The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-19

| George S. Merriam In The Outiooh.
 "DwARD EVERETT HALE once said that good biography of Lin-
 A coin could have been made by ask
 ing each of 100 men, taken just as you
 meet them. to tell you his own particu-
 lar story about Lincoln That would not
 be bad way to compile a piography ol Hale himself r1
 l came to know him in the early '7os, when I was managing editor of the Chris | tian Union, now The Outlook, and ne | was an occasional contributor.
 One fortunate day MT. Hale appeared | in the Christian Union office. He was tall. with a face no one could pass wlth- out noticing: dome-like forehead. deep set eray-blue eyes, swarthy complexion,
 haaeard lines, a sweet and ready smile, grizzled hair and a full beard. His talk
 was graphic, wide ranging, full of sus- gestion and entertainRent; he was prince of takers.
 When my wife and I made what was practically our first visit to Boston, MT. Iae on whom we had no claim beyond a brief acquaintance, volunteered to in- troduce us to some of the attractions of the town, and gave up two of his busy days to act as the most delightful of cicerones. He showed us not only the
 famous features of the Hub-buildings,
 monuments historic spots-but odd and out ut-of-tlle-way matters of interest. He took us to one place Git was in winter)
 where every day a dinner was given to
 any person who asked for it. We
 don't publish 1t abroad. but no man in Boston need go without a dinner" He illustrated the best interiors of the city by showing us through the house of a
 merchant prince-a delightful abode,
 with open fires and fresh flowers every where. Finally he brought us in touch with his own work. We attended a meeting | in his church of a class of ladies to whom he was giving g. series of lectures | on American history. After hearing his talk, one felt like discarding all other pursuits to study history! The evening of the same day he took us | to one of hls church parlors where he had invited 15 or 20 of nls young people, | on the threshold of manhood and wom- anhood. His purpose was to enlist them in an informal way in active service 10
 people around them. In an hours talk
 he gave them his familiar gospel of helpfuIness, with illustrations suited to
 their age and circumstances, and with
 sweet persuasiveness. Then they all
 sang together America and 'The Breaking waves Dashed High' When
 the meeting ended, the youngsters came
 round him. half eager, half shy, with
 onestions and proposals: "Mr. Hale, could
 do SO and so?' "Would there be a
 chance for me in this direction or in
 that?' And so they enlisted for the good
 fght-not by profession, but by beginning
 with some definite line of action
 The way pr. Hale remembered indi-
 v,dual cases and faces was wonderful. | His congregation was spread from New foundland to Alaska. It was said of Q certain mother. "Her heart had sepa-
 rate cell of honey for each of her chil-
 dren:" and Hale seemed to have an in-
 dividual niche for each one of thousands
 of souls. A woman who knew him only
 by reputation found herselif moved to
 conf,de in him and ask his advice in
 a domestic problem closely affecting her
 banniness. He listened attentively. then
 said. "This is too serious and complicated
 for an ofrhand answer. Come again in
 a few days and I will tell you what I think" Some unexpected turn of af-
 fairs opened the womans way, and she did not return Several years afterward she was leaving train at railway
 station, and as she passed down the aisle she saw him (they had never met but once) occupying seat With no sign from her he recognized her, and , leaned forward with the exclamation,
 MY child you never came back!'
 5 Of his wit I must give one instance the only saying of his own which ever