Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-02-17
rrEE GREAT RACICAL m0GUL-THAD
nFTG STEVENS

TWE GREAT RACICAI. m0GUL-THAD
DETs STEVENS,
The public is indebted 70 the editor 0,
the Nashville Republican Banner for
the following description Of Thsddeus
Stevens, the great Radical AIogul in
Congress
We perceive in some of the Letters
written by the admirers Of Mr. Tbac-
deus a quantity OF exceedingly minute
and interesting detail as 90 his person.
bis habits, and his character. We have
taken the trouble 70 compile q budget Of
these, and 10 compare them with some
observations and inquiries Of our own,
and are vain enough 10 believe that we
can give as graphic a picture OF the
great Radical as Albany FopblanQUe
once gave o. the Duke of Wellington.
Thaddeus Stevens is a man Of ordinary
size; that is @ say, he ? neither so tall
as I0n- John Wentworth, nor so short as
Henry J. Raymond; so thick as Mere
dith P. Gentry, nor so thin as Parson
BrOwnI0W. He rises very early in the
morning, having first opened his eyes by
rubbing the fore niger on his right hand
acrdss the lids. His manner Of getting
out Of bed is equally peculiar. He first
lifts himself on his elbow, then sneeZes,
then protrudes the left foot from the COW
e-let and places il on the floor and
stretching out his arm seiZes a chair, into
which he springs ~ nimbly as an Octa-
Eenarv Tom cat aroused from dreams of
pussy by a bucket Of dirty water. His
attitude for & few minutes would be
study for an Angelo, combining the sim
plicity OF age with the tragic interest OF
intense convictions. and the innate con-
sci0Usness of superiority. II is remark
able that be never whistles-which can
onlv. be accounted for by the fact that he
needs all his wind for the House Of Rep
rsseutatives.
Nr. Stevens washes in cold water: uses
little soft soap: and dries bis face with
napkfp ii preference % q towel. This
is one Of the eccenUicities OF geniusl.
He shaves once 8 week, never putting
out his cheek 10 give the razor greater
facility, because, IS be alleges, he never
could suit himself 70 circumstance. He
drinks rum toddy Immediately after he
dresses himself which accounts for the
mysterious allusi0n of Mr.. Dana that
81 he is the uobiest rum 'un Of them ALL
He crosses his legs ar the breakfast table, .
and never varies his Gier. Being the
most lsb5riOus man Of the day be eats /.
bsartilv his meal consists OF dozen {
and 3 half Of oysters, raw, q beef steak .
with onions. an ouelet-e, SIX soft boiled F.
eqgs. two cups Of coffee and a pan Of .
cakes, batter or bUckwheat. While be /
eats, g copy Of the New York Tribune /
ana the Nashville Bonner lie IN his Jap |
They are understood 70 be his tavori5e I
sheets, as em50dyiug the opposite eZ- .
lremes Of public opinion
Afrer be has N EzLed lls breakfast, Mr.. /
Stevens reads his extensive correspond +
euoe. He pays strict attention 10 all 4
letters conveying threatening accounts .
from tle South, and Is often heard u
nlutrer. 90 o. you rebels, " got you, ana .
be ID 10 YOU % Sometimes this Is
varied with, An. ha, massa Andy
heres hsL for you too y And, a. ne
pe-usss this species of episJolary chit
cnau and pleasant gossip, his face lghtens
Up with The beniguant charity OF sun
Cav scu0ul teacher and the cOmpiaceucy
OF al agent of the Freedmen bureau IL
anything appears which excuses or pail
atss the situation Of affairs ia the south,
lie remarks. with the curuuess OF NapO-
leon, o. God f0rsakel lies" which luul-
Gates his hrmuess and prompt decision
IndeeI. this ready tact il exhibited IN
the most trivial matters 70 remarkable
degree be puts on his boots three min
Uues faster unan Alr. Sumner, and al one
time. as Alr Prindle has been heard 10 !
declare. could copper the ace before the
dealer could call The turn Of the little
twO-card box
Nr. Stevens goes TO the Capitol at ten
O'Clock every morning be wears his
haton lis head. II his nose is wheezv,
atJod biees NV soul W be Is very cUuT-
teous and poIiue 70 every one he meets,
and Is frequently known to take notice
OF little boys, aud 10 eZclaim5 ''get cut Of
my way YOU vagabOnds.
Mr. stevens Imps a little as he enters
the hail Of the House. The reason that
be Lmps Is that one leg j. little shorter
tnau the other. He goes al once o. his
own desk and sits down. The object Of
his doing 50 is 70 rest himself he reads
the GLg5s, pausing moment when his
eve falls on the letters "Alr. stevens.
Though he can [ run himself, he writes q
running hand He spells well also.
His last spell was at " MIlard's Hotel
win Dan voorhees,, Lew. Campbell,
Ben. EgEleston and alOt more Of rauting,
rowing, devil may care Congressional /
blades.
When SIr. Stevens addresses the
House, which he frequently does, be ri
So and SAYS, "Mr. Speaker III be IS
recognized by Mr.. COIiaX, which he gen
eralIy Is, he goes on; If not, he sits down
again His manner Of speaking Is a
cross between the impetuosi1y OF c. L.
NaIandigham and the gravity Of John
Bell. Il lacks, however, the force OF one
ana the weight OF the other, and Is TOO
volumiuous; in fact, Ss Sheridan said Of
C. .oD0n. voL-umIuOus. This viii account
for the oft wondered fact that Mr.. Ste
vens is not SO witty ss Alr. George d.
Prentice. Brevity, we are told Ii the
soul Of wit. AIr. Stevens IS never brief,
and therefore cannot be witty.
Afr. Stevens, as Is well known, eX-
pected 10 be Chairman OF the Committee
ou Ways and Means but, strange 70 say,
Mr. CuLfax was able % md meaner
man ior taat posi-, and chose 1lr. Morrill,.
In leu OF this, Nj. Stevens IL Chairman
of The Committee on the Obstruction Of
the Union, proiansly called the Grave
Yard Committee, frUm which ceslgna-
ton Mr.. Stevens gets the name OF The
Sexton. Though not given % humoT
himself be has 3 friend who Is, ana be
says mat Mr.. Stevens always did know
how - shove a spade, and therefore thai
be Is Ia nis proper sphere Of action
There are those, however, who wish thai
b were under, instead OF over the
cbuIcHyard Of 'shlch he Is Sexton, ana
whose SUIT would be clubs II called -
iuln ia tae game OF a. fUurs upon his
tombstone.
Alr Stevens never rides. But TIE
reaoer bereol Is expected ~ do 80. Ride
n fIy ts.