The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-04-23
SECRETARY HAY LOVES HIS HOME Is a Man of Culture and Catho-
 lie Tastes UNIQUE IN LITERATURE, lt Is Believed That Secretary May Leave Behind Works Now Un-
 known That Will Be of
 Great Value.
From the New York Herald.

From the New York Herald.
 John Hay, Secretary of State, is in tensely human. From those fortunate enough to know him personally. and, from the fewer number who may be termed his intimates, he attracts sincere affection. At sixty-six years of age he still unfolds in his home and among his close friends a delightful personality, which is the equable complement of his brilliancy in affairs of state.
 The statesman who will best be re- membered as premier of the Roosevelt cabinet is in all his relations man of simple directness. He is something of a pessimist concerning himself looking at his own works, as it were, through the little end of the telescope Yet this ten dency does not affect his clear vision of other men their works or his apprecia- ton of all that Is good in life.
 The Hay home, in Washington, com fortable large red brick house at the cor ner of Sixteenth and II streets North west, reflects the individuality of it's owner Just within the portals one used to be reminded of MT. Hays famous Pike County Ballads" for on the north wall of the entrance hall hung a picture of John Bludsoe, the red light of his burning steamer playing on the river pi- lots breast and face. Underneath the memorable lines:
 "Ill hold her nozzle agin' the bank
 Till the last galcot's ashore"
 The Hay family, which, when in Wash ington, resides in this house. consists of MT. and Mrs. Hay. Two charming daughters have been married, the Secre- tary's oldest son met with sudden death
 
 youngest soa, Clarence Hay, is away at college Secretary Hay is essentially a home man. Within the four walls of his comfortable residence he spends most of his tine This recalls a story of years ago. At his bachelor dinner one of his friends remarked:
 And how long will your honeymoon last?"
 Why" replied Mir Hay q expect it to last the rest of my life"
 Every weekday morning MT Hay works from o'clock until 1 :30 at the State De- partment Such matters as require his attention after that hour he attends to in his study at home. The room in which he usually receives visitors is on the first floor. A great fireplace occupies part of the wall space on one side. Com fortable settees offer inviting repose within the genial glow. At one end of the room is a big desk where Mir Hay works.
 Mr. Hays Private Library.
 The Hay library contains everything that is good, The taste of the Secretary is nothing if not catholic in literature. He appreciates everything that is well done from the classics to nonsense verses. His taste1 are, in fact, shown by his own writings, which cover wide range. from pathos and keen humor to the most serious and4polished diction of his great est speeches John Hay Is 0 man, of speech which falls with wonderful ex- pressiveness upon the ear, whose spoken addresses stand closest scrutiny in cold. gray print. Yet he occasionally uses slang if he finds for purposes of brevity or emphasis 1t better suits his purpose
 Secretary Hays closest personal friend Is perhaps Henry Adams, he historian. who Is his next door neighbor in H street. The Secretarys only exercise consists of long walks In company with Mir Adams. They have congenial tastes in literature. MT. Adams writes for the love of writing. never having his recent works printed except for his own delec- tation.
 In the language in which they were first written, Secretary Hay is fond of perusing the works of great authors, believing that something Is always lost in translation.
 For poetry he has a wonderful mem