Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-04-24
The Father of the Senate.

Senator MorriII's Green old Age and
Well-rounded Career --- His Recent
Birthday Celebration.
From a Washington letter in the New York Sun
day Tribune.
The oldest man in Congress, in years and
service writes his biographical sketch in
less than seven modest lnes-Senator
Morrill-who has just passed his seth
birthday, and has given a continuous con-
gressional service of II years. In these
few lines there is simply the mention of
common school and academic education,
followed by the business of merchant,
and afterward agricultural pursuits, the
Congresses in which he was member of
the House of Representatives, and the
date of entering the Senate. That is all.
But service so long, from first to last so
high and honorable and useful to his cOun-
try. speaks for itself. Words can neither
add to nor take from the fame of a career
so completely rounded as the public and
private life of Senator Morrill,.
Mr. Morrill, entered the House of Rep
resentatives in 1856 as member of the
34th Congress. After service of II years
he stepped from the House to the Senate
in March, 1867. With the close of his
present term, March, 1897, he will have
been in the Senate just 30 years.
Senator Morril's record is that of con-
scientious, steady, clear-headed, systematic
worker, always prompt and decisive, never
hasty in speech or action-a forcetul figure
in national legislation. His evenness of
temperament and character is rare among
men. He is not of an aggressive nature !;
therefore, while he has hosts of the most
loyal friends, he probably has not an enemy
in the world. He has accomplished moth
ing by aggression, but everything by quiet,
unyielding tirmness, never-ceasing persist
ence, optimistic patience and, above all,
honesty of purpose and faith in the meas
ures he advocates. at may be for years,
it may be forever" but he pegs away in
spite of obstacles that would discourage a
less persistent and determined nature, and,
as his colleagues say, always "gets there. "
The magnificent congressional library
building is an example of Senator Morrill,
predominant traits of persistence and quiet
rock-like frmness. 1t has taken hin
nearly twenty years of persistent effort tC
make the new library building an accom-
pished fact, now growing day by day be-
fore his eyes into "thing of beauty and a
Joy forever" One wonders if there will
not be somewhere little niche set aside
for a bust of the venerable statesman who
led the thought and realization of the great
work. 1t would be III keeping with the
sentiment taking expression in the agri-
cultural colleges throughout the country,
where busts of marble or bronze are being
placed to commemorate the author of the
bill establishing these colleges.
Always mindful of the interests of the
state he represents so ably and faithfully,
Senator Morrill, is conspicuous for breadth
of mind and pride in the welfare and prog.
ress of the national capital. 1t has been
with him duty and pleasure to push such
Improvements as would make Washington
city of which the people of every state
would be justly proud. Senator Morrill,
has owned his home in Washington nearly
quarter of a century. 1t is not one Of
the great houses in the meaning of splen
dor and aesthetic tastes. But it is beau.
tiful home, with a refined, gracious hospi
tally, where the charm of the host anC
hostess is largely in the old-fashionet
courtesy, which is becoming more rare il
the shifting changes of official society
While forming new friendships as the year:
so on, Senator and Mrs. Morrill, have, in q
singularly marked way, held to friendship:
of past generations. Many of the letters
and kilograms of cOngratulation received
on the senator's birthday were from chill
dren or grandchildren of their early friends
They came from East and Weston,
friend near the Grand Canon of the Colo
RADIO telegraphing BIRTHDAY greetings from
the Rockies to the Green Mountains"
The senator has always been averse t
receiving birthday gifts, but he cannot re
fuse flowers, and the rarest blossoms ar,
sent to grace his birthday party in sucl
profusion that the Morrill, house is a veri
table flower garden for a week afterward
This year there were wonderful orchid!
from his Vermont friends. and roses from
Boston, and from Washington people sucl
an array of lilies, roses, violets and pansie
as one seldom sees at any party Neithe
can the senator prevent his friends, es
pecially the old-time friends, from "drop
ping into poetry" on these happy occa
siOns. Every year for the last II year
Horatio King has sent his poetical greet
ings, following in person as a guest at tn
birthday party. This year the Rev. Dr.
Sunderland added some felicitous verses
The birthday was the more delightful al
around, because of Senator Morrilps goo,
health, apparently as vigorous as at an
time in ten years. Indeed, everybody fel
that the senior senator from Vermont wa
not Sc years DID, but SO years young.
Gen. GrOut Oh Cube.