The Washington herald., 1914-05-01
HISTORY BUILDERS.
The Congressman Who Was Too
Versatile to Be Great.
Written Expressly for The Herald.
Nv nm n Il EnWAung


by DIR. 4. J. EDWARDS.
I was invited by the late Samuel s.
Cox TO spend an afternoon with him in
the house which he had taken within
stones throw Of the great house In
which James q. Blaine was domiciled in
the last years Of his residence in Wash
ington- 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 sobriquet which was invariably used
In connection with his nome-"Sunset -
Mr.. Cox was a charming companion. He
possessed an unusual fund OF informa-
tion not merely OF a character associated
with politics, but also In the department
of history and to some extend in science.
He said to me: II am thinking serious
ly of giving up public life so that can
devote myself exclusively TO literary work.
All, after all, there Is charm and con-
tentment for any one who has been in
the thick Of political activity in 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 he intends
to be descriptive 81 his twenty years in
Congress.
The great trouble with me-" Mr.. Cox
continued. lis that-I will say IL frankly
Il am too versatile. II / were willing
TO occupy myself exclusively with pub
lie service / could accomplish a great
deal more than have been able to do.
81 am very fond OF travelling, and so
is Mrs. Cox. IL / were 10 give myself
up to travel. especially in unfamiliar
parts of the world. I am certain that 1
could write something of which I and
my friends might be proud and which
would live.
Il am always fascinated when ] am
occupied with exclusively literary work.
1t is never labor for me. II is joy to
compose and ID see the results of your
composition set forth in type. i wish l
could persuade myself TO devote my en-
tire life hereafter 10 literature. 1 feel
certain that / could do something that
would be worthy Of me. But man can
not be great in politics. in research. and in
literature at the same time. Edward Egg
gleston once told me that he would have
made greater success in life II he mad
devoted himself exclusively to one vo-
cation. After he had written the novels
which gained such great success he
thought he might have obtained per
manent fame as a novelist, and very
likely would have done so IL he had not
been tempted by his versatility to take
up other things in connection with his
fiction writing.
Il have two CT three projects in mind
for literary work and IL / can decide
to give up public life and devote myself
to literature know / shall be happy. 1t
is an ascertained and a curious fact as
well that any man who has for any con-
siderable psriof teen occupied with poll
tics or public service always feels the
temptation to resume that service after
he has withdrawn from IL for while
with intent 20 t:tse up other things. That.
I fear. will be the case with me"
CCopyrisht. 1915 BY Dr = J. Edwards. An rights
rescrJcd-l
Tomorrow Dr. Edwards will tell when
Sunset Cox Grew Enthusiastic Over
Blaine.