Daily Yellowstone journal., 1885-07-09
CHARLES SUMMERS DAILY LIFE
simPiicisy of His -Hsbita of Work and
fscreatIon--ti ntertaiuins Company.
Rant Pa rlss lposr,.l

w ' - p NH-' ] "a
simplicity Of His .Hsbits of Work and
EscrestIon = isnsertaiuins Company.
'.....-. Benz -Perley iPoore.l
Charles Sumner'sI daily lite, after he
was relieved from domestic annoyances,
Was very simple. He resided in his
own house bext 70 the Arlington hotel
and facing lafayette, square, which had
zen FURNISHED under bis direction.
| he walls were almost covered with
paintings and rare engravings, and his
library, although small in the number
ofSolumes contained many rare works.
Mr.. Sumner used to rise about Z,
battle, shave himself, and carefully
dress for the duties of the day, witht&
exception OF his coat, for which no would
substitute q comfortable dressing
gown. Then going into his study, or
Eden, as he often called II, which adj
Joined his bedroom, he would read the
Washington and Baltimore morning pa
pers until the arrival of his mail, brought
from the senate postoffice Scanning
the budget of letter, he would pick out
those which he recognized as from Long
fellow, Whittier, Bird, Phillips, Curtis
or other personal friends, and read them
before he went down stairs to breakfast.
He always sat at the north side OF the
large round table, where his simple
breakfast with its cup of exquisite tea
was served lie had not drank coffee
for several years prior to his death, but
he was connoisseur in teas was IA
miliar with the flavor and taste of the
choicest varieties. While at breakfast
he used to read The New York Evening
ost and The Springfield Republican OF
the day previous, with some OF the
many newspapers sent hin from all
parts Of the country.
While at the breakfast table he used
to receive the visits of friends, and the
room was often crowded. His devoted
friend, Mr.. WOrmley, used also to come
in to consult with him on lis house.
keeping arrangements, which he looked
after with n careful eye. In a letter
now before me. written when Mr.. sum.
ner was last in Europe. he said: pray
tell Wormley TO expect me at the end of
the month His friendly care will see
that my small house is in order. Never
was friendly care more deyotedly dis
played, and prominent among those Of
the African race who manifested deep,
unceasing gratitude to Mr.. GUNNER.
were Mcssrs. Wormley and J. b. Smith
of Boston. Unlike others, they never
sought TO use their friend as a pedestal
for self-exhibition.
Mr.. sumner undoubtedly appeared to
the greatest advantage in the eyes of
his friends, no less than in those of
strangers, at his own receptions, or at
his dinner-table, where he delighte to
entertain a select company. lie often
received company, also, during the
hours of the evening which he proposed
to devote TO study and original investi-
cation. Friends, and often strangers,
who would call on him between 8 and
10 in the evening, would go away
charmed by his conversation, enriched
by interesting "reminiscences and charac-
teristic anecdotes but they little knew
he would have to take from sleep the
time that he had given to them. IL was
thus often between | and2 in the morn.
ing before going 10 bed-often to suffer
during sleepless night. Often he re.
tired to his study at o'clock TO work
upon the edition of his works, but so
numerous were his callers that he was
almost always persuaded TO DO inter-
rupted.
Mr. sumner recreat ons were very
simple. He was not fond of games.
during the last few years of his life,
being unable TO walk much, he enjoyed
evening rides. His chief diversion was
in the study Of pictures and rare works
Of art,