New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-04
GOSSIP OF THE CAPITAL.
SENATOR DAVIS, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
A NAN WELL EQUIPPED FOR THE PLAcE-rHD
MARQUETTE STATUE AND IT'S SCULPTOR
OPENING THE CONGRESSIONAL
LIBRARY on SUNDAY.

MARQUETTE STATUE AND IT'S SCULPTOR
OPENING THE CONGRESSIONAL
LIBRARY ON SUNDAY
| Washington. April s-owlng TO the conditions
which govern the making up Of committees II
| sometimes happens tina, the chairman OF COM
mittee Ia always exactly qualified for the place.
/ This s especially true OF the Committee on FOR
eIgn Relations, and In the history OF the Govern
mcnt men OF narrow and provincial views, OF In
adequate knowledge and Phiiisne tendencies. have
occasionally presided over this, enc OF the moss
| important committees
The ideal chairman OF the COMMITTEES ofn'oreign
Relations should be a OF agreeable personality
| OF broad learning and culture. without insuar
preiudIces and with more than superficial knowi-
| edge Of international law. The presen, acting
chairman, who will ultimately be appointed chair-
man. Senator Cushman X. Davis. OF Minnesota.
nearly approaches this IDEAL
Senator Davis personally Is genial and responsive,
/ thoroughly democratic In his manner, and one OF
| the most erudite men In the Senate. During his
| entire life he has been deep student. and not
| only has the history Of England and America At
| his tongues end, but has made comprehensive
| study of Africa and Asia. and perhaps no one IN
public life knows more of these countries and their
present and possible future relations to the United
| States He IL especially well Informed on the
politics of China and Japan and few people at the
time of the troubles in the Transvaal had clearer
know ledge Of the situation or could more iuc'diy
| explain II. r
| senator Davis puts one quite 70 shame as 70
the history OF his country. said visiting ror'
eigner an eminent artist. recently. II was horn
| in Italy. I student OF the anairs OF my
country and yet this American from out West. VINO
| has never been In Italy. tell me moro OF III
| history and has taught me more about my own
| country than / learned at the University
Senator Daviss interest In literary matters has
| broad scope and he has paid especial attention
| to the study of languages. He Is or course
| familiar with the classics. and translates french
| and italian nuently and dramatically. never
| missing a hidden meaning; but curiousy enough no
| can neither understand these tongues when spoken,
| nor make himself understood In them by word OF
| mouth. He is an Unsuitable reader. and FOR MS
| hours Of recreation enjoys nothing more than =
| good French novel, which taste is shared Win
him by the Speaker OF the House. who Is also d.
| voted French scholar.
AT his home in st. Paul Senator Davis mas
| library containing some 5000 volumes Large sec.
tons OF ii devoted to Napoleon and his period
| and to Shakespeare. The Law In ShakespearS
Is the title of book he has written. the result OF
| his Shakespearian researches
| In appearance. owing a slight cast IN one eye,
his physique and his round head. which inclines %
ate and one OF the negro
ing upon him suddenly one day In me s s ,sIs
immortal Yankee, or 'ole Gen'l Ben Butler done
MT MI Trentanove. the sculptor who gained a wider
notorety through the controversy in the house las.
| the acceptance OF MS statue Oh dtuc.
Marquette than he would ever have attained artss
through his art. although that Is OF hgh or Der
portrait is an excellent one. the expression of the
eyes especially good and aif9ss s an a.
The excitement. attending the placing OF the
Marquette statue in Statuary Hall because OF the
religion OF the priestly explorer has about died
down and the statue still stands intact In Its
great beauty and dignity, In spite OF the many
/ aIl A
| smashed In pieces Occasionally n mild crank
will stand In front of 1t and haransue the sanity
father as II he there in life and now ana
then note is deposited at its base giving the
| writer's views concerning Roman Catholicism and
| denouncing the Government for allowing the efigy
| of a Romanist In its halls. Why these busy.
| bodies pass by the statues of the other Roman
lists in the hall and pour out their Walls OF wrath
over Father Marquette Is question; but what
| seems particularly 10 awaken their ire are tho
insignia of his presty office-the rosary about
his waist and the prayer-book In his hand:
forward with pleasure and enthusiasm 10 the max.
ing of portrait bust Of the President; t.ar,y IN
| Humbert one Of the Knights OF the crown or inc
Kingdom Of italy, ne hgaet Of marx rrSo VI Fan tSa
monarch can bestow
The trustees of the Corcoran Art Gallery. when
thev moved into the new building on February e.
| decided to open the gallery on Sunday afternoons
| This plan has been carried out. with the result
| that between the hours OF and o'clock on
Sundays the gallery is crowded with people. the
majority of whom have never before crossed It's
threshold This innovation has met with universal
| approval. and IL is hoped that the example OK the
| trustees of the Corcoran Art Gallery will be fol-
| lowed by the Government. and that such educa-
tional institutions the National Museum and the
Congressional Library may be opened on the SAP
| bath.
It has long been Mr.. Sponords wish that the
Congressional Library should remain open seven
days in the week, for the convenience OF those
scholars and lay readers who are unable to visit
IL on secular days during the hours II is accessi-
bic viz 10 to l. but there has been deep-rooted
nreiudice against IT, During the last winter, how
ever. Congress and the Librarian OF the Congress
sional Library received numerous petitions and ap-
peaIs begging them to have the Library opened
on Sunday - - 49, ,,
agree with them. that the Congressional Library
should d., be 9pfn svnH say from the hours the
morning until 10 at night. There are many stu
employed during the day and are unable to study
or avail themselves of the privileges OF the library
fSsS Sufas the ne Stg
G h Se h poysp If 81 s SaS AZ
some future time required to open It's doors 81
new building have provided an electric lighting
plant. and all the rooms can be adequately lighted
The grandson OF W. W. Corcoran who gave to
| the city OF Washington 6d'ety WHICH oeafs
| his name and a sum OF money for its maintenance
| and increase is in town, applicant for the
Danish Mission Mr.. Eustls Is nephew OF the
retiring Ambassador to France. but. unlike his
uncle is an ardent Republican. and did efficient
service In the campaign In Maryland last summer.
lie has been educated partly abroad. speaks French
as nuently as he does English. and Is equipped
I'm every way for n diplomatic appointment. having
a pleasant personality wide knowledge OF Euro
mean notifies and a large fortune The latter II
an important factor. 1t T. quite impossible on
the salaries allowed them for Ministers from the
United States TO live and entertain in manner
which does credit to their positions and their
country.