Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-05

lions who are likely to have voice in great
international complications and we have
very serious matters OF our own to handle
Cuba Porto Rico and the Philippines-whic
will come directly under the supervision of
the senate committee ON foreign relations in
which Senator Davis WILL of course be the
most important voice. His position indeed,
In American affairs affairs is not unlike that
held by Joseph Chamberlain in England.
At first view Senator Davis seems to be a
Bingularly unimpressive man OF apparently
colorless character This deceptive idea is
due, in large measure, to his inability to
veil his own individuality by merging it for
the time being into the personality Of his
visitor. giving to strangers an apparent ac-
feasibility that puts them Immediately on
a confidential footing. He Is slightly above
the medium height, more gentle than aggres-
i've in his bearing, tactful sympathetic, con-
ciliatory. His hair is thin, light brown in
color. His eyes, yelled by dropping lids, are
brown, deepening to black under excitement.
His face is one of unusual mobility.
scanned with many lines-expressive, deli
cate lines that come and go with changing
moods. When the affairs of state do not
weigh heavily his smile is frequent and his
laugh boyish. 1t is a progressive laugh, be-
ginning with an upward twist of the eyes,
of the face and finishing with the shoulders,
which seem to move up toward the head and
throat He is constant smoker, and to see
Senator Davis without his big black cigar
would be almost unusual as to see war
picture of Grant without his.
He is diplomat of the first order in con-
versaton and can talk charmingly en- any
subject. saying much without limiting at
tho things which should be kept secret.
While he talks loses sight of his flesh
and blood humanity. feeling him merely AZ a
strong mental force. He is calm, logical,
convincing. He kindles slowly, but once
kindled he blazes fercely.
In spite of his accessibility and wide circle
OF acQuaintances the zone Of his ntimates is
small. He is chary of real friendship and
his home-life is almost entirely free from
tho intrusion of strangers. If client or
politician eeeks him after Office hours he IL
su}rmarily dismissed.
His Love for books.
p, Senator Davis homo Is. a large, old-fash-
toned frame house on the corner of Laurel
and Harrington avenues in st. Paul Its
furnishings suggest the old colonial dayf
and seem to be enyeloped in the aroma o
lavender and rosemary. The walls are linet
with bcoks-thousands Of them-running tht
gamut Ct literature from the froth cf moderl
poetry to the solid rock of ancient philoso
ply. He is universal lover of books. Hi
favorite book is the book that satlsfes th
mood OF the moment, and his favorite autho
Dickens, Thackeray, Shakespe are, Kipling
Balzac, or any one OF hundreds Of others ac
cording to the need of the hour.
"If have ahy favorite authors" says Sen
ator Davis they are the ones who stud
the common people, who treat OF them a
individuals instead of herding them. Thes
interest me more deeply than others. | an
an unconscious student of types and while II
Paris | found great pleasure in going to tn
cafes where the laboring classes congregat
TO study Individuality The walk, the line
In the face. the movement of the body 1
gesture, the tone of the voice. are all ex
pIessive and full of meaning to him VIII
understands | believe that mans powe
is in direct ratio to his sympathetic under
standing of the wants of the common people
An affected understanding will avail moth
ing; IT must be intuitye and sincere"
Senator Davis was born in Henderson, JET