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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 8, 1903)
Characteristics of Senator Hoar of Massachusetts (Copyright. liH3. by John H. Haskins.) V!Ti.M ot fees ccv tad a t r I I I RICH of Rhode Island walked Ul III IDS Ul ICH , Ut II UU1 ill lQ DC chusotts, George Frisbie Hoar, the other day huJ said: "Senator. I congratulate you on being thu new object of eager Interest to viBitors to the national capital." The venerable representative of the llay state beamed through hia gold-rlniujed spectacles nt Mr. Aldrieh. "Why?" he drily questioned. "Well." was the reply, "a dozen sight seers from 1'rovldeiiee hunted me up not an hour ago and asked me to point out to them Hoar, the trust buster.' And I've gathered in chats with other senators and many r preseutatives that their constitu ents are daily imploring them to exhibit you in the role of 'octopus hunter.'" One visit to the senate galleries is sulU cient proof that Senator Aldrieh was right when he told Mr. Hoar that he is an object of gteat interest among Washington's thou sands of visitors. Any day in the gallery can be seen groups of two anil three with heuds together having Senator Hoar pointed out to them, ga.ing at him long and curi ously, and discussing him in whispers or undertones. They seem to come Just to see Mr. Hoar and, wheu they have taken hitu In to their heart's content, they steal si lently away. Hut if these same visitors knew that the venerable "trust buster," who generally disappoints them in his physical appear and', reads genuine yellow-back novels and ten-cent productions on the same order with all the avidity of a messenger boy or a giddy factory girl, perhaps they would ga.e longer and with increased curiosity unc wonderment. For truth to tell, Mas sachusetts' senior senator has this mental pastime and refuses to be separated from Mr. Hoar's favorite time for reading these hair-raising productions is while traviding. Whenever he has a railway journey of any length to make be carries with him a pile of literature of tbe "Dead wood Dick," "Ked-Headed Ralph," "The Ranger of the Roaring Rlalto" type. He reads the stuff through from first to laet never skipping a word and gets the keen est enjoyment out of the plots and impos sible characters. And be likes nothing letter than to discuss with bis companions the curious working of tbe human mind that can evolve Buch situations. But this la not Mr. Hoar's only trait that amuses his legislative peers. When be Is feeling in particularly good humor be keeps his neighbors in the senate In a constant litter of amusement by hU sotto-voce com ments on the proceedings. His colleagues have a unique way of gauging bis humor. It 1b by the manner in which be manipulates a bunch of keys that dangles from his fingers. When be is at peace with the world and everything Is going smoothly with him Mr. Hoar swings UiW hunch of keys with an easy regular motion. If the swing should stop or be come irregular, then there is a little temp est brewing In his mind. If be should tap his desk with the keys, then it Is k a that the views expressed by someon. the floor are displeasing to hi in. When he draws the keys up near bis face and swings them In a circular motion, he is amused at the verbal antics of some of bis opponents. Hut when he sweeps the bunch through the air in a long curve bis colleagues know that he Is disgusted and about to take the floor to reply to some displeasing argument or to reproach the senate for some proceed ing not in accord with bis Ideas of pro priety. Unlike most of his colleagues In the sen ate, Mr. Hoar fancies no particular sport, and this, too, causes not a little good-natured chaff to be poked at bim. He is neither a fisher nor a hunter. His tastes are quiet and his outdoor exercise limited to carriage drives and trolley rides. Every summer during vacation it is his habit to gather a company of bis old cronies in Worcester, charter a special trolley car and go to tbe seashore at Gloucester, where they enjoy a fish dinner. The carload of old fellows go from Worcester to Boston, where they remain overnight. The next day they go to Gloucester, eat their fish din ner, return to Boston and, on tbe third day, get back to Worcester delighted with their outing, i These cronies are the senator's dearest friends, and are more numerous than his intimates in Washington, for this mild mannered man, whose blue eyes beam so ignly through huge spectacles, has not made many rlose friends in bis public capacity. This is due to the fact that be wields a free lance in debate and Is as liable to wound a friend as a foe. He has a biting, sarcastic tongue, which, more than mice, has made him personal enemies. These enemies call bim selfish and dlsre gardful of the rights and prerogatives of others. He is a great stickler fur the forms and courtesies of the senate as applied to oth ers, but Is more frequent in his violation of them than any of his colleagues. He has a habit of lecturing the senate on the pro prieties, and this, too, has caused a feel ing of resentment. The brilliant Iugalls, whose wit anil sar casm often encountered that of Mr. Hoar, was not very friendly to the Massachusetts senator. During the Arthur administration Senator Hoar and his colleague, Senator Dawes, vigorously fought an appointment made by the president. Their feeling was very bitter and it was reported that there might be a repetition of the Coukling-Gar-fleld episode, when the New York senator resigned. When the possibility of Senator Hoar's resigtiatitu wa mentioned to Mr. Installs, the latter derisively exclaimed: "Senator Hoar r eign? Not much. When it comes to that point he will rise in hit place and present the resignation of Sen ator Dawes." Senator Hoar cannot be called an orator, if oratory is eloquence. If, however, oratory is (he art that holds the intent car of the audience by the Interest and power of ar gument, theu Senator Hoar is a Demos tlieiies. His gestures are few and ungrace ful. He usually stands with the points of his lingers listing on the desk in front of linn and, as he grows emphutic, he teeters u,i and down oil his toes, pumping out hia words in a voice that is little more than a squ.nik. His most telling sentences and most cutting satire arc delivered while he blandly surveys the senate through his spectacles with the uir of a good old church utacon gently admonishing his brethren. No one Knows his limitations us a public speaker belter thuu Mr. Hour himself. Wheu u yoaiig man it wus his greutest dread that he could never succeed us a pleader in the law because of bis lack of voice. What is now attributed to the weakness of old ago really was always an ulllicliou. He never uid have a full-toned voice. He had practiced law for several years and hud been engaged in politics for quit u while before forced to make a public ipeech. During the great days of the free ..oil movement he found himself one time on the platform where Wendell l'hilips pre sided over a large and enthusiastic meeting. That great apostle of uuli-slavery and o;Uer orators of like note had addressed the crowd when there were cries for "George r'. Hour." The young man's heart was in ins moulh, but he was forced to the front ami made his lirst public addicts. Hie turn, pei.elrai.llig uice did not tail him uim as sullKicnt to convey thoughts una dpi csaiuiis that aroused the intense cu luusiasm of the uudiciice. Coiilideuce came to nuu and from that uuy hu never hesi i .mil to speak iu public. Mr. Hoar is regarded by all his colleagues us uu uuiliorily on history, language, lu eraiuie and law. Disputed points on uuy ol these uubjects are usually referred to him. itis decisions uru rendered at once and legarded as liuul. Dunug the lust lew mouths of the serv ice ol Vtiuiuui V. Allen, tue populist sena tor lrom Nebraska, an amusing controversy urose be l. .ecu hiiu aud Senator Tiilmuu ot buutu Cwoliua over the pronunciation ol the word "situs." Allen hud given the bhori sound ot "l ' iu his pronunciation, and Tillwuu jumped to bis leet aud insisted tuul it suould be luu loug buuuu. lie ap pealed to Senator Hour us uu uuiliorily on pronunciation, iue senator diplomatically said liiul Mr. Allen undoubtedly knew tuul the word should be pronounced wnu lue long sound ot but hud probably used luu snort sound in order to save tnu time oi lue senate. As Allen wus tue champion loug-uisiauce taiker and at one lime hud held iiiu noor ot the senate lor lourUcu consecutive lioars, the subtle satire of Mr. Hoar was duly appreciated. Uu.side the senate chamber Mr. Hoar's humor is as catching and as spontaneous as in it. "Senator, 1 waul one ol your pictures lor publication next Suuuuy," said a newspa per correspondent 10 iur. Hour a short time ago. "Certainly," he responded. "Ganaud, go una bii lor the plciuie.' Answering tbe look of aslouishmeul ou i ho correspondent's lace, thu senator said: "I always have Guriaua, my clerk, sit lor my pictures, us no is u much belter looking luuu ihuu i urn. When anybody wants my autograph, 1 have my other clerk, Good win, write it, for he is a much better writer V -5N I. HON. tSKOKG K FKISI1IE HO A K lb.au 1 uiu. W hen 1 am ubked for my opiu-f ion on any subject 1 refer the interlocutor to my messenger, Doherty. Ho talks much more freely thuu 1 do." '1 Ins same Doiicrty bus guurucd Ihe door Ij mt. Hour's committee room for almost a generation uud is the senator's factotum. Someone, iu describing him not long ago, referred to him as Senator Hour's "Fidus Achates." "Do you see what these newspaper men have, been culling you'.'" said Senator Hour, u, reeling Dcherty'b utlciillt.u to tue puiu giaph. "what docs that ineu, senator'.'" anxiously inquired Doherty, as he read-lo him tlie Bliui.ge expression. "1 would uol like to tell you, Di.hciij, solemnly replied the senator. Doherty Immediately started out to dis cover the otleuuiug newspaper niuu, but in telling his troubles to a fellow employe he wus enlightened us to the meaning ol the Latin words. ' bcnu.or, theie was u line editorial in Ibis morning s complimentary ol "1 know 1 would be culled upon for uu address. Now, 1 ulwnys make au uftcr diiinor speech in Greek and, us 1 under stand your club speaks and understands no I lung but Sanscrit, I would be out ol place ul the dinner." In his personal character Senator Hoar is entirely different from the contentious disputant on tbe Moor of the senate. He is u man of warm heart ami loyal friciid thip. He likes and dislikes iu superlative. A man is altogether good or altogether bad. If he is it friend to anyone he will go any length to serve that person and do so in the most unostentatious way. With Ihe law aim polities us his chosen professions. Senator Hoar has achieved a high place unci reputation in both, but his greatest delight and some of his most lust ing work lie In the Held of literature, his torical research and antiquurianism. The happiest moments of his life uru spent in his library at his home in Worcester, Mass. He has had it built adjoining hia cosy home und there has collected u treas ure of some 6,UU0 volumes of Ihe most cr.rc yourself," sum u newspaper niuu the other fully selected books that his training aud day, inteiiuing to compliment Ihe senator by culling his uueuliou to the endorsement of a newspaper of opposite polities to those of the senator. "What iufeinal mean thing have 1 done uuw that that puper should enduise me?' was his i espouse. As an ufur-uiuuer orator Senator Hour lias a wide reputation, hut in the evening of lite he seldom accepts an invitation to u icrinal dinner. He prefers tho quiet ot bis own liresidc, or tbe companionship of a few old friends at bis own table. He is adroit in tbe declination of invita tions to dine, as wus shown recently in sending bis regrets that he would be unable to attend a dinner of the Gridiron club. The reason be assigned was this: taste could suggest. In II ure rare vol umes and almost priceless manuscripts which ri prison) u lifetime of correspond ence and research in their accumulation. He has u mass of historical documents relating to the early colonial days of Mass achusetts and New Kngland which money could not buy from him. He hits a copy of the first bible published in America and a collection of rare books that came to him from his ancestor, Leonard Hoar, who was president of Harvard college more than two centuries ugo. He has interest ing relies In the form of letters and books from John Hancock and Samuel Adams, und books that were the personal posses sion of Washington Irving, Coleridge, Daniel Webster, Longfellow, the original manuscripts of Wllliitm t'ulleu llryam's "Death of the Flowers," aud hundreds of such rare and precious mementoes of great literary and political characters The senator lives iu au atmosphere of history. His homo In Worcester Is built ou property once owned by John Hancock, and every favorite spot In that neighbor hood murks some historical character or event. Some years ago he purchased a lit tle knob of land which he named Asncbum skil hill lu honor of some old Indian brave. 11 is little more lliau a bare rock sur mounted by a large plue tree, iu which u pair of eagles built their eyrie, lu plead ing with the people of Worcester not to disturb the eagles, the senator recently penned u beautiful little classic dedicated 'o the glorious bird that had nested on As uebumsklt. During the coming vacation of congress ho will probubly cairy out a plan he has hud lu mind for some jcars, uud this is the exploration ot the Island of Marl hit's Vine yard for he purpose of discovering whether or not It was the scene of Shakespeare's "Tempest." The senator is much interested iu the Idea Unit Shakespeare's play was based ou uu account of the adveulures of Kxplorer Bartholomew Gosuold, who, iu ltitil!, spent a winter ou au Island off the coast of Mas suchusells. This lsluud is believed by some lo have beeu Martha's Vineyard und u read ing of the Shakespearean play shows top ographical descriptions tbut might be tilled to IU Pointed Paragraphs I ice lunch often proves to be the most expensive. Any Joy I luit isn't shared wit It another is ot short duration. No man is ever wholly unhappy until he is deprived ol ail hope. A man Isu I liecessauly cool wheu be thinks of the price of coal. t'undidules who Itch for ollice should hu sciuichcj by thu voters. She Ihut will inurry wheu she may, may col gel a divorce wheu shu will. The guldeu rule is oue thing no man should ullow his neighbor lu overlook. At $lu u plate u buuquel may be appro priately termed a spreud-euglo ull'air. The udvicu u niuu gives is fur superior to Ihe udvice ho receives so ho thinks. Auy man who bus uu good reusou for do ing a thing bus a good reusou for uol do ing il. Love may be a tireless worker, hut It won't start a Hie iu the iuruuee ou a cola moi ulug. Almost uuy muu can look buck uud sou where be missed gelling r'ch by uol loliow iug somebody's advice. II Is belter to discover you have made a mistake after trying thuu to make the mis take of not trying ul all. whui tiotli il prulll a muu lo know lhal the fool uud hlb money ure soou purled it ue puiiiciputelb uol lu the parting thereof.' - cuuugo News. iSero's Merry luip Aud it cume lo puss during tbe sad, sor lowiug days ot uucteui Home luul Nero sel ihe cay ubrc. ttutchir.g ihe Humes, Nero liddieu while Rome burned. "Why are you burning tho city thus?" usked a courtier. "jusi to snow inosu lueuieluu irusi tuuguuieb lUui 1 cuu uuvo just as expen sive a ure luul way us it l umued tbeir u.fcu plietU Coul, suoUicU iVel'o. "lint why ure you pluyiag ibe llddle lo show your mcrrimeutf" persisted ihe coutrier. "Oh, I'm playlug the fiddle because I've got too much sense to harp upon the coal strike!" Baltimore Herald. 1 V M-r. . ,iv ' T5 VV. NTs.... L ( I t 1 -I V ( ; .".IJV y hi ) ji. i i i I VKMHKKS OK TDK SIM TON WOMAN'S rU'H-Photo by Si.derb. re, Sutton Neb