The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-02
BANCROFT AND CoRCoRAN.
Some Interesting Gossip About These
Two Great Men.
From The Ne0 Yorl; sun.

|
From the New York Sun.
| WAsHIE GTON, Feb. 26-The two men in
privste life who have been most prominent
in official circles at the capitol were Mr..
Corcoran, whose funeral takes place to-
morrow, and George Bancroft, who will be
one of the pail bearers. Mr.. Corcoran was
50 on Dec. q. and Mr.. Bancroft is
about two years younger. But, Curl
ously enough Mr.. Bancroft has always
| regarded himself as much younger man
than Mr.. Corcoran, and his wonderful physi-
cal activity has borne him out in the com
parlson. Mr.. Bancroft's why vigor,
! elastic step, and persistent horse
back riding, right along until this
winter, have naturally given the impress
sion TO all who did not know to the contrary
that he was many years Mr.. Corcoran's
| junior. When the Washington monument
was dedicated on the anniversary of Wash
ington's birthday, just three years ago, the
| two old men, with snowwhlte heads, were
| marked figures among many distinguished
men present at the ceremonies. Mr.. Corco-
| ran, though in good health at that time, was
little rheumatic, and his steps were slow
and careful. He was also stout. and less
active for that reason. All his movements
were those of dignity and elaboration, as
seemed especially belonging to his char
acter. Mr.. Bancroft presented a strong
contrast. He was 1.-the slender, and quick
| to get about His step could hardly have
| been more certain in his youth. The SHOWS
| of eighty-fOur winters were on his head, but
| his feet had the spring of boy i'll his teens.
| The day was intensely cold the wind cut
like knife, and with all the heavy wraIs
nobody out that day could keep warm or
half way comfortable. The ceremonies at
the monument were made as brief as posi-
bic and the Grafton was delivered in the
House of Representatives. George Bancroft
was mufhed up in his fur-llned overcoat and
sat through the ceremonies outside. Then
he went to the Capitol and remained
there until the last word was said. Mr.
Corcoran did the same, but the next day
Mr.. COrcoran and dozens of other men,
younger and stronger, were laid
up with colds threatening pneumonia
Aside from the bitter cold weather the cere-
monies were long and fatiguing, and there
was no surprise when it was known that
Mr.. Corcoran and many others were made
i'll. The surprise was that Mr.. Bancroft
was not made i'll also. But Mr.. Bancroft
was as well as ever, and was out making
the round of Cabinet receptions the very
next day. He was at Secretary Freling-
huysen's house with crowd of young peo-
pie, and one of them said:
"Oh, Mr.. Bancroft, everybody thought
you would be i'll, too. But you must at
long and fatiguing ceremony, and such an
awful cold day, you know"
mot bit tired, " he answered in a light
tone, with good deal of youthful ring in
it. II never enjoyed anything more in my
life, and with less fatigue. l was never
more comfortable, either. Was it really so
very cold? l was well wrapped up in my
| great fur coat, you see, and didn't feel the
| cold at all. And as for being i'll, why /
never felt better in my life. But am sorry
to hear that my friend, poor old Mr.. Cor
coran, is quite laid up by it,"
1t is not improbable that Mr.. Corcoran
himself often had evidence that Mr.. Ban
croft did not realize the very slight dis
parity of two years in their ages. They
were warm friends, and there was much
mutual admiration as we'll. Mr.. Corcoran
| laughiGqly said one day not long ago, in
reference to Mr.. Bancroft's activity and his
own feebleness:
They say Mr. Bancroft has legs and no
head, and that | have head and no legs"
The aged historian has been seen at even
| ing parties but seldom this winter. He has
not been quite up to his old spirit of day
visiting, either, and was not often seen in
afternoon drawing Horseback rid
ing, formerly his delight on fine winter
| days was given up. too, who can doubt
how reluctantly. 1t may be that, later on,
when the spring days are tempting, the
| well known horse and rider, attended by
! the faithful groom, will be seen again on
his favorite route, leading along Connecti-
cut avenue out to the wooded hills be-
yond the city. 1t will soon be time for the
| hyacinths, always the first in Washington
! to dazzle with their colors the little bit of
ground in front of the Bancroft
house on H street. In the garden
at the back of the house Mr.. Bancroft has
carly roses-May roses, bio Jming before he
goes to summer at Newport with the June
roses. The old gentleman's heart, as every
body knows, is still young and full of senti-
ment. Writing histories has been a work
of the head, and has left untouched the
| youthful sentiment of his heart. 1t is not
long ago that young woman called on Mr..
Bancroft to get a word of information in
regard to a particular historical fact. Mr..
Bancroft was engaged, and sent his regrets
| by the servant, with the request to call
again, naming the time for the visit But
that was not all. The servant held a full
rose in her hand, sweet and fresh from the
bush. And Mr.. Bancroft begs you will
accept a rose, one he picked this morning in
his own garden"
A CANADIAN LADY is suing man for $4,000