The Irish standard., 1903-02-21

made by the President. Their feeling
was very, bitter and it was reported
that there might be repetition of the
COnkling Garfield episode when the
New York sena tor resigned. When the
possibility of Senator Hoar's resigna-
tion was mentioned to Mr.. Ingalls,, the
latter dcrisively exclaimed:
Senator Hoar resign? Not much.
When it comes to that point he will
rise in his place and present the resg-
nation of Senator Dawes"
AS an orator Senator Hoar's ges-
lures are few and ungraceful.s He
usually stands with the points Of his
fingers resting on the desk in front of
him, and as he grows emphatic he
teeters up and down on his toes, pump
ing out his words in Il voice that is
little more than Il squak. His most
telling sentences and most cutting
satire are delivered while he blandly
surveys the Senate through his spec
church deacon gently admonishing
his brethren.
No one knows his limitations as
public speaker better than Mr.. Hoar
himself. When young man it was
his greatest dread that he could never
succeed as a pleader in the law be-
cause of his lack of voice. What is
now attributed to the weakness of old
age really was always an attiiction.
He never did have full-toned voice.
He had practised law for several
years and had been engaged in politics
for quite while before he was forced
to make public speech. During the
Free Soil movement he found himself
once on the platform where Wendell
Phillips presided over large and en-
thusiastic meeting. Phillips had ad-
dressed the crowd and then there were
cries for George f. Hoar."
The young mans heart was in his
mouth, but he was forced to the front
and made his first public address.
His thin, penetrating voice did not
fail him and was sufficient to convey
thoughts and expressions that aroused
the intense enthusiasm of the audi
ence. Confidence came to him and
from that day he never hesitated to
speak in public.
Mr.. Hoar is regarded by all his col
leagues as an authority on history,
language, literature and law. A dis
pute once arose between William V.
Allen, the Populist senator from Neb-
raska, and Senator Tillman of South
Carolina over the pronunciation of the
word "situs." Allen had pronounced
it with the short 81" and Tillman in
sisted that it should have the long
sound. He appealed to Senator Hoar
as an authority ON pronunciation.
The senator Automatically said that
Mr.. Allen undoubtedly knew that the
word should be pronounced with the
long 81" but had probably used the
short sound i'm order to save the time
of the Senate. AS Allen was the
champion ong-distance talker, and at
one time held the floor of the Senate
for fourteen consecutive hours, the
subtle satire of Mr.. Hoar was duly
appreciated.
Senator, there was a fine editorial
in this mornings - compliment
airy of yourself" said newspaper
man the other day, intending to please
the senator by calling his attention to
the approval of a newspaper of op-
poste politics.
What internal mean thing have I
done now that that paper should in
dorse me?" was his response.
AS an after-dinner orator Senator
Hoar has a wide reputation, but in
the evening of life he seldom accepts
an invitation to Il formal dinner. He
is adroit in the declination of invita-
tons to dine, as was shown recently
in sending his regrets that he would
be unable to attend a dinner Of the
Gridiron Club. The reason he assigned
was this:
81 know would be called upon for
an address. Now, I always make an
after-dinner speech in Greek and, as
l understand your club speaks and I'M
derstands nothing but Sanscrit,
would be out of place at the dinner"
Senator Hoar's happiest moments
are spent in his library ut his home in
Worcester. Mass. He has had it built
adjoining his home. and there has col
lected treasure of some 6,OOO vol
umes Of the most carefully selected
books that his training and taste could
suggest.
He has a mass of historical docu-
ments relating to the early colonial
days of Massachusetts and New Eng
land which money could not buy from
him. He has copy of the first Bible
published in America and a collection
of rare books that came to him from
his ancestor. Leonard Hoar. who was
president Of Harvard College more
than two centuries ago.
He has interesting relics in the form
Of letters and books from John Han
cock and Samuel Adams and books