Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-03-12
SOCIAL LIFE IN WASHINGTON.
A Glance at the Pleasant Home of Senator
Morrill,

The following Interesting article Is taken
from the Washington correspondent of
the Philadelphia Times: Just now the
agitation in political circles Is bringing
the Senate into unusual notice, for many
momentous questions are being decided by
this, the highest branch Of our legislative
power. Indeed. 1t looks as if there might
be great changes in the near future and
some of these events may trace their or
igin to one of the three gentlemen who
have been so conspicuous for the last
week
Senator Morrill, lives in a neat but small
brick house on Thomas circle in n delight
III neighborhood. Just across Is the fat
at the Portland, occupied by Secretary
Morton, while nearby are the German le-
cation the italian embassy, and not far
off are the homes of Secretary Carlisle
the attorney general and many others of
equal prominence. Morrll's home Is very
plain from the exterior view, but within it
IL furnished in comfortable, but not lux
urious style. There Is large parlor, a
sitting room and back of all is the dining
room, which is bright and sunny.
Inc furnishings are not in the latest
styles but they are substantial, mostly in
dark tints, while In the library we find n
cosy open wood fire and a table Uttered
with writing material before the cheerful
blaze. Senator Morrill, has been in the
Senate for a longer unbroken term than
that ever recorded to the credit of any
other senator living. He was born in 1910
which makes him just Sc this year, pretty
old for man who is still one of the most
laborious OF our statesmen. He was not
married till he was Al and has lust been
enjoying wedlook for 45 years. Mrs Nor
rill was a Miss Ruth Swan of Easton, a
small town about 20 miles from Boston
Her father was a doctor and there were
seven children in the family. 1t was while
visiting at the home of cousin in STRAIT
ford, Vt, that she met the senator, and
when they We're married he took her to a
house for which he had himself drawn the
plans, and which had taken three years to
be completed.
Mrs Morrill, comes Of an old and distin-
guished New England family, one of her
ancestors being Miles Standsh, the great
Puritan leader. She is a delicate woman
and, being now about 70 years of age is
not able to minglo much in social life.
There is only one child in the family,
young James, who Is private secretary TO
the senator. Mrs. Morrill, Is deeply reli-
gious woman and one of strong opinions,
and while she has never been an advocate
of woman's suffrage, she Is an ardent ad-
mirer of those ladies who are agitating
questions which tend to the advancement
Of women. One of the prominent ladies'
In town tried to get her to enter into a
campaign against the suffragists when the
movement was first inaugurated. but Mrs.
Morrill,, who is q woman of public spirit,
refused on the ground that she thought
the agitation would result In great good.
Senator Morrill, is hard worker and
rises at each morning, by Is on his way
to the capitol and spends the day In earn
est labor. His desk in the library is with
the back to the light, which streams in
through the southern window, and he uses
long, old-fashioned goose quill pen when
writing. The ornaments on his table are
of silver, and among them is large ink
stand which was presented to him by Sena-
tor Quay.