The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-30
JUDGE THAYER.
How An English Au-
thor Pictured
Him.
A LION AMONG JACKALS.
The Best Political Organ
izer in the
State.
A LION AMONG JACKALS.

During the course of his remarks be-
fore the Massachusetts club at the din
ner in memory of Adm Thayer, Sat
urday, Senator George F. Hoar took
occasion to quote an English author
who, in a novel published some years
ago, refers to the late Judge Thayer
as he appeared at meetings of the Mas
sachusetts club.
One of the characters in the novel is
a banker residing in Boston, who takes
a friend in the person of Sir Hugh
Maddox, an English baronet, to meet
ing oflthe Massachusetts club, in COM
pany with the then mayor of Boston.
He delneates Governor Long and
Judge Thayer by a few very skillful
touches, which will be recognized by
any one who has heard either speak.
The passages quoted follow:
The State club held its meeting in
a parlor of the we'll known Warrener
House. There were some 80 members
present who received the mayor with
cheers as he entered with his two
friends. A good deal Of smoke was
made and good many speeches.
SIR HUGH FOUND INTEREST
in listening to some of the speakers
and in looking at some of the members.
Montague pointed out all of the no.
tables One of the speakers was a cor
pulent body and large open face; but
he was born orator of certain type.
Rounded and polished, mellow and mu
steal, his sentences rolled from his
mouth in liquid cadence and perfect
balance. Sir Hugh put him down as
his ideal after-dinner speaker. He made
his points clearly and with an occas-
ional vigOr that was always surpris
ing"
HE reminds me of the younger Pitt.
Who is he?" asked Sir Hugh, with a
touch of enthusiasm that was in strik-
tocratic insouciance.
ooh, that" said Montague with a
smile, lis William Shortley, commonly
called Billy Shortlegs. He is very pop
ular, well up in classics and stands a
good chance of being governor some
day. Shall introduce your"
Thank you, presently. Whom are
they calling for now?" inquired Sir
Hugh, as a chorus of voices cried out,
Amos Blackstone! Amos Blackstone!
Amos, Amos, Amos!"
Montague himself was chanting
Blackstone! Blackstone!" with great
gusto. When that gentleman rose,
perfect storm of cheers went up, dur
ing which Montaigne said, Now you
shall hear something, Sir Hugh shall
want to know what you think of him. I"
SIR HUGH PUT UP HIS EYEGLASS;
not that his sight was defective, but
the occasion was important. Mr.. Ames
Blackstone had almost arrived at the
dignified age of three score years. In
some respects he curiously resemhled
the previous speaker, though consider
ably his senior. He stood perhaps five
feet five inches in his boots. With the
exception of his legs, he was a heavily
built man, with large head and ample
brow, hairless face, very red, with
large cheeks and an under Jaw like
lion. His eyes were small, but wonder
fully bright and intelligent. He looked
so portentously solemn that when you
learnt that he was perfectly well in
mind, body and estate, the inclination
to laugh was irresistible. This re-
markab'e man began to speak in a
husky asthma5fcal voice, that gradu-
ally came out of the clouds and grew
clear. His subject was, THE Austen
ton of our young men from politics;
causes and cure" He was evidently a
master Of his subject, and spoke with
out notes He was absolutely without
pretense to oratory; and yet for thirty
minutes he played upon his audience
as it were pipe, and plucked out the
heart OF it's mystery, He was by turn
serious merry, doleful. witty, pathetic.
humorous, ironical and gravely philo-
sophie. When he was gay in speech,
his face was funereal, and during the
utterance of his grave reflections and
wise counsels, his face was lighted dp
with wiAning smile. There were mo-
ments when one
MIGHT HAVE HEARD b PIN DROP:
when one could not have heard
his name, if shouted for laughter; when
ones eyes gathered a sudden mist.
Sir Hugh did not remove his eyeglass;
he would have put up half a dozen
glasses, had he had them. "Well?" in
quired Montaigne, as the after-cheer-
ing subsidized.
"A grave, melancholy intellect, with
sprightly temperament? a wonderful
man. Who is he?" asked Sir Hugh,
dropping his glass,
His name, as you know, is Amos
Blackstone. He lives some miles away,
but he is a household name"
us he in business?''
Yes, a lawyer; a patent lawyer. Have
you ever heard of an institution called
the political boss?"
ooh, yes. AT home we use him to
degree as a sort of political black bo-
gey, to scare naughty children who
like to play at radicalism.
''Well, Amos Blackstone is a specimen
of the political boss"
Indeed? You surprise me-" gasped
Sir Hugh.
Don't mistake me; they are not all
like him, He is lion among jackals;
the best political organizer in the state
But he is getting crowded ont NV
younger men. We soon turn our war
horses out to pasture in this country
explained Montaigne