Evening journal., 1913-10-23
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
How Lyman TrumbuIl
Took Mental RelaXa-
tiOn
By Holland.

On the late afternoon of a December
lay in 1871, the day on which Congress
met at the beginning of a regular ses-
sion, sat in the lobby of one of the
large hotels ct Washington watching
with intense interest various members
IF Congress who liv at that hotel, and
who came in one after another in some
what struggling procession. Congress
had adjourned for the day. 1t was a
sloppy, raw, uncomfortable evening, and
snow and rain spattered upon the side
walk
There came into the lobby OF the
hotel a man upon whom my attention
was Immediately fixed. He was tall,
slender, of somewhat ungainly figure,
and he walked with sort of shufiihing
gait, although that may have been due
to the accumulation of slush which was
upon the old-fashioned arctics with
which he protected his feet. Over his
shoulders was a queer garment. 1t
seemed to be half shawl, half cloak, but
it must have been very comfortable and
abundantily protected the wearer from
the weather.
This mans face was a study. He had
small mouth, thin lips, rather large
nose and high cheek bones, and from the
ewes down suggested the true ascetie.
But | observed that through his spec
tacle he flashed glances from very bright
and highly intelligent eyes, and that his
forehead was broad and his head nobly
proportional above his eyes. Any one
not knowing him would have said that
he was all intellect, and that he had no
passions, good or bad, excepting the one
which was created by intellectual
power-passion. for knowledge and for
The authority which knowledge gives.
/ knew the man and / recognized i'm
mediately his facial and personal resem.
blance to distinguished family OF
Revolutionary days, whose name he bore
and with whom he was of kin. | had
seen old portraits of members of this
family. three of whom had been COVER
nors of Connecticut, father, son anC
grandson, and one a distinguished por
srait painter of Revolutionary times.
He was Lyman Trumbull United
States senator from Illinois, the very
nan to whom Abraham Lincoln yielded
the senatorship in the memorable strug
gle with Illinois in the mid-ffties. H'
was of tile Trumbull family of Connec
ticut. ard his native town, Colchester
adioinee the town which was the -homi
of jonathan 1rumbull. colonial Cover
nor of Connecticut, whom Washington
called Brother Jonathan"
Senator Trumbull stood in the middl
of the lobby for a moment or two, hesi
tating. peering about as though he wer
looking for some one Not finding tn
person for whom he looked, and appaI
emily having decided to wait until tina
nerson should come, Senator Trumbu
looked around for a seat, and took on
in a vacant chair next the one IN winch
He threw of his cloak, but did not II
move the clumsy overshoes which
wore. Little streams of melted sno
triclled from them along the lobh
pavement.
After a moment or two the senate
took from his pocket a little pape
bound volume and began to read 1t. /
burned the pages rapidly and ] perceive
that he had the gift OF quickly absorbir
page at a single glance. was curio'
10 learn what book il was with whl'
he was thus employed. and later ha
chance TO read the title on the cove
II was one of the paper-coNered noVei
harmessly sensational and stupid
funny, which were in great vogue
that time.
was amazed that this senator, wi
ranked with the intellectual giants
The Senate, should be willing to spel
even a few moments upon trasi
novel. At last his friend came al
Trumbul put his book in his pock'
gathered up his cloak and went aw'
with him.
Twelve years later it was my go
fortune to spend day upon the ca
with Judge David Davis, who, two da
earlier, had finished his term as senat
from illinois, and was going to Nor
Carolina.
told Judge Davis Of my experier
with Senator Trumbull for | knew tn
he and LYMAN Trumbull were friends
many years standing.
"Oh. that was nothing" said JUG
Davis. "Trumbull used to read tras
novels simply for mental recreati
With him funny story serves as e
a purpose for mental rest rs nap d
for some men or a fishing excursion d.
for others. But you would never KIN