The Washington herald., 1906-12-02
THE WORLD OF BOOKS
BY HECTOR FULLER
Books en- o higher stature
B. Browning
BY HECTOR FULLER.

Of the immense library OF Richard heDtft
the eccentric brother Of the famous Bish-
op OF Calcutta. Heber cared for nothing
but books. neither men, nor cities, nor
home, nor children; his sole passion was
books. II was he who said once to q
friend who remarked on the number OF
duplicates in his library: Why, you see,
sir 10 man can comfortably do without
/ three copies Of a work One he must have
for a show copy at his country house; an
other he viii require for his own use and
reference, and a third he must keep 10 be
at the service OF his friends" Heber'
collection Of English books was unprece-
dented, and he brought together larger
number Of fine copies OF Latin, Greek,
French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese
books than had ever before been possessed
by a private Individual He does not seem
70 have worried about reading his books
all he wanted was 10 collect Them Learn
Z ing Of a rare book bargain for sale, even
though It were hundreds Of miles away,
he would travel day and night, fearing 10
trust the commission 10 another, but
what he would add it 70 his collection.
When at length he died there was much
curiosity TO know how be had disposed
Of his vast library. and it was thought,
Of course. that he had left the result of
his labOrs 10 the nation. His will was
found in due form. but In it was no men
tion whatever Of his books. His execu-
tors had no choice but to regard the
books as part Of the personal property.
and 50 the books were sold at auction.
The sale extended, It is said, over two
years, and the books brought in a sum
close to 500, ,0C00. a fair value, which took
however, no account Of the prodigious la
Dor In gathering them together; labor
. wasted, as the sale scattered the volumes
again 10 the four corners OF the earth.
1t Is net, perhaps, as an orator that
John Hay, late Secretary Of State. will
be cIassed when the sum Of his activities
is reCkoned up. Some there are, the low
ers Of Jim Bludsoe" and Little
Breeches," who Will reckon with him al
ways first as a poet Others, remember
ing him as the historian OF Lincoln-Ihe
best history Of Lincoln that has yet been
wrltten-will rank him as historian,
while others. recalling his Embassy 10
Great Britain and his qualities as a dip
lomatist, viii rank him as a statesman
The recent book that has been published
by the Century Company. Of New York
The Addresses Of John Hay" viii stamp
him in the minds Of many readers as an
orator Of no mean capacity. Here are
printed the best and most select speeches
OF his public career, and they viii, nC
doubt, take high rank among any collec-
tion OF public speeches. They show that
John Hay had a wonderful command OF
English; possessed the power Of making
apt phrases 70 a marked degree, and Al
times rose 10 heights Of eIoquence, which
in It's best estate, is closely akin 10 poetry
Take, for instance, his reference in his
eulogy on Mckinley. TO Mrs. Mckinley.
Il was almost perfect IN its good taste
and feeling:
II to the spirits Of the Just made perfect is per
mitted the consciousness of earthly things. we mas
be that bis faithful soul is now watching over
that geutlo sufferer who counts the long hC.rs in
their shattered home in the do9lste splendor Of h1l
fame
In bis political speeches. at times. too.
he rose TO extraordinary heights. and no
one has been able 10 put more tersely or
aptly than he did the historic appeal OF
party. In his speech on Jackson he came
TO talk Of Lincoln, whom he had served
so well, and he said:
II there Is one thing more than another in which
We Republicans are entitled 10 legitimate pride it il
that Lincoln our first President that We le-
heEed IN him. Loyalty supported hin while he lived
and tnat We have never lost the right to call ourselves
as Io-0"ers We who have always tried
10 walk IA the way he pointed out cannot be isrriyel
% the tender pride q oslling ourselves his DISCIPLES
and Of doing IN his name the work allotted to Us
by Proyidence.
And Of Roosevelt, hardly anything has
been better said that John Hays utter
ance as TO the Presidents connection
with the Panama Canal:
That was time when the hour aud the man ar
rived together He struck while the i0n was white
hot on Lae anvil q opportunity. and forged as per
iac BIT Of honest stateraft as the generation has
seen.
Public eloquence was, with John Hay.
only side issue but, Ike everything he
touched, he graced it; and his excellence
In this, simply an outcome OF his literary
and political life, serves 70 show the
many -sidedness OF the man.
Senator Sorghum's Primer of Poll
ucs,' by Philander c. Johnson, OF shoot
ing Stars" fame, is a publication issued
by the Henry Altemus Company, Of
Philadelphia The book is made UP Of
the imaginary sayings Of an old politician
and the subtitle is Helpful Hints on
the Science of Not Getting the Worst Of
It" The volume is made up Of epigram-
matte remarks containing both wisdom
and wit. To some extent they are plati-
tudes in a new dress. Frankness of state
ment that is almost brutal I'm its realism
is a characteristic of some of the sayings
as, for instance:
Some republics are ungratefril: but do not hest
tate 20 say that l have managed TO get paid for
everything that have ever done.
Or this:
have 10 inspect for man who viii accept the
cold cash for his influence when Information as 70
how the market viii 60 is likely to prove 50 much
more profitable.
Here are two samples Of the witty say
ings;
Occasionally I meet an orator who reminds NE Of
@ sulphur match. sputteTing away under the I'M
preston that it is a searchhght
II is not wise 20 be TOO lavish with yOur promises
DOu't waste yor bait.
Mr.. Johnson's clever work in the Even
ing Star has won him countless follow
ers, and these and others Will enjoy his
little volume.
me LdIlu OF AO-iiOiiuN- by J. vi tO44
kerbey and published by We BTalnard,
New York. is an account OF a trip up
the Amazon River to its source, which
the writer declares he discovered in the
Andes Mr.. Kerbey was appointed United
States consul to some American port; ne
does not state which, by Secretary Blaine,
and vas called down by the State De-
partment for violating the consular rule
He asked for relief and was relieved, but
went back to the Amazon as a private
citizen He states that he was disap-
pointed that Blaine was not elected Presi-
dent; in which case 1 concluded my
services and experience would enTitle me
to an annnintnnent as q minister nIeninn-