Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-17


Written for THr EVENING sran.
wECOLLECTIONS OF Mn. SUMNER.
The Window and h.iserarr Tasses %
The Great Massachusetts, Senator.
HIS FRIENDSHIP WIFE SOUTH CAROLINA sExAroRs-
TRAVELLING TRRoUoB rnE sourH N sr.or-coacH-
IMPORTATION ADour LIVE STOCK AND LANDSCAPE
aAKDENISo-How HK READ BOOKS.
had occasion to see Mr.. sumner often during
MS long service In the senate. saw him 1rst In
Boston, In October 1851 after his election and be-
fore he came to Washington. / stopped ct the
fremont, and after nightfall went into a news
paper store In one Of the narrow lanes near &C
hand to buy paper. While there a TALL hand.
some man came In for the same purpose some
how conceived the idea that it must be Charles
Sumner. I had never seen likeness OF him. and
It may have been that his commanding presence
and highly Intellectual face forbade the idea that
It could be any less distinguished person, but, az
any rate, that was the idea had formed OF the
man. and it turned out that my surmise cor.
He came 70 Washington in December and was s..
once advanced 70 high place in the regards OF
t LOOK on nom the senate gallery, while ON the
sion OF Gtbbon, esteemed and hated" by the great
majority OF those around him. There were, how
ever, exceptions TO the rule, even among Southern
men. In view OF the almost tragic events or a later
day. It IS interesting TO note the fact that senator
Butler, OF South Carolina, was among these excep-
tons. They sat by the side OF each otner and the
genial nature and literary tastes OF the venerable
South Carolinian could not fail TO ina companion
able qualities in the rarely endowed and accom-
plished Senator from Massachusetts, These kindly
relations continued until Mr.. summers peculiar
tics OF the times and to assert their weight and i'm
portance In connection with the kansas-Nebraska
Mr.. Butler, although An extreme Southerner in
his views could appreciate the ludicrous predica-
ment OF "NOrthern man with southern princi-
lacked the courage OF his Northern opinions. When
arem0nstrance, signed By thousands Of citizens OF
New England, against the repeal OF the Missouri
upon venerable Senator from that quarter OF the
Union TO present it to the Senate. IL was an i'm
Presidents desk. Mr.. Butler was not In his seat
AT the moment OF It's presentation but coming in
so9n sI1er and Learning what nSd been done ne
merry eyes, but how did Ms get the remon-
STRANGE upon the desk:" Mr.. s., Affecting TO take
me Question literally, replied, HE was assisted By
:. IAN, yes SAID Mt. B. "ior was aware that he
The distinguished senator from North Carolina,
Judge Nangum, who was President OF the senate
during the presidency OF Mr. Tyler, was also eN-
could not appreciate merit in a man whose views
own.
TRAVELLING THROUGH THE SOUTH.
It will be remembered by his friends that Mr..
Sumner early in the decade beginning with 1851
made q tour TO the West, ana went South as FAR rs
Nashville, Tenn He gave me very amusing &C.
Count OF his eypedents for avoiding the DISCUSSION
q tns slavery question while passing through
member those ''good old days" cannot have for
gotten that no circumstances In life are so well
other as riding face to face Tor two or three DAYS
In stage coach. They become old acquaint-
ances They know each other thoroughly-nnd out
Others haf
genuine fairness Of mind or the want OF IT.
This was particularly true o: the south
mode OF travel To turn the conversation away
from the negro question, in such circumstances, IN
Kentucky stagecoach at that day required ex-
traord1nary resources. Luckily Tor Mr. sumner,
there were two other objects OF absorbing Interest
to Kentuckians, viz, flne horses and fine cattle.
America, and other countries be was perfectly at
home, and he made them his constant theme.
HIS remarkable Information upon these topics and
the elo9uence which he doubtless displayed in
their discussion awakened curiosity to know his
name and the section OF country from which he
Zane: Sut no one was 50 rude as 70 ask him a.
place OF residence, he let it out that he good
deal OF his time In Boston; but he was too deeply
interested in Kentucky breeds OF cattle and horses
TO care for localities or TO go into the slavery dis
pute. At lcng h, at one OF the stopping places by
Ine way, the passengers were Informed that q
some offeDse had been caught and was to be
whipped. This highly interesting and exciting
and the driver politely consented wait for them
until the CEREMONY was over or course the gentle
man from Boston preferred remaining In the
coach know not IL he was RECALLED during hts
journey, as was about the same time and In the
same part OF the Union, by complaints or the gross
injustice OF paying more to those who caught run
aways in Ohio than 10 those VINO caught them on
the south side OF the river.
Al Nashville Mr.. sumner registered his name
at the principal hotel. He there met with no In
Ctvtity and was called upon by some distinguished
persons whom he met in Washington.
This draft upon the vast store OF Mr.. summers
Information reminds me OF another incident in
which, although there was no such demand for IL
ne showed surprising degree OF knowledge upon
matter rather foreign to the studies OF staies-
men. Early in the first year OF the war-berore
hostilities commenced, believe 1t was-I called
In company with Frederick Law olmstead, esq.,,
the distinguished landscape gardener, upon Mr..
sumner at his lodgings on Street. Their con-
versation turned upon the subject OF Mr.. olm-
extent OF the Senator's Information regarding IT,
he could speak from observation OF all the finest
parks IN EUROPE; and appeared 70 be familiar with
the leading works upon the subject.
HIS LITERARY TASTES.
During the nine years Of Mr.. Summers service iu
Congress, from December 1851 to December 1850
being outside OF what Democrats OF that day were
won't to style ga healthy political organization
ne was not charged with any weighty duties as a
more leisure for his favor1te literary studies He
had books brought TO him from the Library OF Con-
gress. by the wagonload; and they were often TO
be seen piled around him, on the foor-especially
the larger b0oks-as he sat at his table. one day
asked him how many or how much Of them he
read. He replied that he generally got through
with about NIFTY volumes week. But OF course
he could only glance over them at this rate; and
his remark was made more particularly with re-
ference TO the current light literature or the day.
AS to the scores OF newspapers that were sent to
him, he said that his custom was, for the most
part TO read them like bills are read in Congress
by their captions.
Mr.. Sumner entertained no high opinion Of the
statuary and paintings that have been purchased
0y Congress- at liberal prices, to decorate the Cap
itol and adorn the parks He thought that some
OF them would be removed in the course OF quar-
ter OF century. But he counted too sanguinely
upon the progress OF congressional taste I'm the ne
arts. He resembled DIR. johnson in this, that
while his style or composition was always stately
and elevated, his familiar conversation was often
terSe and pointed. He could not be said to be q |
wit, but he had sense OF humor and an honest, |
nearly laugh. recall some instances OF his tren-
chant sayings. called his attention one day In
the early part OF the year 1861 TO a brilliant
thought thrown out by Henry A. Wise about that
time In one OF his nery speeches, and remarked
that Wise and Wendell Phillips were alike In their
neither seemed capable OF reasoning closely, while
each could starte an audience by brilliant meta
phOr or Illustration.
YES" said MIR. sumner, shut Wise is much the |
stronger man. and II he had been caught early and
taken to Boston to be educated he would have
made great man.
told this anecdote some years after the war was
over TO the late Judge Underwood, OF the United |
States District Court OF Eastern Virginia, who, In
the meantime, had become acquainted with and
on good terms with Mr.. Wise. He said be would