友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!阅读过程发现任何错误请告诉我们,谢谢!! 报告错误
热门书库 返回本书目录 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 进入书吧 加入书签

my memories of eighty years-第47章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



the newspapers; was a kind of effort which necessarily required preparation。  In all the many times I heard him; both at home and abroad; he never had a failure and sometimes made a sensation。

Among the many interesting characters whom I met on shipboard was Emory Storrs; a famous Chicago lawyer。  Storrs was a genius of rare talent as an advocator。  He also on occasions would make a most successful speech; but his efforts were unequal。  At one session of the National Bar Association he carried off all honors at their banquet。  Of course; they wanted him the next year; but then he failed entirely to meet their expectations。。  Storrs was one of the most successful advocates at the criminal bar; especially in murder cases。  He rarely failed to get an acquittal for his client。  He told me many interesting stories of his experiences。 He had a wide circuit; owing to his reputation; and tried cases far distant from home。

I remember one of his experiences in an out…of…the…way county of Arkansas。  The hotel where they all stopped was very primitive; and he had the same table with the judge。  The most attractive offer for breakfast by the landlady was buckwheat…cakes。  She appeared with a jug of molasses and said to the judge:  〃Will you have a trickle or a dab?〃  The judge answered:  〃A dab。〃  She then ran her fingers around the jug and slapped a huge amount of molasses on the judge's cakes。  Storrs said:  〃I think I prefer a trickle。〃 Whereupon she dipped her fingers again in the jug and let the drops fall from them on Storrs's cakes。  The landlady was disappointed because her cakes were unpopular with such distinguished gentlemen。

Once Storrs was going abroad on the same ship with me on a sort of semi…diplomatic mission。  He was deeply read in English literature and; as far as a stranger could be; familiar with the places made famous in English and foreign classics。

He was one of the factors; as chairman of the Illinois delegation; of the conditions which made possible the nomination of Garfield and Arthur。  In the following presidential campaign he took an active and very useful part。  Then he brought all the influences that he could use; and they were many; to bear upon President Arthur to make him attorney…general。  Arthur was a strict formalist and could not tolerate the thought of having such an eccentric genius in his Cabinet。  Storrs was not only disappointed but hurt that Arthur declined to appoint him。

To make him happy his rich clientsand he had many of themraised a handsome purse and urged him to make a European trip。  Then the president added to the pleasure of his journey by giving him an appointment as a sort of roving diplomat; with special duties relating to the acute trouble then existing in regard to the admission of American cattle into Great Britain。  They were barred because of a supposed infectious disease。

Storrs's weakness was neckties。  He told me that he had three hundred and sixty…five; a new one for every day。  He would come on deck every morning; display his fresh necktie; and receive a compliment upon its color and appropriateness; and then take from his pocket a huge water…proof envelope。  From this he would unroll his parchment appointment as a diplomat; and the letters he had to almost every one of distinction in Europe。  On the last day; going through the same ceremony; he said to me:  〃I am not showing you these things out of vanity; but to impress upon you the one thing I most want to accomplish in London。  I desire to compel James Russell Lowell; our minister; to give me a dinner。〃

Probably no man in the world could be selected so antipathetic to Lowell as Emory Storrs。  Mr。 Lowell told me that he was annoyed that the president should have sent an interloper to meddle with negotiations which he had in successful progress to a satisfactory conclusion。  So he invited Storrs to dinner; and then Storrs took no further interest in his diplomatic mission。

Mr。 Lowell told me that he asked Storrs to name whoever he wanted to invite。  He supposed from his general analysis of the man that Storrs would want the entire royal family。  He was delighted to find that the selection was confined entirely to authors; artists; and scientists。

On my return trip Mr。 Storrs was again a fellow passenger。  He was very enthusiastic over the places of historic interest he had visited; and eloquent and graphic in descriptions of them and of his own intense feelings when he came in contact with things he had dreamed of most of his life。

〃But;〃 he said; 〃I will tell you of my greatest adventure。  I was in the picture…gallery at Dresden; and in that small room where hangs Raphael's 'Madonna。'  I was standing before this wonderful masterpiece of divine inspiration when I felt the room crowded。 I discovered that the visitors were all Americans and all looking at me。  I said to them:  'Ladies and gentlemen; you are here in the presence of the most wonderful picture ever painted。  If you study it; you can see that there is little doubt but with all his genius Raphael in this work had inspiration from above; and yet you; as Americans; instead of availing yourselves of the rarest of opportunities; have your eyes bent on me。  I am only a Chicago lawyer wearing a Chicago…made suit of clothes。'

〃A gentleman stepped forward and said:  'Mr。 Storrs; on behalf of your countrymen and countrywomen present; I wish to say that you are of more interest to us than all the works of Raphael put together; because we understand that James Russell Lowell; United States Minister to Great Britain; gave you a dinner。'〃

One other incident in my acquaintance with Mr。 Storrs was original。 I heard the story of it both from him and Lord Coleridge; and they did not differ materially。  Lord Coleridge; Chief Justice of England; was a most welcome visitor when he came to the United States。 He received invitations from the State Bar Associations everywhere to accept their hospitality。  I conducted him on part of his trip and found him one of the most able and delightful of men。  He was a very fine speaker; more in our way than the English; and made a first…class impression upon all the audiences he addressed。

At Chicago Lord Coleridge was entertained by the Bar Association of the State of Illinois。  Storrs; who was an eminent member of the bar of that State; came to him and said:  〃Now; Lord Coleridge; you have been entertained by the Bar Association。  I want you to know the real men of the West; the captains of industry who have created this city; built our railroads; and made the Great West what it is。〃  Coleridge replied that he did not want to go outside bar associations; and he could not think of making another speech in Chicago。  Storrs assured him it would be purely a private affair and no speeches permitted。

The dinner was very late; but when they sat down Lord Coleridge noticed a distinguished…looking gentleman; instead of eating his dinner; correcting a manuscript。  He said:  〃Mr。 Storrs; I understood there was to be no speaking。〃  〃Well;〃 said Storrs; 〃you can't get Americans together unless some one takes the floor。  That man with the manuscript is General and Senator John A。 Logan; one of our most distinguished ci
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!