Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-06-14
SUNSET" cox.
HIS METHODS OF WORK, LITERARY
AND CONGRESSIONAL
A Peep a. His Workshop-The Secret OF
His Success-A Desk with His
tory-Hours of
Labor.
rFrans ] Carpe..,er IN petroit Free Pressl

frank J. Carpenter in Detroit Free Pressl
Mr.. Cox perhaps the fastest worker
| among American writers, and there is no
coacr,s, who accomplishes one third
the amount b. does in a given time. GA
the floor OF the house Of repreSen tatives he
seemed to have devoted nights Of study es-
pecially directed to every question which
was sprung upon congress. He was found
at every big dinner party and was noted as
making the best after -dinner speeches Of
any Of his fellows, and at the same time the
pres and the magazines were teeming with
articles from his Den. To-day he would
make lon; ami thoughtful speech on the
floor Of the house, and tonight You would
hear Of him delivering an address 20 some
great association or giving a lecture On
music, science or art 70 crowded houses.
In the midst Of all this he has had time TO
chat with his friends, receive his constitu-
emit, and carry on the business relating to
his private fortune, which in connection
with that of his wife is no small matter.
How does h do 1t. | asked him the ques-
ton tee utker night while We we're seated
together in his library talking about his
bool; and his answer was -system.7 Said
he, in substance, Il began my life in a county
clerks Office, and there learned good bust
Brown university under DR. Wayland, the
man who wrote the political economy. DR..
Wayland was a great advocate Of
exhau-tive thought analysis, and he
made his students analyzs everything they
took up. Under him | learned analytic
thinking. and this | found of great advan.
tage to my-elf in after years. When l be-
gan a debate On the floor OF the house, / saw
the end OF my speech before l said the first
word. everything fitted itself to its proper
place, and did not reieat, rs Is often done.
VIXEN studied Blackstone after leaving
college, 10y the and Of my training IN analy-
is | found that | could repeat almost the
whole of it III my own language, and since
then, throughout the whole Of my life. l
have found analysis and system OF the
greatest advantage. Before / commenced
my book had a skeleton of the whole work
in INV mind, and | had only to fill in the
flesh and send tho life blood coursing
through its veins | am now engaged in
making the toilet of the finished structure
Mr.. Cox here showed me an outline Of
his took 10y chapters, which he had drawn
up during it, first stages, and then some OF
the completed work, showing how closely his
first ilea had been carried out
His workshop is well arranged for sys-
tematic worker, and evidences OF Sunset
Cox fill every part of it. 1t is large, airy
room on the second floor, with great win
dow, which look out at the Potomac and
Arlington ON one side and over tho fashion
able part Of Washington on another. Near
one window there is big mahogany desk
with case of piSeon-holes on its top. and
over it IA big bronze bust, about three feet
square, representing Don Quixote in the
-. -;,I, ., id
mills. This de k Is devoted entirely TO con-
gre>>i1nal work, and whenever he writes or
think in regard to matters going on in con-
greSs il is here Mr. Cox SITS. That desk.
however, has a history. 1t is one which
stood in thu speakers room at the time John
QI.nc, Atam, died there, and 1 doubt not
that tte Old statesman often usel it 1t is
filed now. as tn N, with congressional docu-
ments, and now in far better order than
were those which it held, when, bright and
now. it first took 1t place in the capitol to
accommodate the sittings of Clay, Webster
ard Calhoun
Not far from this desk stands one of the
funniest little mahogany whirligig set Of
pigeonEo!e shelves, very much like revolv-
ing bookcase which you often see in
lawyers Office. But this IS round and not
square II has many shelves, and these Mr..
Cox keeis filed with his WORK upon which
lie Is engaged in lines outside of congress;
from time 10 time. All is in perfect system,
and everything is always ready at hand.
Mr.. Cox has good habits of work. He
rises early and CONES into this room at z
o'clock and works at his mail
until breakfast time. After break
fast during session he usually
worked on until 10 o'clock, when it
WAS time for him to start to congress. In
the evening, when not engaged elsewhere,
be would be found again working here,
ami at II O'Clock you Will see the light burn
ing in his room if you pass by. Of course
he a shorthand man, and to him be die
tates at lightning speed. Some Of his liter
arr work Is dictated The finer passages,
however, he has written himself, and the
most vivid descriptions have caused him
m any visit t. the congressional library 10
refresh his memory and TO saturate his mind
with tie ~ririt and feelings Of the times of
which lac J. writing.