Evening journal., 1914-05-01
New News Of Yesterday
The Congressman Who
Was Too Versatile to Be
Great
By Holland

7 was invited by the late Samuel e.
Cox to spend an afternoon with him
I'm the house which he had taken
within stones throw of the great
house in which James G. Blaine was
domiciled I'm the last years OF his res
idence in Washington. Mr.. Cox was
at that time a member OF Congress
who represented one of the New YORK
City districts. He was widely known.
not only for his wit,his versatility and
for his literary ability, but perhaps,
more widely on account Of the sobri-
Quet which was invariably used In
connection with his Sunset.
Mr.. Cox was a charming companion
lie possessed an. unusual fund OF IN
formation not merely Of character as
sociated with politics, but also IN the
department Of history and to some
extent I'm science.
lie said TO me: 81 am thinking SER
iously OF giving up public life so that
! can devote myself exclusively TO lit
erary work. All, after all, there Is
charm and contentment for any one
who has been In the thick of political
activity I'm the quiet OF the library
and in literary study and composition.
You know Blaine turned TO that
after his resignation from the Cabinet
OF President Arthur. and he told me
that he found delightful occupation IN
the preparation of a work which Inc
intends TO be descriptive OF his twen-
ty years In Congress.
"The great trouble with me-" Mr.
Cox continued. "is that will say Il
frankly ann Zoo versatile. n / were
willing 10 occupy myself exclusively
with public service ! could accom-
plish a great deal more than ! have
been able to do.
81 am very fond of travelling, and
so Is Mrs. Cox. II were 70 give my
self up 10 travel, especially in unfa-
miliar parts of the world ! am GER
tain that ] could write something OF
which I and my friends might be
proud and which would live.
81 am always fascinated when I am
occupied with exclusively literary
work Il Is never labor for me. II
is a joy TO compose and to see the
results Of your composition set forth
I'm typos / wish ! could persuade my
self to devote my entire life hereafter
to literature. feel certain that
could do something that would be
worthy Of me. But man cannot be
great in politics, IN research. and I'm
literature at the same time. Edward
Eggleston once told me that he would
have made a greater success In life
n he had devoted himself exclusively
10 one vocation. After he had writ
ten the novels which gained such
great success he thought he might
have obtained permanent fame as q
novelist. and very likely would have
done so n he had not been temple,
by his versatility to take up othe
things In connection with his fictioi
writing
II have two or three projects II
mind for literary work and II = cal
decide to give up public life and dc
vote myself to literature ! know
shall be happy. II Is an ascertaine
and curious fact as we
that any man who has for an
considerable period been Occup'e
with politics or public service alway
feels that temptation TO resume tha
service after he has withdrawn frol
Il a while with intent to take up othe
things. That ! fear, will be the cas-
with me-"
Copyright, 1914. by f. J. Edward
All rights reseryed)
Tomorrow Mr. Edwards will lei
when Sunset Cox Grew Enthusia.
tic over Blaine"
Diamonds are being sold below co.
price at Rudolph's sale,-Adv.