The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-26

Copyright. Harris g. Ewing.
patience and care he works in either case for
ultimate success. His intimates say that he
has about evenly divided his mind since leaving
Amherst between the pursuit OF fishing and the
study OF international law; and those closest
TO him are sure that he cares more for angling.
As Bert Lansing he is known best at Hen
derson Harbor. y. V, where the natives have
welcomed him yearly ever since he was a lad.
There his reputation for a fisherman Is Il mat
ter Of local pride, and his proceedings there
are in strange contrast to the official life he
leads in Washington.
II may jar the ethics of diplomacy to have
the Secretary Of State working over intcrna-
tional documents with a briar pipe hanging
from u corner Of his mouth. hut up ON Lake
Ontario BERT lansing wears his oldest
clothes. and they are old: and 1t is a sight TO
SEE him clean II fish, He is just aS good a
hand AT cooking, and with his face grimy with
the smoke Of the camp fire it is Il revelation to
watch him holding Il saucepan over the flames
while the bass and bacon sizzlc.
Last summer when he was on his outing the
telephone company ran Il special line into the
woods miles away from the nearest central
station 50 that Secretary Lansing could lr
within immediate touch with the national CAPT
tai. That was too much like II Violation If his
holiday, and Mr.. Lansing never made Use of
that wire. His mind was all centred upon
fishing.
This mental attitude is IN" product If years.
In the days when lr was nothing NOR" than II
lawyer in Waterfowl il is said that lie had
something I" de- with organizing: IA III weekly
club, thu purpose of which was intended tu hc
literary. Instead Of study ing III" masters, yuuu.
lnu>in. RECALLED his associates with thrilling tales
about bass fishing at III" GaluuI,> Islands. and,
interest that should HAY" been aroused in the
classics was diverted. His fellows promptly
organized Il fishing club and thereafter spent II
part Of each summer al Big ,;aloup>, living
there the life of c%ar"fr,t, sport loving, we'll nigh
primitive men,
In private life Mr.. Lansing is vicc-prc>ilrut
of the city National Bank Of WAt"rtown, ana
retains his membership in II number Of law
and scientific societies. lie j. associate editor
Of the im,ric0u Jo0rud 81 I'M, ruutionul Luc,
in which have appeared from time To- time con-
trihuti"n> from his pen. 1t is strange, however.
that his professional lal'or> have not encouraged
n wider expression in the field ~ authorship,
for he has produced but One book, aul that in
collaboration, "GoNcrnmcut, Its origin and
'l'NlH iI'l I'lin III llf I lllt'"l Slilt>, Nlltn
was published thirteen years ago.
The only public offices he has ever won have
been thrust upon him. He did aspire Ia the
MHSoralty of Waterfowl in 1901, bur in that
case the Biblical dicium about the prophet in
his own country was brought home to him, for
h. was roundly defeated by the Republican can
lidatc.
II may not be known. but Mr.. Ian.
sing WAS employed 10y the Mexican Embassy dur.
ing the regime IF lIuerta rs provisional Presi-
dent Of that I%"rturhed republic Some people
actually tried to li>crrlit Mr., Lansing on that
account, hut his services were merely an Incl.
dent In his professional career and Of course he
had not at that time any connection with the
Department of state.
Robert lHusilg'> career i another example of
how an International lawyer may achieve many
biz things in his profession and yet he practi-
cally unknown to his fellow countrymen at
large, Chance and peculiar fitness have brought
him into the limelight, hut this quiet man Of
few words and exceptional poiSe is not likely
to be dazzled by the glare. His work is his
foremost thought.