South Bend news-times., 1914-08-17

temperament he would have made a
perfectly cOrking monk.
Burton's one qualification as a poll
tician is an almost uncanny memory
for names. He never slapped a man
on the back in his life, but if he meets
a man once he will know his name the
next time he sees him even though
years have elapsed. Many times he has
made at hit with a man in that way
With that exception he has depended
for his political progress entirely on
his record. He is not given TO orator
ical flights and when he makes a
speech he simply talks. But he has
voice of unusually resonant quality.
1t is said that along in 1863 when war
bulletins were brought to Ashtabula
county, O., where Burton was raised,
the people had young Theodore read
them aloud, even though he was then
only about II years old, because he
could make himself heard better than
anybody else. Yet he was born with
rather bashful disposition. 1t is said
that when he first undertook to deliver
a defamation at school, he became so
embarrassed that he had to give it up
as bad job and fee TO his seat in
confusion This may be one reason
why he has never married, but the
real reason is probably that he has
never felt like taking the time from
work. Men grade all the way from
those who work practically all the
time and are really useful clear down
TO the afternoon tea men who will not
work at all and are of no use what
soeVer. Burton ought to rank at the
top of these gradatiOns, for he has
never done anything except work and
he would not know what else TO do eX-
cept work. AS 1 say, he has never had
any fun, and would not know how TO
n frac
that brightens his day is the discovery
of more work TO do.
A story used to go the rounds about
how Burton and one Of his secretaries
toiled all one day and until after mid
night on urgent matters that were
claiming the senator's attention. Ihe
secretary accompanied Burton to his
apartments on the way home TO get
some memoranda. AS Burton entered
the door. according to the story. he
was looking a bit solemn and tired
from his long days work, but mo-
ment later his eye fell on a quantity
of unopened mail. Immediately his
face lighted up with JOY like unto
that of a youngster who has come
upon a new toy.
well" he is said TO have said
eagerly, heres the mail We might
as we'll go through it and answer It.
now that we're here"
Sen. Burtons father was minister
and a man Of the old school, who be-
lieved in foreordination and predesu-
nation. and did not hesitate 10 mention
his beliefs TO those who might difer
with him From him the future SEN
ator got a rather serious view or lie
and also a good deal Of determination.
This cropped out in his college days
when the time came for him 10 denver
his commencement Grafton. II was
the custom for all students about 10 De
graduated. 10 write out their orauons
and hand them 70 the faculty 10 look
over before they were delivered. Bur
ton had a good memory and knew eX-
actly what ne desired 10 say IN MS
Grafton and therefore announced that
he did not intend TO write out the ora
ton at all. The faculty insisted that
il would have 10 be written out, and
Burton was equally insistent that ne
did not purpose 70 do any such thing.
4 compromise was effected by Whlch
the faculty heard the oration in ad-
vance orally.
While he is retiring from public life
voluntarily, there is no doubt that
Burton would rather be in the senate