The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1891-12-04
SUMNER AND LoNGFELLow,
HOwnrd's "Reminiscences of Two Great
characteristics Famous states
man and the Poet-PersOn.
nj Traits of Each.
Copyright, 1891,
Special correspondence.

OnhTloS summer NHb III Ouu cTeHLuTe.
don't believe the woman ever live,
who could understand him, and 1t require'
an immensely OF patience in man to un
derstand him. VITA all his great quail
ties, his extensive Information, his un
questioned honesty Of purpose, and / Il
fair way OF looking at men and affairs, h
was selfish. 1t was with difficulty tina
men on level with him Of age, OF posi-
character with their thorough appre
citation of his nigh handed way OF speak
ing and acting. In other words III
was ICY and self intrenched-so much sc
as to be positively offensive. first saw
him IN Washington, when, as a lad, Wis
tied the national capital anxious to see
everybody and everything, and was struck
by the beauty Of his face in repose the
elegance OF his carriage and the genera
air OF superiority with which 'he sat, on.
! tirely contented with himself.
| In later years ! was introduced to Mr.
Sumner by Vice-President Wilson. and
conveyed to him message from the
great Brooklyn preacher apropos Of ar
address, which certain people hereabouts
desired Sumner to make, either In the
New York or Brooklyn Academy of Music
He was then in feeble health, compare.
lively. He had been bludgeoned by the
South Carolina brute, who beat him over
the head with his stick, he being unable
to extricate himself from his desk. From
the effects of that beating Mr.. Sumner
never recovered, although, in spite OF
much physical suffering and the intensest
modification, he devoted himself, as In
early days, to studying what 10 regarded
the best interests of the people, through
the medium of his great party. lie
was unable to comply with the request at
that time, his physicians positively for
bidding him, but he came to New York,
and 1t was my privilege to be present dur
ing heated discussion in the parlors OF
the Metropolitan Hotel, where we're gath
cred to- meet him number OF the chief
Republicans OF the day. was struck at
that time with two sides OF the mans
character, each clearly outlined in his
personal bearing. For instance, while
upon his feet and talking to the assembled
group, he was arrogant, imperious, de-
termined, aggressive, yet when he sat,
leaning upon his arm, his chin resting
upon mis- hand, listening to tho sugges-
tions OF an esteemed friend, he smiled and
nodded approvingly, now and then caress-
ing, as 1t were, HE forehead, and toying
with q pencil which was attached to q
guard chain. While waiting for the car
riage which was to take him and two
others to Brooklyn. he looked at the
heavens, and In an apparently uncon-
scious way pointed out the beauties of
sundry consultations, not as though
he were teacher, but as one
might say to a friend concerning the
points Of horse which both knew thor
oughly we'll. This Is so and So" and
"this so and So" The impression pro-
duced upon my mind by the several OPP
portunities l had Of studying him, whether
In his seat or upon the floor Of the Senate,
or in the corridor Of Wizards Hotel, talk
ing earnestly with distinguished officer
from his own Bay State. or enduring with
hundreds Of others the annoyance OF
q belated train In a cut on the Washing
ton road, in the parlors Of the Metropoli-
tan Hotel, or on the sidewalk was that
he was, first, a magnificent specimen Of
manhood; second. That he was
so expressively neat and careful in dress
as to be almost dudish; third, that in the
presence of opposition or in the perform
ance of duty he was Extensively egotis-
tical, and, fourth, that he was most
lovable and enjoyable nature for those
who were near enough to him to disre-
gard his peculiarities and to appreciate to
the full his mental and moral excellencies. |
The poet ngfellow-how different an
The impress sions produced upon me by |
him were very marked, although l saw
him but four times in my life. Physically |
he was beauty. I don't think it fair to
send down the avenues of time, until they |
touch the confines OF eternity, pictures OF
men representing them in their old age |
only. Longfellow in his youth must have
been an extraordinary handsome man
not effeminate, although there was much |
that was feminine in face as we'll as in |
character. There is vast difference be-
tween feminine nature and an effemn-
ate nature. One Is sweet lovable, charm
ing, attractive; the other, in man, about
the meanest and the lowest and the most
possible to conceive. Long
fellow was tall, slender, with clearly
profile, bright, Tightening
up eye, handsomely cut mouth,
and the bearing of man of the
world, combined with all the refine.
ment and delicacy and moderation of q
poetic nature. was visiting Charlestown
prison with Paran Stevens, his friend
Charles F. Hill of Lowell and party from
New York in 1860, at the time Of the visit
Of the Prince Of Wales. who expressed a
desire, by the way, to see what was then
as a model prison, and while we
we're sitting in the amplitudinous office OF
the warden, Mr.. Longfellow entered, and
Mr.. Stevens presented US to him. At
that time Longfellow was in the very
prime and heyday of his mental
and physical vigor. Without the
laintest suggestion Of obtrusiveness,
be easily led the conversation, which was,
enough, upon the contrast in
The lives Of tn. poor fellows who passed
In and around us, and Of others whom we
had seen during our visit there, and those
of men and women whom we could see
distinctly walking along the highway OF
The city.
II ever there was true friend to human.
ty-a thoughtful. helpful, unblatant
rescuer Of the distressed OF life from the
pitfalls with which our path way is strewn
1t was this same good man Longfellow.
It was my good fortune to be his guest on
IN occasion when, fortunately for me,
here were no others present. His study
was a marvel of confusion and attractive
less. The books, the pipes, the fireplace,
.ho dOfy the few pioturao tho uuaipt