The Irish standard., 1901-01-19

On Saturday, Jan. -, the session Of
the United States senate was devoted
to services held in memory of the late
Senator Cushman X. Davis of Mime
sofa. Eulogies Of the dead statesman
We're delivered by Senators Nelson.
Hoar, Lodge, Morgan. Clarke, Daniel,
Spooner, McCumbcr, Foster, Pettigrew
and Townc, the last named having
been appointed by Governor Lind to
fill Davis chair until his successor is
elected by the Minnesota legislature
now in session.
When Charles a. Towne arose to
speak, there was an air of genuine eX-
pectancy which permeated the vast
audience.
And from the first sentence until
the close of his eloquent and effective
pancgyric the Duluth orator held the
galleries spellbound. Townc is Il
word-paintcr, an idcalist, Il poet and
an orator.
The theme was one which furnished
Il wide latitude for his cultured mind
and splendid dictiOn.
He began by saying that in these
sacred precincts the words of eulogy
and praise always lenped from willing
tongues whenever one of the members
of the august body had passed away.
No words that he could marshal
could do justice to the memory of
Davis. His life and his character, al-
though shining bright at the zenith
of his fame, would, nevertheless, be
better understood and more fully ap-
prcciated by the world as history
comes to be written.
Mr.. Townc ut some length alluded
to the poctical and ideal side Of Davis
character. He was lord of Il wonder
full creation when in his library sur
rounded by his favorte authors.
He quoted literally from Davis
work on the law in Shakespeare and
said that the English language con-
tanned no finer classics than the lecture
Of Davis OH Hamlet. Mr.. Towne said:
"Mr. President:
''Thc language of eulogy has many
times awakened the echoes of these
august walls. Often IN this place have
affection, gratitude and admiration
paid their unstinted tribute to great
talents, exalted character, valiant
deeds and useful service.
Here whatever is high in purpose
or excellent In performance has again
and again been celebrated by all that
is noble in thought and eloquent in
speech.
"Today, with whatsoever humble
ness voice may raise to mingle with
these mighty memories, there is that
in the subject Of observance which
vindicates propriety by transforming
presumption into duty.
Ellis countrymen at large had hard
ly reached just appreciation of the
native genius and the vast and varied
requirements OF Cushman Kellogg
Davis when cnvious death obscurcd
the light, whose radiance had begun
to shine in it's peculiar sphere, and
with it's own original lustre.
"rhe people Of his commonwealth
among whom he lived his simple, un-
ostentatous, busy life, in o familiar
association of more than 80 years, had
come to know him well.
"His nnme is household word
throughout the state of Minnesota
His varied endowment, his wide and
accurate scholarship, his versatile ca
pacity, were common knowledge; and
when he was called, as his fellow citi-
zcns knew lie sometime must be, to Il
large opportunity upon the thcatcr OF
the national history, they looked con-
tidently forward to career that
should leave all his cOuntrymen as
well assured as they themselves al
ready were of his right to a place in
the pantheon Of American greatness
"In everyday life Mr.. Davis was
democratic and unconventional, genial
and approacllablc, though never with
out that unobtrusive suggestion of
dignity which almost seems to be the
peculiar property Of the true American
gentleman.
"His simplicity was as unaffected as
his self-respect was unmistakable. He
had withal lively sense of humor
which, playing above an illimltablt
expanse Of miscellaneous information,
lighted up his conversation like sun
shine upon a diversified landscape.
"At the bar he early attained to
eminence. Always a student in what
ever interested him, he had an eXten-