Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-06-30
Tom Reeds Literary Side.

THOMAS Erackctt Reel statesman ana
lawyer. Is lover OF books, and has been
h hd pihtiFofous reader from his edriieS,i,
H.! iluod days. When lad at school ~
'0 pure time was spent in rcidlhg, -
ne "ttcncr turned to an absorbing noNci
pr i book Of poetry than TO his ieA'
nrohN. later At college he Is said 70 ~,
olttn neglected his studies during "
earlier part of his course in order 10
cram his brain with classic literature, ~
wei as with some which, upon ms W
iced graduated from college ms c"ili
IIn"nccm"ht grafton on The Fear %
pHath winning the composition prize.
IN MS long congressional career 4
Washington Mr. Reed showed his knoWl-
edge of books and literature on more
IMAM one occasion. The hliInor OF III,
speeches was intensified by SLOW dra"i
ana a high pitched rather nasal Nplc'
In debate Mr.. Reed always preserved AZ
even and tranquil temper. oftGn one HILL
tchco, delivered in his inimitabl" manner,
w4ulI delnolish, IN II gust pl ilusnt'r a..
attack upon which an opponent nAh
spent hours of labor ON one occasion
when an infianifcant member from Il
Sou'hoth state, which was dlso Irpi'
stnled by one Of the most eminent Dei IL
ocrats IN the country, had. at great cN-
pelisr u the time of the House, rptst
ear Mr.. Reed. that gentleman got up ana
remarked uuizzically that 1t was indeed
a great honor for one state TO lufhl9I
TWO such ReprcSentatiV "One to ledd
the House. and the other to bring up the
rear" That was an he said, hut tho am
bilious member was completely squclched
His wit Is not only spontaneous ana
ntShlhE, but 1t j. also tplSrdin1ndtic'
~ other man" said Robert T.. Porter
recently has his power of CondensinE,
whole argument in a few striking words.
MS .piSramS are worthy OF the literary
artist, in that they are perfect II form
Though struck out IN the spur Of tht
moment, you cannot take a word from hoi
recdst them. They have for solid bd-
SIS A nrpfnInI knpv'lIlg,, of human ma
ture and OF life. and they exhibit 70
luminous degree the possession by thtlr
author Of the prime quality Oi uue
man-horse sense"
To laundering lieutenant hr once
said. with almost brutal trankntas: Pr
are too big fool to lead. and haven't
sense enough to follow
In his home. Mr.. Reed Is never 30 hap
by when in his den" among MS
books. Every available bit of space Is
utilized for b0OkshclVc:-. and more books
room but bookcases are 70 pc found AL
over the house. filled with books upon
every conceivable subi"ct-law, politics
philosophy, history, fiction and poetry.
He Is great admIrcr of GoorEr WI
liam Curtis style. particularly because
Of the rhythmic quality ~ hi prose.
which he y, lieves has aided him ~ true
appreciation Of rhythm. without wnl'h
no speaker can become an orator. Coca
novels M j. intensely fond Uf. ana Bd.-
zac and Thackeray are his fivoritcs- y
carer vi anu SuCtt .tl VI 81 ubfIl ti tiui'l't
nature hims ELI he naturally delights IN
those authors VINO have most truthiullt
and forcibly presented that cvCr-vdryins
ana always delightful entity.
ThdCkcray Is his favOritc novelist. ana
"Pcndcnuis" aud The Nirgiuian-' hc
finds the most intcrc sting ut his novels.
though he believes that vanity Fair L.
the greatest of the masters aCht"N'-
mcnts. Charles Ecddc Is another novel
ist i'll whom ~ greatly delights.
Among the poet. Mr.. Reed prefers Ten
nysOn, though hc reads constantly
Browning. LbuEitIluw. Whittier ana
Holmes. Horace is another author ia
whom Ny. Reed delights. ana certain
poems of the charming Latin poet hr
reads ana rcrcad- constantly.
The catholiriiy no hi- pr"ticul taste
Mr. Reed illustrates nv citing d~ one XII
liz fuVuritr poems thc following from Univ
pen Of F.ug.uc 4. War.
once Il Kansas zephyr strayod
Whore Il br.t-S-,s"G bull pup played.
And that foolish caniu" haycd
NJ ihat zephyr in =. gay,
omi-iilutic WHY.
Then tnlt zephyr tn about
Half ID JInE took that pup.
Tipped Eim over wrong SidC M
Then il turned him wrong sid" out,
Nud it calmly journey thence.
With a. uaru and string ot fence.