“ On the distinctively American side of the workshop is seen the rugged face of Lincoln.
There is also the inevitable collection of curiosities, knives and swords from the Malay Archipelago and articles of virtu picked up in all parts of the world. Among the more precious things of the collection are the cuff buttons worn by John Quincy Adams when he fell in the Senate Chamber in 1848. These relics passed from Adams to Sumner, from Sumner to Hoar, back again to the family of Adams, and were finally given to Mr. Schurz.
The German nature is averse to trusting success to luck or inspiration. ”

“ Schurz as soon as he enters the house. He is ushered at once into a hall that is a veritable portrait gallery of immortals. No one enters this select company without having done something for the world. Warriors, statesmen, musicians, artists, and authors are all represented, but a certain spirit of selection, you can see at once, has directed the formation of the gallery. ”

“ It believes in the good fortune of persistence and the inspiration of work. Mr. Schurz does not wait for moods, but works always, taking the chance of running into his best moments instead of waiting for them to come to him. ”

“ America dominates here, as in all the actual life of this German-American thinker. Half the entire library space is given up to works of American history, politics, biographies, and literature. Germany claims the second largest portion of room, followed closely by France, while a fourth section is devoted to miscellany.
When Mr. Schurz adopted America, he adopted it in true German earnestness and thoroughness. ”

“ It led him into revolt against tyranny in Germany, against slavery in America, and against special privilege — the new form of commercial tyranny — under present political conditions. His literary activity began with a protest against feudal slavery and his entire literary life since has been spent in what may be called perpetual protest against every form of slavery. ”

“ In the morning he begins early and works from three to five hours. He works again for several hours in the afternoon, and, whenever he is not making addresses at political, philosophical, or educational gatherings, he works several hours at night. ”