The times., 1899-04-02
q l4!l[i ! ] l[{|@1{t ~ j tt|[.t tt|11 !
A BIngrnphy of HamlIn.

books on United States history. and fol
those who wish 10 study the history OF tn
snu-slavery movement In Maine and II
Congress. Although the authors sympa-
thies are naturally warmly enlisted in be.
half Of his subject. and his convict ons are
those Of the radical Federaiist of the sew
enties. he has. in the main, given a fair
minded and impartial view of the great
characters OF Hamlin's time, while his pic
tures OF the Pine Tree statesman himse
are characterized by the SYM athletic and
graphic touch of one thoroughly in accord
with the character he is endeavoring tc
portray. II may be laid down as a gen
eral rule that the best biographies are
those in which the author and the subject
are akin, either by blood or temperament.
for mans friends always know him bst-
ter than his enemies, and the best of a
man is. after all, the nearest 10 bis true
character. Unless there is actual pe-ver-
sion of facts, then, the friendly biographsr
is more TO be depended on than lhs in
partial and cold-blooded writer who de-
pends merely on documents for his ideas.
The latter constructs a straw scarecrow
the former, live man.
And live man one may certainly see
In Mr.. Charles Hamlin's record of his
grandfather's life and work. A part of the
material for this book was gathered from
the "reminiscences of the biographer S
father, Gen. Charles Hamlin, who was Sem
ator HaIniin's right hand man for many
years, and during that time gathered facts
and manuscripts with the intention of
writing the biography himself John G..
Nlcolay, Noah Brooks, and others who
were personally acquainted with Lincoln
also furnished some information: and in
making up the record of the ante -belIum
struggle against slavery the author had
access 10 his grandfather's private CORE
spondence on the subject, including about
1000 letters. Among the illustrations are
several fine portraits of Senator Hamlin at
different points in his career The last. rep
resenting MIN at the age of eighty. is es-
peciaiiy line, and will be recognized by
washington people as a good likeness of
the Old statesman, as he appeared during
the last years of his residence here. There
are also portraits of Hamlin's father and
mother, OF Lincoln, and of nearly all the
important leaders on both sides of the
great political conflict Of the latter fifties.
IL may be said that in ancestry. early
associations, and education, Hamlin was a
typical New Englander OF his day. Born
on 4 farm, of family whose lineage can
De traced back 10 the time OF William the
Conqueror, when the name was spelled
Hameiyn; brought up 10 understand all
kinds OF farm work and look forward 10 col
lege and professional career; giving up
these hopes on account OF family troubles.
and cheerfully resigniDg himself to taking
charge of the farm during his early man
nooui teaching. farming. editing q newspa-
per, taking part in politics, doing half
nc ha
finally settling down TO his lfe-work. his
life could be duplicated. at that time. in
nearly every farming village of the six
New England States. He was one of
hundreds OF bright, ambitious. determined
boys, with unbounded faith in themselves
and serene consciousness that in this
country a mans career was bounded only
by his own ability. The earlier chapters Of
this biography give not only vivid plct-
ure OF young Hamlin. but d very good
view OF civilization which had na"or, HP
TO that time, been duplicated In any part
OF the world, and which was so entirely
different from that Of the South that, in
those days Of limited facilities for eommu-
nication, IL was no wonder the two
sections OF the country failed TO under
stand one another.
In those days the population OF New
England was wholly American, unbroken
ps any dululhiurt OF 4OEelSI UlOOOs llS IN
stitutions were old enough to have become
fixed and settled; the general level of ed
ucation and prosperity was probably
higher than in any other part of the coun-
Try, owing 10 the fact that everyone had
chance at the common schools, and ev-
eryone did his share of work; and the
great Characteristic of the people was that
they wasted nothing-neither food, nor
labor, nor men, nor land. The compact
ness OF the population was also an ad-
vantage, and very great one. before the
DAYS OF Western competition; and, since
everyone knew everyone else, there was
little temptation to ostentatious display of
wealth, and every encouragement to the
plain, honest virtues of everyday life
Hannibal Hamlin was the product of
this civilization. Half a century later he
might have gone TO the West, which is
now developing much the same type of
men out of much the same circumstances
practical equality of opportunity and
need for resourcefulness and physical
Etrength. But as II was. he remained a
resident Of the Pine Tree State He
came of fighting ancestry, three or four of
his immediate family having fought with
Washington; and il was the most natural
thing in the world that he should turn
into pugnacious politician
In those days the woods OF Maine were
Htill full Of all kinds OF game, and young
Hannibal became a crack shot and partici-
pated in occasional bear. hunts. One of
the peculiar characteristics OF New En-
gland life at that time, however, was that
the use of firearms on human beings was
discouraged. When the young men of
Paris Hill, Me, had any trouble to settle
they did II In wrestling match; and there
is tradition OF an encounter which Ham
lin once had with a blacksmith who was
a champion wrestler, but who did not win
in that bout.
This book contains an abundance Of the
little personal anecdotes which help 10
round out ones conception OF public
man; IL shows him TO us as he was in his
home and with his friends. and gives US
glimpses of his method of dealing with
business acquaintances. One story of his
shrewdness in treating a penurious client
is rather funny. II runs as follows:
One Of the richest men in Penclscot county,
lived near Hsmpden. lie was very parsimonious; I;
In fact. his neighbors said he was ..rnoaner than
a sSintint. lie sold some land one day. and
being in Hampden called on Mr. Hamlin TO get
him 10 draw up the deed lie first enanired how
much this transaction would cost him. knowing
the peculiariiy Of the old man, Mr. Hamlin
thought he would see how far his meanness would
carry him. and 50 he replied that the law al
lowed him - cents. Then he added:
DO you think that's too mnchg''
Yes, yes; that's altogether TOO much rc-
piled the Old man, shaking his head and con
tracing his thin lips.
Well continued Mr. Hsmlin. sraycly, do
you think that two shillings would be too
muchF'
Yes" said tho client. "that's too much
How about one sliliingy' Mr.. Hamlin asked
with his blsndest smile
Yes" the old niiser cautiously admitted
zone sfillin amt too much
NJ. Haialin made out the deed, and when he
received tie shilling he said, in an apparently
cordial, of band way:
Nov, seeing tha; It's you, I'll give Won the