Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 January 1884 — A Story of Sumner. [ARTICLE]

A Story of Sumner.

Charles Sumner is generally spoken of as lacking the humorous perception, which is a great mistake. He not only enjoyed a witty remark, but would remember it, even when it was at his expense. Among other bon mots of kufus Choate, which he used to quote, tvas the great lawyer’s remai’k to Mr. Sumner, as they met at the door of the Boston court-house, when Sumner’s friends were working so hard to elect him to the United States Senate. “Good morning, Mr. Choate,” said Sumner, pleasantly; “on the march, I suppose, to another forensio triumph?” Mr. Choate drew around him his old camlet cloak, throwing the cape over his emaciated, time-furrowed face, and looked very like one of the witches in Macbeth, as he said, in his deepest tones, “Glamis thou art, and Cawdor,” then turned to the court-house. Once, when Mr. Sumner had tried in vain to decipher some notes which he had hastily made, and which he wished to

use in a speech that day, he exclaimed: “Why, this is worse than Choate’s writing. I suppose I may console myself, as he once did, when he had found it impossible to decipher some of his own chirography, and say: ‘Well, if I ever fail to get a living by my practice, I can go to China and support myself by writing the inscriptions on tea-chests.’” — Ben: Perley Poore.