Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-26
WILLIAM ii. SEWARD.
The Personal Life Of the Man Apart
from his Career as a Statesman.

Saml j. Barrows in the Atlantic Monthly for March
/ find myself tempted most of all to dwell
upon Mr.. Stewards characteristics as a man.
His career as a statesman is open to the view of
all who wish to turn to the annals of the nation.
His orations and speeches, together with a
sketch Of his life, written and edited by the
late Geo. E. Baker, are before the public in
the five volumes of his published works. The
diplomatic records contain his state papers, but
the personal life of the man is a book open
only to those who had the privilege of turning
its leaves.
One OF the things that impressed me about
Mr.. Seward was the interesting union of native
KINDNESS OF heart with manner which was
calmly undemonstrative. / say ''camly" rather
than ''coldly," for with all his impassiveness
Mr. Seward was not chilly man. There was an
eyen-tempered. genial radiation which was
soon felt by those who came within the range
OF his personal life. 1t not warmth
which was intense. but. like well-regulated
furnace he gave out about so much heat all
the time. He was not mercurial. or fitful. or
caprlclous, in his treatment of others. With
out doing or saying much he soon made one
feel at home in his presence. There is reserve
which chiils; there is a reserve which treasures,
because by its disdain of formalities and
gushing conventionalism it is to be an at
tribute of sincerity. He was one of the most
democratic of men. 1t made no difference
whether the man who called upon him was a
cabinet minister. an ambassador from for
elgn court, or a day laborer; there was no
toadyism, nothing which by the remotest con-
nection could be identified with the snob. In
his intercourse with diplomatic representatives
he formed some intimate friendships. But if
foreign representative obtained admission to
the inner circle of his confidence. il was not
because of the uniform he wore or the Gre
dentials he brought. The simplicity of Mr.
S republican
need. He understood the value of forms. and
paid due respect to all diplomatic traditions.
but he was not fussy or punctilious ritualist.
There was nothing cynical in his calm man
ner. This almost stoical self-control had been
developed through long years of self-discip-
line. His power to restrain his emotions did
not involve their suppression. His native
kindness of heart was sure to reveal ITSELF l
shall not forget the quiet undemonstrative.
yet unnlistakable kindness with which he first
welcomed me. The relation was to be an in
timately personal one. but it was established
at once i'll Mr. Stewards manner and by his few
words as distinctly as if he had issued public
proclamation to that effect. Il am glad to see
you,' he said, as he took my hand Il leave
tonight for Auburn. Will you go with me, or
will you take a nights rest here. and Join me
there later?' The indication in these words
that the Secretary of State had some thought
for the personal comfort of the young man
whom he had just summoned to be his stem
ographer was pleasing introduction to his
fellowship. Though fatigued by the Jour-
ney OF the night before. the temptation
to go with him was too inviting to be resisted.
and joined the party i'll the evening at the
station. Aspecial paymaster's car had been
placed at Mr.. Stewards service, and among the
party, in addition to his valet and negro SER
want. were his son, Major Augustus Seward
and Postmaster-General Randall. Hardly had
We got well under way when game of whist
was proposed Though had the most meager
nn of no
decline to make up the set. Mr.. Seward. his
son and the POstmaster-General were expert
players. My own playing must have been phe-
nomenal, but one could not have gathered from
the Secretarys manner the slightest hint that it
was not absolutely satisfactory He bore this
inflictiOn of ignorance and incapacity with the
same comDOsure that he bore all other trials
1t was my fortune to make many such trips
with him, and. as he always travelled in a
special car, these journeys were uniformly
pleasant.
His equanimity might have been mistaken
for indifference. He was, indeed. Indifferent
to good many things, and among them to the
gnat-like swarms of criticism that frequently
buzzed IN the air from the partisan press. He
was never insensitive to argument, but he
brushed aside petty barbs of malice as if they
were so many flies. A characteristic illustra-
uon OF his composure was given during the
Impeachment trial. From the outset he did
not believe that johnson would be convicted
The defense of the President had been COM
mitted to Mr.. Stewards lifelong friend. Wm
NJ. Eyarts. Mr.. Seward did not attend the
long trial except two or three times. nor to my
knowledge. did he do anything to influence the
decision. All Washington was at a white glow
OF excitement The result hung on single
vote. yet no one could learn from Mr. Seward
that anything unusual was happening On the
critical day of the trial. went down to his
room to learn the result of the test vote. He
was lying on the sofa, with copy of Rousseau
in his hand smoking and reading. asked the
latest news from the Senate. He told me i'm
peachment had failed by one vote. He smiled.
and went Oh reading, as if the country had not
just passed through a crisis of tremendous i'm
DOrtance