The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-05-20
around him.

One of the most prominent figures in
the senate is Edmunds, of Vermont. He
took seat in that body as successor of
Solomon Foot twenty years ago, and has
occupied it continuously ever since. He
had been in public life at home for twelve
years before he came to the senate but
has never been in the lower house of con
gress. He is now fifty-eight and looks as
though he might round out the time in
The senate only served by Benton in the
first century of our national existence.
From the published pictures of him his
figure is almost as well known as that of
Washington himself, yet none of them do
him justice or present the strong features
Of his well marked face accurately. He is
fully six feet in height and. though stand
ing straight, carries his head forward
from habit, and not from any physical
deformity or stoOp He is not in rugged
health, and dresses with great care to
guard against the i'll effect of changes of
weather. The soles of his boots are fully
an inch thick, and he INDUCES carefully in
wraps when coming to and returning from
The capitol in the winter. He wears Il full
beard kept cut short, and is almost entire
~ bald. He is broad shOuldered, but not
feshy. His autograph is the only thing
funny about him, and each one needs ms
much interpreting as any specimen of
heiroglyphics. He has few intimates, and
apparently no confidents. The Damon
AID Pythias like friendship that existed
between him and Senator Thurman is the
only strong one have known Edmunds to
entertain. He seldom talks over his pro-
sitions with any one, and never discusses
matters outside of the chamber and com
mittee room. He is called morose and
icey. A better explanation of the traits
which have given this impression of him,
Ia hat he finds it demanded by his own
comfort and temper to abstain from dis
cussion that would serve no good end, ex-
cept where duty demands such. That he
has temper enough to make him uncom-
Portable if IL was not carefully held in
check cannot be doubted. He knows
enough to restrain it, He is methodcal
IN everything. Every dime of expense
must be vouched by a receipted bill. and
the mechanic or dealer who forgets this is
liable to be reminded of it for the first of
fense,and lose his patronage for the second.
His New England habit of cautious expen-
NAhulS NlONN lNHNll he uOtN
not keep carriage and never hires one
without an agreement as to price. When
the senate adiourns for the day he walks
out to the front and of the first hackman
who accosts him he asks his price for
carrying him home. If the price named
is more than fifty cents, he shakes his
head and stalks straight over to the street
car, saying he can ride home in that for
four cents. His habits in the senate
chamber are not surrounded with that ex
IRENE dignity some might expect. He
seldom sits bolt upright in his chair.
When thinking or listening he gets
himself down in heap, or bends his head
sideways resting it on his hands, often
closing his eyes, as apparently better for
meditation. In addressing the senate he
is clear and methodical, carrying his hab-
its of addressing court into the senate
chamber. He takes certain attitudes
which are SO peculiar to himself that no
one has ever essayed to initiate them.
His voice is seldom raised above the tone
he would use in court, and is not then as
smooth as when he speaks in common
conversation. He never revises his
speeches, and never writes out what he in
tends to say. He is very accurate in his
of facts, but when taken una
wares in debate without sufficient pre-
paration, he shows that his memory is not
an absolute storehouss of facts. Lawyer
like, he is not competent to discuss case
without having papers in his possession.
He a leader rather by the power of his
mental organization than by any of those
traits that we group under the generic
name of personal magnetism.