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.
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VKMHKKS OK TDK SIM TON WOMAN'S rU'H-Photo by Si.derb. re, Sutton Neb
