Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-07-10
STORIES OF MAINE MEN. ,
Interestingly Told by Judge william
| r. Whitehouse.


the Maine supreme court, has few
superiors in Maine. His fund Of anec-
dotes is inexhaustibIe, and his good fell
lowship is proverbisl. with his long
experience in public life, he has neces-
sarily formed many acquaintance, and is
well versed in the peculisrities Of promi-
nent men.
"'Oh, yes,' he said, Il knew John L.
very much when he was In Augusta, and
l had ample opportunities to study his
habits and temperament. As you already
know, Stevens was one OF the most
sagacious and efficient political managers
and organizers we ever had in the State.
| He was a remarkably adroit diplomat,
and whenever it best suited bis purpose
he could, like Talleyrand, use words to
conceal ideas and thoughts.
| "Stevens was the most secretiye man In
politics that ever saw, and even the most
trivial matters he would always surround
in an impenetrable veil of mystery. At
the beginning Of one of our old cam
paigns, the situation looked very dubious.
and he invited some OF the political man.
ayers to meet him In conference at the
Journal office.
| "That evening at the appointed time
they all put in an appearance at his office.
No one was around and they could have
talked over private matters to their
hearts content without any danger of
being overheard. But that didn't suit
| the temperament of Stevens. In
solemn manner and with sepulchral voice
he waved his hand and said: Follow mep
The politicians complied, and he led them
up five flights of stairs into an attic room.
The cobwebs hung from the rafters in
festoons, and they were soon covered with
dirt, while a solitary bat was whirling
around their heads. In the most impress
sive manner, when everyone supposed that
he had some important disclosure to
make Stevens said: Gentlemen, success
is duty!'
"As that was all that he had to COM
municate, the company filed back down
stairs sadder but not wiser men.
! Ellis raising the flag at Hawaii might
have been bit premature, but it was
characteristic OF his patriotism. He loved
his country intensely and never lost an
| opportunity to do what he believed
would advance its interest. Few men
ever died in Augusta that were more
missed than John l.. Stevens.
| sit seems almost useless to say any
thing about man SO universally known
as James G. Blaine. He lived in the fierce
light that beats against kings, and his
whole life was an open book. He was a
remarkably genial and magnetic man, and
in his presence you always felt that you
was with friend.
81 once saw Blaine out to the Readfield
| fair. A friend of his wanted to purchase
good family horse and got Blaine to help
him look one up. A horse man found out
| what was up and fixed up an old spawned
and windbroken plug which he offered to
sell for $3.50. Blaine got another friend
| who understood horses to examine and
report on the animal. He soon detected
the fraud and reported. .sag Es7sa HE
E"When the owner of the horse came
the Ihorse Was too high priced for his
friend, and then, wanting to have little
fun with the man who had tried to beat
him, he continued: Il am sorry to have
| put you to so much trouble to show this
valuable lanimal, and to show you my
good intentions 1! will at least offer you
twenty-five dollars for this horse.'
My FRIEND replied the man, this is a
hill of a come. down, but the horse is
yours!'
slot M. Morrill, was one OF the noblest
| Romans of them all. / never knew a
more lovable man in every respect than
he. His nature WAS sunny and happy
blending of the strenuous and gentle life.
His honor was above all question or re-
proach, and America never had purer
statesman than he. He was too unselfish
and confiding to be good politician. As
an entertaining conversaJionalist he had
but very few equals and it was always a
great treat to listen to his talk.
II was at his house one night to whist
party, and at the close he entertained us
with some anecdotes Of his life at the bar.
One of them was finely illustrative of the
character of Ex-Governor John Hubbard
whose home was in Hallowell. He was a
physician, and was frequently called into
court as an expert on medical cases.
morrill, was defending the town in case
where man had brought suit for dam
ages received by defective highway.
'Dr. Hubbard was one of the witnesses
for the plaintiff. One of his peculiarities
was to say just as little as possible ON the
direct examination, when he was wit
ness, but to let himself out on the cross
examination. This he intended to do in
the case in question. The plaintiffs law
yer only asked him a few questions
and Hubbard merely grunted reply.
He was then handed over to Morrill, to be
cross examined. Hubbard was now in
his glory. He Strengthened up, cleared his
throat and made ready for action. He
was anxious to help the plaintiff, and his
| toufiponv uaa verv vqluable. If wOuld