Evening journal., 1912-10-15
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Incident That Shaped
Two Notable Careers
By Holland.

In the Massachusetts Legislature
elected in 1S4s there we're two mem
bers who we're afterwards to become
very prominent American citizens
one in the field OF national politics
and the other in the fields of litera-
ture and diplomacy One Of these
members was John Lothrop Motley.
He came OF a family which possessed
great wealth and was numbered
among the most highly cultivated fa-
miles OF Boston. Motley himself
was a man of most attractive person
ality, for in addition to the refine
ment which characterized both his
features and his manners, he was es-
teemed a very handsome man.
Soon after his graduation from
Harvard Motley spent several years
In Germany. Upon HIS return to the
United States he wrote several nov
els, but they were not very success
full Then, on the advice OF friends,
he entered upon a political career and
was elected a member OF the Massa-
chusetts legislature from one Of the
Boston districts. He was made chair
man of the committee on education.
In the same legislature sat George s.
Boutwell,, a young lawyer who had
begun practice on the country village
OF Groton He was bred in the
school. IL not OF poverty. at least of
simplicity aud economical living.
Mr.. Boutwell, had served two terms
in the legislature without making
any special impression before the
legislature in which he found the So
cially and intellectually aristocratic
Motley as one of his colleagues. As
legislator Mr. Motley \expected to
gain much perso ial prestige and po-
litical influence ly a report upon edu-
cational conditions in Massachusetts,
which he prepa fed with much labor
His friends EXPECTED that this report
would so conslhcuously identify him
with the interests OF Massachusetts
that at the earliest opportunity he
would be chosen a member OF the
state senate, and, after that become
governor of the state, with a still
greater political career ahead OF him.
boutwell, had been somewhat disap-
pointed at his lack OF conspicuous
success while a member Of the leg
islature, but when he heard Mr.. Mot
ley's report upon educational condi-
tions in Massachusetts, he said to a
| friend:
NOW is my time I am going to
show that this man Motley doesn't 1
know what he Is talking about"
Within a day or two Boutwell, made
n speech in which he analyzed Mr..
Motley's report. andntore It to pieces,
although he did this in very court
eous way. This speech attracted wide
attention throughout the state. It
made young Boutwell, very prominent.
and he realized that his political ca
reer was at last well begun.
A day or two after the speech was
delivered. Motley went TO Boutwell,
and said. you have done we'll Mr.
BOUTWELL, YOU have unanswerably re-
piled to my report. acknowledge
your victory. But your speech has
i taught me something else. II has
shown me that am not at all ftted
for public life at this time. 1t has
also made clear to me that you are
splendidly adapted 70 public career
and / am sure you Will make It.
The result was that Mr.. Motley
abandoned all idea of a political ca
reer and declined again to be can
didate as a member OF the state leg
islature On the other hand, Mr
Boutwells triumph caused him &c
give up the idea he had formed OF re-
firing from public life and deyotins
himself exclusively to the law
Within four years George 5 Bout
well was elected governor of Massa
chusetts, was afterward Secretary o
the Treasury IN President Grant,
cabinet and later Senator from
Massachusetts, Mr. Motley turnel
again to literature, and after spend
ing some years in Germany, publish
ed his great history Of the Rise o
the Dutch Republic" which brough
him immediate reputation and secur
cd for him permanent fame
Copyright, 1912, by e. ]. Edwards
All rights reserved)