Evening journal., 1910-03-05


II ever there was an oratorical giant
who did not look the part it was the late
George G. Vest, for many years Senator
from Missouri. When seated in his chair
before his Senate desk he seemed TO be
utterly without the physical attributes
that are popularity associated with the
highest trlumphs I'm oratory. As one Of his
longtime colleagues once described it,
Senator Vest frequently sat "all scrooched
in with his head depressed as though
he had no neck, and his body so sub
merged in his chair that his head easily
rested upon its very tip
But whenever there was announce
ment that Senator Vest was to speak, the
galleries we're packed and every Senator,
IL possible, was in his seat. And how one
and all hung on that singularly rich vo-
cabulary. Il had the fragrance of the Eng
lish classics It was as terse and melo-
dious as Is the English in the King James
version Of Holy Writ. And after one OF
those great outbursts from the little mar
from Missouri a common expression was
"Where did he get his mastery Of the
language77
One day shortly after I had been abb,
to perform a simple little service for tn,
Senator, business took me past the little
shack-like one-story building OF tive
rooms in which he lived quite alone dur
ing one session OF Congress. He wa.
standing in the doorway, saw me passin,
and cordially invited me to visit him.
There are my quarters he said as WI
entered the cubbyhole which served hin
as a-living room. "They are not sybaritic
but they are comfortable, and here
spend many happy hours. think I fin,
higher enjoyment here even than do 81
the Senate Chamber.
you see." he went on. II have her
many companions. despite the fact tina
most OF Washington wonders why I az
living In hermit fashion. And these com
panions have some Of the best intellect
of the past They arc of all moods, an
so 1 can always accommodate my ow
mood simply by reaching my hand to
book shelf"
The senator took down a book, hand
ling Il caressingly and with the expel
iosoh Of a book lover. II never fail to fin
the keenest enjoyment with this con
panion," he said. "He was a wonderf,
man." Tho volume was an old edition
Chaucer's Canterbury Tales"
And there" continued my host. poini
ing TO a copy OF Burke's essays and som
OF his speeches. there is Burke. and h
and ] are on intimate terms. There
Cooper. TOO. Senator Hoar and agre
that he should be read for his style rattle
than his argument" So the Senator wer
on naming one great man after another {
the past as his cose friends.
Finally, he came to a copy OF the Bibb
"IIere. after all IS the treasure house.
he said What a marvellous piece of III
erature is Job, and how perfectly It ha
been translated into English. have hear
that Daniel Webster greatly admired tn
Book Of Job. should think it would az
peal Intimately TO a man OF his intellect.
I was IN that little shack about half a
hour, and in that period believe tina
Senator Vest mentioned most Of the gres
writer's OF history. and talked OF them 1
such a way as to show that he was o
intimate terms with them all. Then. as
rose to go he made a simple~little cor
fession that revealed more deeply. II Do:
sible, his love for the best literature. q
came unaccompanied 70 Washington thi
session." he said. "and so I took this III
tie house. that might be left undisturbe
with my companions here"
At last had perfect proof Of the mar