Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-12-30
JOHN WARWICK DANIEL.

chants Association last week. Senator
John Warwick Daniel, ofGeneral Early''
staff in the war of the States, which
practically began and ended in his own
State, looks every inch the southern Sen
ator, not to say Virginia major. From
the moment the company was seated Sena,
tor Daniel was "the cynocure ofalleye
from the very distinction of his appear
ance and when the speaking began he
gathered all hearts to himself by his
superb speech. Not that there was any
thing singular in his appearan,e but
certain power radiated from his finely
cut countenance. Not of commanding
stature, he nevertheless, somehow loomed
at the head of the table in a way that
made where he sat the centre OF the
picture. After he had done speaking,
even, with that unconscious grace OF
kindness that is the power of the perfect
gentleman, he Immediately became the
best of listeners, turning respectfully SC
as to present his own face to the espeakers
at his side and help concentrate atten-
ton for their benefit Thus came into
view his profile, and that was not less
picturesque than the front face.
Both views represented that type Of
American face, with thin, straight,
slightly aquiline nose, clean upper lip
and firm pointed chin, that make the
Washington type OF face. One could
easily believe that this Major Daniel OF
Lynchburg, now United States Senator
Ito whom Senator Hoar goes out OF his
way in his recent book to pay most
charming personal tribute for his dig
nifty, ability and character) must be
relative at least, perhaps cousin or
nephew of the famous Richmond Es-
aminer editor, John Moncule Daniel,
publicist, literateur, practitioner of the
code of honor on the duelling field, and
yet-in kinship with the intrepid and
independent-the friend OF Theodore
Parker and of Poe, stormy petrol IN
Italy as American minister before Italy
vas united, and an equally stormy states
man inside the Southern Confederacy at
tacking Jefferson Davis and fighting duels
to the last to back up his editorials, and
vet all the time stopping to spell public
''publick" and politics 'politicks" in
his leaders, as in honor bound to main
tain the finish and dignity of his Eng
lish prose of the old Spectator style
surel " this John Warwick Daniel OF
Lynchburg must have had forbears in
common with the Richmond Examiner
Daniel.
Such a Southron's hair, even, is
"worn with a difference" Would any
northerncr not an actor fail to keep HI.
hair clipped and shingled? The south
ern statesman's still dark and plentiful
locks are what the French call "boucie"
over his ears and hang full on his neck.
They are not rolled under in the old
style, yet worn long like MT. Bryan's,
aud this was undoubtedly why tc
northern and eastern eyes he presented
so striking a figure, cross between the
Virginia Washington type, and that OF
the Nebraskan Bryan. All the world is
a good listener when fine oratory is go
ing forward. All the world loves an
orator and always have doneso, to judge
by the classics that have come down tC
us from the ancients, although the COM
pelling magnetism of the real orator
cannot be set down in cold type, noI
even communicated to complete convic'
ton by tradition, any more than thI
great actors secret of power can be.
We still have to take our Daniel Webster
on the faith of the generations who saw
him, who felt the majesty of the man
the power of his voice and the depth oi
his eyes. But before Senator DAME
spoke the other night he had exercised
something of the hypnotism of DAME
Webster-and any irreverent Yankee
who didn't know but he might turn ou
to have also something of the DAME
Pratt in him jumped up to cheer will
the rest when he had spoken. 1t wa
the same kind of conquest, no doubt, a
that achieved the other day by Ambassa
dor Choate's guest in London, wbicl
drew from the Thunderer itself the com
ment that Mr.. Bryan's speech was on
of power, of true dignity and rar
beauty. - Boston Evening Transcript