Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-26

such . great achievement on the very thresh-
hold Of their career. He was then thirty-eight
years old.
from that'time to the close of the Fifty-hrst
Congress Senator Edmunds has stood in the
front rank OF American statesmen. His rule of
official conduct has been peculiar to himself.
His cardinal aim was ever to be the servant Of
the public. Other Senators sought to serve
their own states and sections first and only:
some have had their personal and selfish OBJ
ator has given his unremitting care to ques-
tons affecting the welfare of the whole coun-
try. His lawyer-like mastery Of details and
worship Of precision earned him the name of a
stickler and at the same time awed his col
leagues into submission to his will. His leader
ship has been irksome and even despotic, but
he has always led and in leading has sought
ths welfare of the government and the coun-
try. Senator Edmunds succeeded Lyman
Irumbull as chairman of the judiciary COM
mittee In 1872. For nineteen years, with a
short interval when the democrats controlled
the Senate. he has held that honorable and
powerful longer than any man
ever has in the history Of Congress.
THE soUBRIoUEr OF ST. JEROME
II was during the impeachment trial of Presi-
den. johnson that the soubriquet of ST. Jerome
was first fastened on the Vermont Senator. The
likeness was discovered by a newspaper COR
respondent and soon gained wide currency.
Jerome have heard Edmunds called by that
name and had their interest in the man some
what quickened and vitaliZed by il. 1t isn't a
common thing to compare Senator or member
OF Congress TO saint. Mr. Edmunds looked
nearly as old when he entered the Senate as he
does today His beard was then a rich brown
already beginning to turn gray. The vas. bald
dome was then as polished now.
The story is told of one of the German diplo-
nlats that as he sat in the gallery one day while
Edmunds was addressing the Senate the Ger
man suddenly turned to the American friend
who was with him and said impulsiyely: 81
wish could haf his skool."
What" said the Mortified Yankee. "you
don't mean that you want Edmunds' skull?'
dat Is egZactly yot mean 1 wood like II
haf Meester Edmunds' skool ven he is done
init it. wood Ike to hat it on nv shoulders
IL de place of dis von." and the Teuton rapped
his noddle with his knuckles.
With his height and large, impressive
physique. patterned after some one of his Nor
man ancestors. who doubtless fought with
William the Conqueror, Mr.. Edmunds has
never been more than seemingly strong. The
bone and sristle of the man make him giant
but he has been the plaything Of a bad stomach
and in constant fear of consumption which il
hereditary in his family. Yet no other Senator
In his time has been more regularly in his
place or more tenacious in his attentions to the
course o. public business. Grim and venera-
bic. he has been the most STRIKING figure in the
en- the floor or presiding in the Vice Presidential
chair. the most casual spectator could easily
Zee tina: behind that cold, passionless exterior
was intreEched the master will of the Senate
The picture Of him will always remain with
any one who has seen him at his post
Promptly As the hour of noon came he pushed
through the green baize door at the rear of the
chamber and looking neither to the right nor
left, he STROBE with q rolling step to his chair
HIS APPEARANCE IN TIE SENATE.
Carefully dividing his coat skirts, il dressed
as LIE often was. in broadcloth, he would drot
into his seat like Q man who was tired to tbs
very edge of complete exhaustion. Sinkins
down Until he sat on the middle of his spine
he would rest his head on his hand, his fore
finger stretched up across his temple, and wal
for proceedings TO begin. The high, broad
forehead. the patriarchal beard. the cold eyes
the hard, doubly sustere face. all made strong
picture. There he sat grim and motionless
like DOING lion in his cage. You could fee
the vast possibilities Of intellectual power be
hind those steel-gray eyes and your heart beat
came faster with the expectation that he Nigh
spring TO his feet at any moment and displa,
his mastery Of that arena where he had SO loni
been king. When he spoke il was in q relent
less, undo Waiting procession Of words and logic
ell pronounced IN q strong nasal voice so dis
6net and dominant that the sound reinforces