The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-13
How the Act Of a Boy
Broke the Heart Of
Secretary Spencer

7 with the single exception Of Webster
who remained to complete the regotIa-
tons OF the Observation-Disclosures treaty.
Their successors were not quite so IL
lustrious. One OF them was. however. a
statesman OF the highest standing-Jchn
Canheld Spencer. Of New York. He had
already been to Washington in 1916 as a
Representative in Congress. His fame
| depended, though. upon other services "A
series Of scholarly essays on revising
the statutes OF New York and the ac-
tual revision OF those statutes; a high
position as a lawyer, and wide and en-
ergetic labors on behalf of philanthropy
for its own sake and public education
for the sake of the nation His accept
ance Of the portfolio which Mr Tyler
offered carried great weight, and he
came to Washington with great inAu-
ence
Like everyone else with money enough,
he made his home in Lafayette Square,
within clear sight OF the White House
Across the park were Clay and Cal
Eoun in the boarding house which at
II Seward. On a nearby corner lived
Secretary Webster A block farther
along II Street. next door to the court
church. lived Lord Ashburton. with
whom Mr.. Webster was then engaged
in defining our Canadian boundary.
George Bancroft. who was subsequently,
TO represent the Republic in England
and was then delivering lectures on his
tory and art. lived just of the corner
OF Connecticut Avenue Mr.. Spencer
as in a neighborhood Of much distinc-
ton. and he was decidedly not the least
distinguished resident Of the neighbor-
hood
The family consisted os the Secretary
and Mrs Spencer. their married daugh-
Ter and her husband. There was one
other member. a son. Philip. then about
eighteen Years old. of whom few out
siders spoke
Philip had few Of the traits which
ought TO have marked a grandson of
Ambrose Spencer. the eminent jurist.
and Dewitt Clinton. the eminent in
ventor He was neither stlIdious nor in
eonious When his father came To
Washington TO be Secretary this young
boy had already been discharged from
Union College for inattention and dis
soluteness, had run away. had signed for
service on a New England whaler, and
mao been rescued from that service only
with the greatest dificulty. He was
found by his distracted parents in .
little coast town. doing the hardest
manual labor. wearing the meanest
clothes. and associating with the vilest
company.
The Secretary was then ffty-three
years old, but he had not forgotten
what it was to be a boy. Accordingly
he procured an appointment for PhiBp
as a midshipman IN the United States
Navy. put him under the care Of the
hoy's uncle, and started him. so he
planned. on an suspicious career at sea
Philip served on two vessels in very
short time. the Potomac and the John
Adams. The former took him 20 Rio IN
Brazil. From that point there Is fairly
good testimony from the midshipman' :
{ associates from which the latter-day
student can make a sufficient examina-
ton Of his case.
When asked by his friends what led
him to enlist for service on a whaler,
this philanthropists son voiced the fol-
lowing remarkable yearning; 4 want
to harpoOn a whale" said he, TO see
the blood spout up"
Down IN Rio the idleness put upon
him seemed TO whet a worse appetite