New-York tribune., 1906-09-30


all can see. So stanch is the foundation that the
public has learned to depend on IT, 10 feel GER
tain that ne Will not get out OF plumb.
The simplicity OF the character OF Mr. Hughss
Is exempIlhed In his home. Should the visitor
who seeks interview with the Republican
candidate learn that he Is busy in his study and
be asked TO wait few minutes in the parlor
he would find himself in a room OF impressive
plainness. The furniture and woodwork ara
mahogany. rich but not ornate. On the wide
nantelp:ece are few small vases. The M
holstery OF the chairs and sofas is IN a quisr
uncbtrusive green On the floor lies a great
rug OF rather sombre tint. and near the win
dows. through which may be seen the trees Of
West End avenue. stands a grand piano with
an automatic attachment fastened to Its key
board Under the piano the floor is bare OF car
petings. The pictures on the wall are all IN
browns and grays.
Mr.. Hughes moves rapidly but quietly and as
likely as not he will enter the parIor without
attracting attention until he speaks some word
Of greeting. The moment one meets him face to
face. his eyes, which can be so stern. so keen,
so penetrating. when fixed on a witness on TIE
stand. soften with kindlness. Quietly also.
though with great frmness. he speaks. And
there Is a serenity OF manner. a gentIeness OF
speech. that soon puts the most difident at ease.
If he is not too pressed with work he asks the
visitor upstairs TO his study. large two win
dowed front room. with bookcases banked
against the walls high the head. and
great central desk covered with manuscripts.
letters and kilograms. This room. although also
plain, is most comfortable, with big easy chairs
here and there, one of them being an especial
favOrite Of Mrs. Hughes. who likes 10 spend the
evenings IN the library reading while her hus-
band works at his desk
Many have imagined that the prober OF In
surance corruptioa is extremely serious man.
who looks on the matter OF fact side OF life.
who finds keener enjoyment in a mathematical
problem than a witty story Those who paint
such picture of Mr. Hughes. however. know
him only as the lawyer. the cross-examiner. AS
a matter of fact, he has a wealth of humor In
him. His public speeches evoke laughter as
we'll applause. Guests who have sat at his
table find him merry host For nearly every
situation he has some appropriate anecdote.
Among the pictures on the wall Of the study
Is a portrait Of Gladstone Mr.. Hughes is
great admirer OF England's grand old man,
and. according to his father, the Rev. David c.
Hughes he IS like the famous Brtttsher in not
a few ways. My son. said the father, for
example. has Gladstone's gift of reading books
with great rapidlty. I have known him 70 take
some book of recent fiction. and after glancng
from page to page for half hour, he will tell
you what il is all about"
Other pictures the Hbrary's wall are OF for
eigr lands. of scenes which Mr.. Hughes has Wis.,
tied himself on his trips abroad Travel is ono
of his chief delights
Music affords Mr.. Hughes not only pleasure
but mental strength. Beautiful harmOnies. he
says. refresh his mind like sleep. II has become
his wont returning home from the labCrs OF
the day 10 seek relief from the mental worry
and strain. of the office the courtroom by sit
ting down in his parlor at the panc and by
means of automatic records playing selections
from the grand operas The light. popular music
of the day does not appeal 20 him One OF his
favorite pieces Is the Pilgrims Chorus. from
"TannhauSer
Too just to retoTt or too dispassionate. per-
haps 10 wish to- Mr. Hughes permitted himself
occasionally when examining Insurance wit
nesses the expression OF a hard. dry hlInor
which Job Hedges might have envted, and
which was a frequent source OF unaloysd en-
jOyment TO many who attended the insurance
sessions Those who heard Mr.. HUghes's COM
ment on the amazing missionary testimony
of Richard A McCurdy then president OF the
Mutual Life company and one OF the star
witnesses of the investigation. are little likely
TO forget the comment as they are the testimony
itself. Mr.. McCurdy sleek. well groOmed and
debonair but nervous at first under Mr..
Hughes's eye. had testified in answer 10 the
inquisitOr's ingeniously ingenious questions
that the Mutual Life organized on The
theory that IL great benehcent institu-
ton Profits weren't thought OF. weren't
dreamed Of" protested Mr.. McCurdy fdget.As
a little. nevertheless. under Mr.. Hughess uH-
waverng scrutiny 1T wasn't the object that
a man should carry policy OF S2.0UO or SoVVO'
said Mr. McCurdy, solemnly, pay a premium
of $40. and then at the end OF the year get
81 and go home and spend IL on cigars a
suppressed litter ran around the Aldernlahlc
chamber at the last sentence, but Mr. Hughess
hands on hips as was his won't, only houueu
encouragingly at the witness. as one misnS ~
a shy child The object" continued MI NC
Curdy. beginning TO be carried away oy VT
Hughes's encoura cement and his own rlstns
eloQuence, was based on the convection a. tha.
every man ought TO carry policy as oehTI' I,
10 his family. 10 the community, 70 the Wotl0.
10 civilization at large. The early promoters
had a pure spirit OF philanthropy anu oeneNO
lenee TO start company which they 0etiS'eH
70 be a missionary enterprise so 70 Spedk
Mr. Hughes always patient. wonderfully pa
tient, wherever he thought ne saw III petspSSS-
tive the enlergenCe Of any single Hipor oS
of testimony. had all this While aloWsu ~ MI
Al the end OF the last few words. however ne
raised his hand for the witness 10 STOP,
twinkle came into the gray niHe = - 1870.
out moving a muscle OF his race nc ,, s.i,4 go =,
adjusting his glasses and turning fdI iaes
the v-ItDess. .syVau YOU have made very lt-4
explanation and treated Il as a Inlsslo'StS - -
terprise The question comes p4eH es - a. much
aries OF the missionaries II WS' va ,sstnoonv as
the close oS startling piece OF testlio-ly te;,Iv,
W. cNv,o,osad Tace Of the induiSltor seei,lIle-s
Innocent ~ anv thought OF guile the ~, s .bat
deferentlal tones as he mace u'e SJL tnqtarrIv
caused the roar OF applause - ,,aarI,, n
convuIsaJ +ha chamber and lasted Ior n@eaI'S @
rninuta GaSni+a the chairmans frantic raps Iot
order rIa sa,,e dry humor was apparent -
Mr. FIughes's comment on lhe let'e. I'm. i. -
father which George W feINIi'S, o-1,, sn M
president OF the New NoFA LIZ IL TSeri,i-s boDel
in evidence In which the elder feINIuS -
that his son would be honest tCtltul tCl, 90,
faithful" adding that Mr.. Beers talhSS tS 80
viii be the coming man. Now 80 sS ,o,ri
Mr.. Hughes's only comment NSuetr,a. NI.srs.,," And
tngly, lis very Interesting u"@u"'0-'''
fbA oh 1hsrz