Daily Kennebec journal., 1913-12-15

and his many interviews |
with Lowell, repeating the very words
of long conversations. He had great |
power in remembering the exact |
words used when the thoughts ap-
pealed to him, and he had especially
enjoyed Mr.. Lowell's talk. He had
the same remarkable memory for
faces. This vividness of impression,
with his enthusiastic descriptions
which won the listeners sympathy,
was perhaps the secret of the charm
of his writings. On the deck that
night he assured me of the depth of
his gratitude for my open sesame.
Should it ever be in my power to
show you an equal favor, do not hesi-
tate to let me know" Some years
later this favor was in his power, and
most gladly and promptly did he re-
spond.
"The Blind Proofreader."
To return to the crowded aleoves
and corridors of the old Gore Hall,
we meet in memory of the figure OF
Mr.. Nichols, "the blind proofreader."
Day in and day out he could be seen
scrutinizing the catalogues and in
vestigating authorities. So near
sighted was he that he would have to
hold paper close to his eyes to see
the writing, and yet so accurate and
keen and quick was his vision that no
error could escape him. Not only was
his own work most painstaklng, but
many a mistake in the entries of the
library would be brought to light by
him and called to the attention of the
librarian. His sweet and kindly ma
ture attracted everyone. One day in
his search for a book he deserted
tender little bird fiuttering under the
roof of the highest story. He could
not leave the little creature to suffer
through the hot night and to beat Its
dusky wings as 1t cried for help, but
he must make requisition for pages
and ladders until it was free. To
MIR. Nichols's friendship and tireless
energy Charles Sumner owed much.
The senator's massive knowledge was
made available by this friend who so
carefully verified the many quotations
in the speeches that the force of the
argument could not be successfully
assailed.
Summer and the Summer Alcove.
Mr.. Summers own grand figure had
| ceased to pass and repass through
the corridors of Gore Hall: but the
work of his life had been nobly fin
ished, and his name and fame gave a
special fascination to his library
which had found storage in an upper
alcove of Gore Hall. Cramped though
it's quarters were at first, the collec-
ton bespoke the dignity of its great
owner and his large human interests.
Little by little the autographs, scraps
of paper, manuscript Bibles, and lit
erary euriosities of the Sumner Al
cove" were assorted and arranged for
public inspection. In his search
abroad for health, after the brutal
blow that struck him from active
work, he had added to his earlier col
lections treasures from here and there
associated with mans highest inter-
ests. An idealist he was to the end
as he was when in 1S45 he sounded
his clarion for universal peace in the
4th of July oration, the True
Grandeur of Nations" He who
reads rightly may find in the Sum
ner Catalogue" the reflection of the
man. The fund of money he left to
! the library was for politics and the
fine arts" Was this a singular COM
bination? Or was his standard in
political life so high because he had
made politics one with the fine arts?
John Fiske's Little Comforter"
In another little alcove below, al
most elbowing the tables and card
cases, was to be found John Fiske,
the assistant librarian. His mas
| vellous learning, extensive. trust
worthy and philosophic, enabled the
workers at Gore Hall to cope success
fully with the many problems pre-
sented by Mr. Summers collection.
Mr.. Fiske's personality was SO calm
| and rich that in his companionship
difficulties were transformed into
! pleasures. How softly oiled the ma
chinery became in his presence. Even
the work piled high upon desk and
! chairs and floor, waiting with ques-
tions only Mr.. Fiske could answer.
was never too oppressive. How rap
idly the piles diminished No un-
toward interruption could alter the
| beautiful smile, or the musical voice
which greeted all from the knight to
| the page. This sweetness of nature
showed itself in Mr.. F'iske's great
humility, which caused him to give
open ear to corrections and to sub
NIT to his chance associates even his
literary work for suggestions His
very manuscript itself was a thing of
beauty and must have delighted the
| compositors who had had to struggle
with the librarians scraps and
scrawls. Mr.. Fiske wrote the round
clear, open style which he said he in
herited from his English ancestry OF
clarks, or clerks, and so perfect was
| his first draft that he rarely rewrote
a page. No wonder a man of so
genial a nature could not accept the
invitation of current periodical to
pitch into" certain sensational
speker of the day, even though the
| invitation was seconded by request
to name his own price" I should
leave incomplete the picture of John
| Fiske in the tiny alcoye overtopped
by piles of books if did not recall the
beautiful face of little child fire.
quently seen peeping from behind the
tones. My little comforter" the
great scholar called her.