Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1914-11-03
New News Of Yesterday
A Yankee Tribute TO a
Brilliant SOutherner


The late William p. Frye. OF Maine,
for many years United States Senator
from that State and, earlier, Repre-
sentative in the Lower House OF
Congress from the Lewiston, Nc, dis
trict. said to me, in the summer Of
1884. that there was no member OF
the House in whose personality ana
in whose career he had found greater.
interest than in the instance of Repre-
sentative Robert NJ. McLane, Of Mary
land.
1T always pleases me to hear Nc
Lanes voice." said Senator Frye, "and
no matter what I was doing at the
time / never failed to drop my work
and carefully listen and also watch
Mr.. McLane when he took the floor.
81 think, without exception, he was
the most graceful member Of the
House during all my service there. His
gestures were models. They appear
ed to be unstudied. They aided adj
mirably i'm expressing his thought
They consisted usually of a slight
movement OF the arm, never violent,
always gentle, and yet at times II
seemed almost as though his hand
actually spoke. I sometimes wanted
TO ask him whether he had acquired
that art or whether it was natural.
The only public speaker I ever heard
or saw whose gift for graceful and
yet almost undesirable gestures was
the equal Of McLane's was Wendell
Phillips. In fact their gesticulauons
were similar.
"McLane possessed a voice of pc
culiar quality. never heard one that
resembled IL. II was soft and yet very
distinct He seemed never to exert
himself, and I think he had either
unconsciously or through study learn
ed the secret of how to make the voice
carry long distance without strain
ing the vocal organs. II is sort of
singing quality. although very differ
ent from what is called information.
81 sometimes thought that there was
no member Of the House whose career
was so varied and of such extent as
was that Of McI.ane. He had been a
member OF the House OF Representa-
lives when Lincoln served in Con-
gress. His service there began during
the administration of President Polk
After that, he WAS much occupied
with diplomatic matters. He carried
with inviolable secrecy the story OF
the message which at the outbreak OF
the Mexico war he took from Presi'
dent Polk 10 Gen. Zachary Taylor.
"He was practically minister tC
! China. He was one of the powerful
intellects of the East who became
familiar with conditions on our Pacific
Coast. And now. when he is nearl,
seventy years of age, he is governo
of Maryland.
81 hope McI4anc has carefully pre-
served his correspondence and ha
recorded in his diary or in some con
venient way his various life as law
yer BY the way. I learned by acci
dent that McLane was trained as
soldier. having been, I think, cade
at West Point.
"But. after all. as think OF him.
find myself recalling with especii
vividness the peculiar grace Of his pei
sonality, the charm of his gesture
and the melodious quality of h
voice. for these we're characteristic
which distinguished him from ii
great company with which he vs.;
associated as a member of the Low
House"
Copyright. 1914. by F. j. Edward
All rights reservedl
Tomorrow Mr. Edwards viii tell
! "A Book Which Was Never Printed