedience to Millions admOniti0h:
What is loW raise and support
At another New-England dinner referring to tho
assertion that In the cabin of the Mayhowe,rr was
composed the first written Constitution OF politcai
State Mr. Evarts set tho table in roar by TINS com,
ment: aNOw IL Ia my duty to say IN tho truth OF
history that that first meeting had something at
least OF the notion of packed conyention for no,
body Was allowed to 20 ashore until he had sasned
the Constitution"