Evening journal., 1915-04-08
New News Of Yesterday
The Man Who Remem-
bered Statistics
ny Holland.

In the winter OF 1892, Hannibal
Hamlin. who Was vice-President OF the
United states in Lincolns first admin
istration. made the long journey from
Bangor. Me. TO New York City for tho
purpose Of attending TO the memorial
celebration Of the Lincoln Club on
February 12, Lincoln's birthday. In
view of Mr.. Hamlin's age-for he was
past sO--the trip was not without some
personal risk that exposure TO the Sc
we're winter weather might induce Sc
we're cold possibly pneumonia, but MT
Hamlin was determined TO make this
trip. believing that it would be the
last visit to New York he would he
privileged to make. lie was anxious to
urge the Lincoln Club TO do all that
was in its power to'persusde the vari-
ous legislatures 10 set apart the l2th
day OF February as Lincoln mcmor-
ia day
For two or three hours, on the rail
way train between Hartford and New
York, ! chatted with the former Vice
President He was In a companion
able and reminiscent mood. We were
in the smoking compartment OF par
lor car and I observed that Mr. HAM
lin greatly relishtd the flavor Of an
excellent Havana cigar, smoking Il
deity so as TO prolong the smoke as
long as possible.
Mr.. Hamlin. at my request recalled
some OF the ablest men Of Maine,
whom be had kncwn or with whose
careers he had been familiar. and he
spoke particularly of the extraordinary
number Of great intellectual forces
who were born in and whose careers
began and matured in the state OF
Maine
Il think as able a man as the state
OF Maine produced among all OF those
very able men who served here I'm pua-
lie life was George Evans" said Mr.
Hamlln. He possessed peculiar
gift for assimilating statistics. When
he served in Congress. as he did in
both Houses. he revealed an extraOrdl
nary capacity not merely for mastering
statistical information, but also for
presenting that information in his
speeches in such manner that il was a
pleasure to hear him. He could draw
the meaning out Of great volume Of
statistics and then deliver speech
which had all the fascination of the
addresses sometimes delivered by men
of science, like Tyndall."
had already heard that James g..
Blaine regarded George Evans-whose
service in public life was in the early
part of the past century-as man
whose achievements and career were
we'll worth the study Of any young
man. and I said to Mr.. Hamlin that
had been told that it was the belief of
AIR. Blaine that il was due more TO
George Evans than to any other man in
Maine that the railroad from Portland
10 Augusta was constructed and that
the building Of this railroad was Of i'm
mensc value TO the State Of Maine.
Mr.. Hamlin cordially indorscd all
that Mr. Blaine was reported to have
said. He added. however. that Mr..
Evans possessed one faculty which
was very rare gift. He was able
to make a speech upon the most diff
hcnit ana lnlitVd1e tNohohiN Nu'H'
ton such as the tariff. using many
statistics 10 illustrate his point With
out having = note or any kind o
memoranda. 7 was told that Mr.
Evans never spoke with notes before
him. In an ordinary address. espc
cially one that was purely political
il is not necessary for skillfu
speaker TO have before him mem
NHNs
flaming a vast amount of statistlca
Information requires the use OF then
and Senator Evans was a remarkabl
exception 10 that rule"
Copyright. 1915. by The McClur
Newspaper Syndicate.l