Evening star., 1895-04-27


has cherished them souvenirs of the days
when he was laboril to revise the tariff. A
| deep crate shows where the true Yer
monter can warm his chilled body in the
winter, and though it was empty and use
less the night of the visitation-it seemed
rude bursting in upon a quiet home cir
cle-the imagination easily pictured a
roaring fire, around which stories have
been told that would fill volumes with in
tereSting matter
Could that old crate but talk. what tales
it could relate! What tales of hard work
done within the Pickering of it's blaZes
What narratives of tariff bills drawn and
consulted upon and polished into final
shape in those narrow walls! What con-
though Senator Morrill, will not admit the
fact, being extremely modest, 1t is never
theless true that he has been and IS one
OF the most safe men for the leaders of his
ment, a conservative adviser, a careful
politician. shrewd manager. Perhaps a
handsome ink well and tray standing on
the table in the center of the room may
tell In part of the esteem in which the
venerable Senator is held by his more
active political associates. 1t is fully a
foot square. and bears this simple in
scription: Justin S. Morrill,, from Mat
thew S. Quay" followed by the date of the
gift.
One of the most remarkable features of
Senator MorrilPs extreme years is the ex-
cellent health that he now enjoys. He
spends his time in regular routine rising
early, and also retiring early His tastes
at table are simple in the extreme. Having
always been a man of very abstemious
habits, he has preserved a strong constitu-
ton, which stands him in good stead in
these days when he has passed the mark
of four score years. The days are filled
with little matters Of business there are
callers to receive, letters to write to friends
and constituents, calls to make, and many
other items that quite fill the time of a
man OF advanced years, to whom minutes
lnrer sbar- hale
ago. There Is more to do, of course. when
Congress is in session, for the Senator is
one of the most regular attendants at the
Capitol of the members in either branch.
He is early in his seat, and though he can
rot now endure the fatigue of night sit
tings. he does not leave the Capitol until
the real work of the day is over.
The Family Circle.
The Washington winters agree remarka-
bly, we'll with Mr.. Morrill,, and he prefers
them to the rigorous climate of Vermont,
which Is now rather more than he can en-
dure. So he comes to the capital early in
the fall, and remains here until after the
trees have blosSomed, and the heat begins
to tell upon him, when the Thomas Circle
house Is closed. and the family go to Straf-
fcrd, which has been the Senator's home
Stree his birth. These two places-Wash-
gton and Strafford-now constitute almost
the whole of the Senator's itinerary. In
former years he and Mrs Morrill, and Miss
Swan, Mrs. AIorrilrs sister, often went
abroad. accompanied by the Senator's only
child, now a man Of about thirty-five.
These tours are not now taken with such
frequency as before. as both the Senator
and Mrs. Morrill, have passed the point
when they can we'll stand the fatigues of
long travel
These four constitute the household.
There have never been other children than
Nir. James Morrill,, who Is his fathers secre-
tary and general aid. He was to have been
educated for the practice Of medicine, but
preferred the law. His fathers great age,
however, renders necessary the aid of one
who is near to him, and who is devoted to
his service
There is one charming custom that Is.
preserved in this delightful household as a
relic of other days. when fashion was not
so exacting in it's demands upon its vota-
ries. Every evening after dinner there is a
quiet rubber of whist, played not in the
modern fashion. with signals or duplicate
packs or scientific systems of leads, but in
the good old stvle of holding thirteen cards
and playing them for all they worth
The Senator is an excellent player, and has