The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-01
A Senatorial stamp-uoIIector.

Edmund Alton. in 81. Nicholas for February.
Charles Sumner vas one of Americas great
est statesmen, and found him to be one oil
the kindest men in the world. He was an
ideal American gentleman, always polite to
every one. and | never heard him utter q
cross or hasty word. He had an extensive
correspondence and received letters from all
parts of the globe. At one time, while was
q page, had a mania for gathering stamp s,
and as those on many of his letters were very
rare, l asked the Senator If he would kindly
put the envelopes in his desk, so that
could get them, instead Of tearing and throw
ing them upon the floor. He SAID he woulo
save them for me with pleasure and, sure
enough, the next day he came to the Senate
with large collar box in his hand. He put
this in the drawer of his desk, and when
ever he opened an envelope with q foreign
stamp attached, he would tear off the stamp
and deposit 1t In the box. Several weeks af.
ter ward he called me to him and handed me
the box, filled with the choicest aud most
curious collection, saying: Now, If you will
empty the box, l will fill it again for you u
Aud be was true to his word. | have me-
hundreds of eminent men in my life; none.
however. more prominent or with more
cares TO burden or distract their thought.
than this grand Senator from Massachusetts,
yet think few of them would, under SINH
lar circumstances, have gone TO so much
trouble merely TO humor the whim of
boy.
Senator Sumner took quite an interest in
me, and had an especial fondness for catch
Il ing me by the ears. Often have ATTEMPTED
to pass the Senator, while be vas walking {,
and fro on the floor of the Senate, only Il
have both my ears seized good naturedly
aud to be asked some Kindly question.
shall always remember one of these adyen
tares-for il was al adventurel He had sen
me on an Grand Having returned
reported TO him the answer, and received
his deep voiced thanks, | started to NOV
away, but he had caught me, and continue,
his slow march, ia front-Indian nle. A
J he was tall man aud very small boy II
com garrison, | had to walk on tiptoe TO cas-
the pain. and even then it seemed as if m
J ear would come off my head The worst O
it was that he at once became so lost il
thought that he forgot he had hold of me
! and mechanically paced up and down, wit
! his long strides while danced mild wal
dance, for some minutes-it seemed to m
en- hour-to the intense amuse meut of a.
who observed it. The more L struggled, III
{ more did increase the agony, but 1 at las
: managed to wriggle away from his GRASP
The sudden emptiness of mis- hand cause
! him To realize The state of affairs and b
5 begged my pardon so energetically, and ID
3 spe ciators smiled so sudibly, that the pr,
ceedings of the Senate were interrupted an
q Mr. COlfsx actually had to tap with his ga
o ell to restore order
Q But il was after all, an honor to be notices
Y even in that fashion, by so distinguished
b man as Senator Sumner. He had the wi,
t est reputation of any of the senators, and Il
e first question most visitors to the Sens
II would ask was:
p, (which is Charles Summer