Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-08

direction, and his distracted manner came
not from unkindness. can say from my
long acquaintance with him and intimate
relations that no unfriendly meaning could
be ascribed to this seeming abstraction;
He was always liberal with people IN
distress, college chums in hard luck old
soldiers away from home, and he had
particularly soft spot in his heart for elder
ly people in straitened circumstances. His
charities were bestowed sincerely and
without oStentation.
A Charming Companion.
Socially he was a charming companion.
and always was much sought after on ac-
count of his genial wit, inexhaustible ami
NAL spirits and wide information upon all
subjects. He was the center Of attraction
in all festive gatherings at which he was
present. After he left Congress and went
to New York to live ne was in as much de-
mand as he had been in Washington!
He was always a great reader even
from boyhood His studious habits were
confirmed while at college, and all through
his subsequent years he was systematic
student Of a wide range OF subjects.
He was one Of the kindest-hearted men
in private life and among neighbors and
friends in whom he placed commence tnat
have ever met.
A Friendly Analysis.
The following analysis Of Mr.. Reeds
characteristics is from the pen OF man
who held official and personal relations with
him for many years in Washington:
THE epithets Of 'czar' and 'tyrant' which
were SO abundantly showered on Mr.. Reed
during the memorable Fifty-first Congress,
undoubtedly gave to many who did not
know him personally an entirely wrong
conception of his character. His great de-
termination and will power were not oD-
trusive in his family or his social relations
There he was sunny and genial, with
keen appreciation for the feelings Of others.
Friends Of his family bear witness that dur
ing the stormiest days of the Ftfty-hrst
Congress, after day OF denunc1ations IN
the House, he would join his family circle
in the evening, entirely serene and undis-
turbed and join in the conversation or
amusements Of the evening without an in
dication that he had been during the day
the master spirit in the battle for the en-
franchisement Of the House Of Representa-
tves.
Mr.. Reeds wit has become famous; and
he did not hesitate to use 1t as weapon
Of political warfare. He preferred to apply
it to issues rather than persons; but some
times a persistent and obtrusive foe would
tempt him beyond the limit Of patience. In
such cases the punishment was likely to be
swift and memorable. But no friend ever
suffered from Mr.. Reeds wit; nor was he
inclined to use it against a sincere and earn-
est man. Sincere and earnest himself, with
high ideals Ills to the dignity of manhood
and the seriousness of LIES duties, he was
always kindly and considerable with men
who seemed to him to be doing their best
But when he detected an attempt to pass
off pretense for merit his indignation often
prompted sarcasm or few witty words
that no humbug could Withstand.
"Of commanding stature and towering in
tellect, he did not place great value on the
small change OF social intercourse. He was
forgetful rather than punctilious about
small matters Of etiquette. He sometimes
Ia RI
spond to a perfunctory note or by neglect
to notice q pasteboard call. But he was
keenly sensitive to the real obligations of
duty, friendship and neighborhood.
Among the tenderest recollections Of Mr..
Reeds life were those Of acts Of mutual
loyalty between himself and his friends.
Among his supporters in Maine he counted
one who had always been at his side in
every political battle, man Of chivalric
nature and noble principles. Mr.. Reed de-
sired to reward his fidelity by recommend
ing him to an important Office. but for
reasons purely political the friend seemed
condition detrimental to the interests Of
Mr.. Reed. The friend was too loyal to ac-
cede to such conditions. and Mr.. Reed
knew 1t. So he went to him and said:
Your abilities and record entitle you
to the Office. I ask you g favor to put
aside all questions as to my interests. and
take it. Your loyalty shall never forget.
and my friendship to you will be in no wise
''Mr Reeds family relations were excep-
tionally happy. His wife and daughter
have been confidantes, advisers and help
ers to him throughout his career. But he
never asked or wanted them to subordinate
their social relations to what might be
termed political expediency. He was not
demonstrative in his affections or his
friendships. but the deep sincerity of his
attachments was as unchangtng as the
rocks. The chfvalrous regard which orna-
mented his attachment to the women OF his
own family exercised a strong influence on
his views as to the rights Of women. He
was always. in his later years at least.
believer in woman suffrage, and he counted
among his friends several OF the remarixa-
BILE women who bore the standard of wo-
man suffrage through the years of opposi-
ton and detraction.
Mr. Reeds relations with the subordi-
nate officials and employees of the House
were always happy. He never patronized
them or encouraged familiarity. But what
ever he had to do with them was always
done in a spirit of fairness and confederate
ness. II It was necessary to reprimand
man generally worthy for inattention to
duty he always did 1t plainly and directly,
in, a way to give the offender the least pos
sibie humiliation. The employees felt pride
in him as the great chief of the House, and
for many years stories Of his administra-