The Irish standard., 1903-02-21
H0AR's HOBBIES.
PecularitieS of the Venerable
Senator.

United States Senator Aldrlch, OF
Rhode Island, walked up to his col
league from Massachusetts, George
Frisbie Hoar, the other day and said:
Senator, l congratulate you on be-
ing the new object Of eager interest to
visitors to the national capital"
Mr.. Hoar beamed through his gold
trimmed spectacles at Mr.. Aldrich.
"Why?" he asked.
''Well," was the reply, "a dozen
sightseers from Providence hunted me
up not an hour ago and asked me to
point out to them 'TIoar, the trust
BUSTER And I've gathered in chats
with other senators and representa-
tives that their constituents are daily
imploring them to exhibit you in the
role of octopus hunter"
One visit to the Senate galleries af-
fords sufficient proof that Senator
Aldrich was right when he told Mr..
Hoar that he is an object Of great in
terest to Washington's visitors. Any
day one can see parties of visitors gaz-
ing at Senator Hoar long and curious
ly, and discussing him. They seem
to come just to see Mr.. Hoar and,
when they have taken him in to their
hearts content, they steal silently
away, says the Washington CORE
Of
But if these visitors knew that the
venerable senator, who generally dis
appoints them in his physical appear
ance, reads genuine yellow-back nov
| els and ten-cent productions on the
same order with all the avidity of q
messenger boy, perhaps they would
gaze longer and with increased cur
iosity and wonder. For truth to TELL
Massachusetts senior senator enjoys
this form of pastime and refuses to
be separated from it.
Mr. Hoar's favorite time for reading
these hair-raisng productions is while
travelling. Whenever he has rail-
way journey Of any length to make he
carries with him pile of literature Of
the Deadwood Dick, Red-Headed
Ralph the Ranger of the Roaring
Ralto type. He reads the stuff
through from first to last and seems
to get the keenest enjoyment out Of
the plots and impossible characters.
And he likes nothing better than to
discuss with his companions the cur
ious working of the human mind that
can evolve such situations.
But this is not Mr.. Hoars only trait
that amuses his colleagues. When he
is in particularly good humor he
keeps his neighbors in the Senate in
n constant litter by his comments on
the proceedings.
His colleagues have a sure way of
gauging his humor. 1t is by the man.
ner in which he manipulates a bunch
Of keys that bangles from his fingers.
When he is at peace with the world
and everything is going smoothly with
him, Mr.. Hoar swings this bunch of
keys with an easy, regular motion. If
the swing should stop, or become ir-
regular, then there is little trouble
brewing in his mind.
If he should tap the desk with his
keys. then it is known that the views
expressed by some one on the floor
are displeasing to him. When he
draws the keys up near his face and
swings them in a circular motion, he
is amused at his opponents. But
when he sweeps the bunch through
the air in a long curve, his colleagues
know that he is Disguised and about
to take the floor to reply to some dis
pleasing argument, or to reproach the
Senate for some proceedings not in
accord with his ideas of propriety.
Unlike most of his colleagues in the
Senate Mr.. Hoar fancies no particular
sport. He is neither fisherman nor
a hunter. His tastes are quiet and his
outdoor exercise limited to carriage
drives and trolley rides.
Every summer during vacation time
it Is his habit to gather n company Of
his old cronies in Worcester, charter
trolley, car and go to the seashore at
Gloucester, where they have fish
dinner. The carload of old fellows 80
from Worcester to Boston. where they
remain over night. The next day
they go to Gloucester, eat their fish
dinner. return to Boston and, on the
third day, get back to Worcester.
There are more Of these Worcester
cronies than Of the senator's intimates
in Washington. for this mild-mannered
man, whose blue eyes beam so benign
ly through huge spectacles. has not
made many close friends in his public
capacity. This is due to the fact that
he yields free lance in debate and
is as apt to wound a friend as foe.
He has a biting. sarcastic tongue,
which more than once has made him
personal enemies. These enemies call
him selfish and disregardful of the
rights and prerogatives of others.
He Is great stickler for the forms
and courtesies of the Senate as applied
to others. He has habit of lectur-
Ing the Senate on the prophecies, and
this, too, has caused resentment.
The brilliant ingalls,, whose wit and