Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-07-27
SUMNER AND LODGE.
They Are Personally Much Alike. but in
Opinions They Differ Greatly.
Especial Correspondence.I

They Are Personally Much Alike, but in
Opinions They Differ Greatly.
Special Correspondence.l
New YORK, July 6-Publishers say that
the most popular of the writers of short
histories and biography are Professor Will
lam I. Sumner, Of Yale college, and Con-
gresham Lodge, OF Massachusetts. In
some respects these TWO men have had
careers singularly alike, while in others
they have been as different in their ways
of living, IL their opinions regarding great
historical events and characters and in
their literary style as two men can well be-
Professor SIMMER j. now nearly fifty years
u age, but he looks and acts like young
man. lie was bald even when, a recent
graduate from Yale, lie accepted an instruc-
tors chair there But If he WIS bald he
was also youthful anJ full of good com
raieship so that he became great pet
with the college boys. He was a Classmate
ot William G. Whitney and Governor
Chamberlain, Of South Carolina, and even
in his college days he achieved distinc-
ton among his classmates equal to that
which these distinguished men gained
when they were students.
Nouu. Sumner WAS not favored by for
tune except that he was blessed with brain,
ard wnen he finished his college career he
fy-ud = necessary for him to do something
Ut once tor MS support. He was appointed
, ROTOR in Yale college and at the same
time Lc studied theology. He was ordained
4 prizes; in the Episcopal church and could
1T any tisAe retire from his professorship
and enter the pulpit if so disposed. He
was never called to any pulpit, probably
because Nu.e college chose him its professor
q political science.
Professor Sumner enormous popularity
s.,a the students, his democratic ways, a
certain cyniCism Of speech and manner,
which after all could rot conceal the coed
nature and the love Of fun which were in
in MIN, made his influence very great with
the students Before he took his chair the
tendency % he Yale students was to favor
Tie doctrine Of protection, but since Pro
iessor sumner las taught them it has been
observed that many of The students now
graduate with decided inclination toward
Ihe free trade doctrine. Some Of them
alter their views after they get out into The
world and some maintain them.
At one time Professor Sumner believed
that in order to understand politics in its
highest and best sense a person should
have au actual familiarity with its opera
an active politician in New Haven, and mis-
party was only TOO glad TO avail itself of
his popularity He was elected an alder
man and served in that Office with great
credit, and, it must be said, with great dis
satisfaction TO himself. Personal contact
with the ward politician gave Professor
Sumner an insight into politics and 70
vealed 20 him certain mysteries which
both astonished and Disguised him. He
made up his mind that the study OF poll
Lies for him was = study that must be car.
red on from RfRr. and he retired from &C
tive political life quite satisfied with his
short experience therein.
Professor Summer has written, besides
text books and countless controversial es-
says upon the tariff, some admirable short
biographies Of American statesmen, and it
IS understood that he has in Contenpla-
lion an exhaustive study of Thomas Jeffer-
son.
Henry Cabot Lodge is few years young
or than Professor Sumner. He was enter
ing Harvard hs q student just as Professor
sumner was beginning his work as in
structor in Yale college. Lodge was born
with golden spoon in his mouth. His an
cesJry was numbered among the most dis
tinGuished people of Massachusetts, colony,
and he received AZ birth not only the herit-
age which comes from such worthy and
distinguished lineage, but he also received
= promise OF fortune when he should be-
come of age. His tastes were decidedly lit
crary. and after his graduation from Har-
ward he took up literature as q profession
aud wrote several biographies and short
historical essays. His best work, perhaps,
is his life of Alexander Hamilton, of whom
he is an enthusiastic admirer His biogra-
phies were published in the same series
Us were those of Professor Sumner His
style is more elegant than that OF Summer,
but not so vigorous. His analyses are
more pleasant, but not so subtle as those
Of the Yale professor.
Like Summer, Mr.. Lodge in the early
part of his career studied politics from the
closet and theoriEed much about it. Then
he undertook, az Sumner did personal ex-
perieuce in the game Instead of retiring
with some feeling Of disgust, as was TIE
case with Sumner, Mr.. Lodge became fas-
clnatsd with politics as o practical every
day study. He found that it required
grea:er ability to deal with men, TO mold
public opinion, to gain and maintain per-
sc1al influence, 60 sway caucuses and con-
yeutions than it did to SIT down in a closet
aud write about such things. Therefore
he determined 70 make politics his career,
snd bsiuS patient he has at last managed
20 gain recognition as one of the growing
men Of his party. Sumner will be esteemed
she greater writer, while Lodge VIII be
called the greater politician.
E. 7. EDWARDS.