Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-11-26
MORRISSEY.
A Pen Picture of the Pugillstit
Congressman.

Correspondence of the Cincinnati Commercial.l
/ had the great pleasure of seeing one
of New York distinguished Representa-
tves--John Morrissey-the other day,
in one of the reading rooms of the Astor
House. had seen him some years ago
when he was travelling on his muscle
when he wore short croppy hair, and had
two fists like two battering rams. In the
Democratic Congressman of to-day l
tried to recognize the pugilist of ten
years since, but couldn't-nor could l
detect even the poker player of yesterday.
John looks quite respectable for New
York politician. As between him and
Fernando Wood, if had to walk arm in
arm with both, and rely solely upon my
knowledge of physioguomy as an index
of character, | should unhesitatlngly
carry my pocketbook on the Morrissey
side of my pantaloons. Of course John
doesn't look like gentleman, except
upon the modern theory that every male
person of twenty.one years and upward,
who doesn't perform some outrageously
indecent act, is a gentleman, or upon the
principle adopted by the hotel clerks in
the disposition of rooms, that whoever
wears good broadcloth is ipse .facto an
eminsntly respectable individual and en-
titled to the first floor front.
His features are anything but CLASH
cal, and you can tell at glance that
he hasn't hurt the sight of those large
dull.looking, but withal kindly and
sympathetic eyes of his (they were
Tneeners" few wears ago) in studying
Homer by lamp'light. But there is
nothing positively bad or brutatiook,
ing about him, and his manner ana
department are far from what must
be most persons ideal of the ways and
means of whilom pugilist. He IS q
little above the medium hight, rather
stoutly built, always neatly but not
raudiiy dressed, and will readily pass
in crowd for a decent sort Of person,
especially if it be known that he came
from New York. There are two tea-
lures about him by which he can be res
ognized by those who have heard OF him
but have never seen him. One is artli-
cial and the other is natural. be is
never known to be without an immense
diamond pin, said to be worth $2O,
in his shirt, and he wears about the long
est and straightest black hair have ever
seen on any man. The pin shines out
from his bosom in the dark alleys OF the
"bloody sixth" like calcium light. and
is really about the only light ever seen by
any of his constituents. And, by the
way, it wouldn't be safe for anybody but
John Morrissey to wear SO valuable an
ornament after nightfall among his con-
stituents. 2 ;, :,
Johns long black hair and heavy black
whiskers and moustaehe, the former COW
erinr the back of rather bullish neck
and the latter concealing mouth quite
uneenteel in its proportions, served the
doublc purpose of hiding defects and pre-
senting positive ATTRACTIONS; for they
make him what the ladies would call a
good looking man He is 9 hapdsomeF
man than the President, and it would not
surprise me at Rll to learn within year
that he has supplanted that humble indi-
yidual in the esteem of Mrs. Cobb. Let
Audrew be warned in time, and get n
500 900 pin and bottle of hair dye.
have said that Morrissey could be re-
cognized by his hair and his diamond.
| should have added nasal peculiarlty,
the knowledge of which would aid mate
rally in selecting him from Q crowd.
And perhaps il would enable one to pick
him ont, even from crowd OF black
haired and diamondpinned men. 1t is
the oueerest nose have seen in q long
time-perhaps the queerest have ever
seem. Ii is not Roman, not Grecian, not
mug. not aquiline, but appears TO me
rather like subjugated pug, recon
structed on the Greeian principle. 1t is
The smallest of all noses, and al most JUS
tifies the belief on the part OF those who
know Johns history that having been
deprived of his own 'probosc,s IN
prize fight, he did his hest toward making
up for his loss by waylaying some young
lady, and possessing himself OF her Oh
factory organ. Even if he did this, how
ever. he spoiled the article in making
The transfer, and hence the notable nose
he wears to-day. Morrissey has, OF late
days, forsworn gambling and bstaken
himself TO virtuous life in palatial
residence in Lexington avenue, with
fortune estimated at 100000. de re-
Gently gave $1,000 as donation to the
church of Saint Somebody or the other
in this city. being moved to the generous
decd. | believe. by the announcement
,bat Senator Wilson had got religion.
Desirous of going to heaven, he yet
soorned Wilson's Yankee free-grace road.
and. with the hberality Of prince, be
came forward and paid his way to the
Golden cate Of Paradise,