Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-12-04

his mind by turning poet, essayist, anti
quarian and collector of curios.
There is also material for humor in con-
trasting the different periods of the de-
ceased statesman's life. 1t raises smile
to be told that in the ''early forties, as In
diana folks say, when the young man was
studying and working very hard and pass
ing his few holidays in rambling through
the grand woods and over the lovely slopes
and wales on the point between the Wabash
and Ohio, his fancy was captivated by the
local romance-the Harmonists had just
been succeeded by the Owenites ut New
Harmony-and his ambition, fired by the
example of the Owens and others, so that
he burned for literary fame. His early
productions were all given to the public
anonymously, and nearly thirty years of
the busiest kind of life passed before, AS
minister to Peru and ex-minister, he ap-
peared in the magazines over his own
name. The biographer, divided in opinion
as to whether he should most esteem Gen.
eral Hovey as statesman or soldier, is
pleased to learn that he was also poet of
no mean order.
His reputation as "Hero of Champion
HILL and the generous praise awarded by
General Grant for IA time quite obscured
he was leading lawyer, member of the
state constitutional convention OF 1850 and
judge of the supreme court. At this late
day it is no oiIense to say that he was con-
servative on the exciting issues Of the time,
and, to use his own language, would risk
his political all to maintain the old COM
promises. But when the first shot was
fired he promptly declared that those
who had appealed to the sword must abide
the issue, and he became an ardent sup
porter of vigorous measures. In the Pc
cullar condition of the time in the Ohio
valley his action had an immense influence.
Of all the states which adhered to the
Union Indiana underwent the greatest
and most sudden changes because of the
war. Posey county, where General Hovey
was born and reared had long been noted
for its eminent men; but the Owens were
not natives, and the state had but an in
different reputation for native talent. 1t
could soon point with pride to its war
governor" @. p. Morton, native of
Wayne county; to the great engineer,
James b. Eads, native of Lawrenceburg;
to General Hovey and many others, and
as often happens the civil conflict was fol-
lowed by Il brilliant era of oratory and lit
erature-Joaquin Miller, Lew Wallace,
Whitcomb Riley, Professor Ridpath, Maui
rice Thompson and Others of national rep
utation being natives, and most Of them
now residents of the state.
General Hovey retained through life his
residence at Mount Vernon, and a day at
his home there was a delight To any man
of intellect. Among the many curlos
are Peruvian idols and relics of the
time of the lncas, memorials of the
mound builders, rare and valuable
robes, jaguar skin, images of solid
silver fashioned by Peruvian miners, the
curious silver casket made t., hold the
treaty between Peru and the United States,
and many other objects of interest. In
short, it is the home of "A man whose native
tastes were highly artistic and literary,
but who was compelled by II strange fate
to life of extraordinary activity in poll
tics and war.