The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-03-31
The New Speaker of the House.

From a W0nldnS Correspondence with the
NcU York INDEPENDENT
Because think that Mr.. Dawes had
earned the honor, and was in every
way fitted to fill the Speakers chair,
let nobody suppose that bear any Ill
will toward the gentleman VINO mas won
it. Mr.. Blaine fills 1t Well-Detter than
/ thought he would. FOR ne seems 10
have left his nervous jumping up and
hand slapping back In his old seat, and
IN bring an unwonted serenity to grace
the new occasion. Earnestness, enthu-
sinsm and impetuosity characterized
him on the floor; high qualities all
but, in an exaggerated degree. not just
the ones for an impartial Speaker, pre-.
siding over one of the most turbulent
and unmanageable legislative bodies
in the world. Mr.. Blaine has always
seemed TO me the Camille Desmoulins
of the House. In spite OF Scotch-1rish
blood, he has just the temperament OF
that most brilliant, most mercur1al1
and most unfortunate OF all the Journal
lists of the Jacobins. AS he goes past
nv windows, these sunny mornings, l
see that he has a certain Cavalierish air
that he throws back his ample cloak
with the easy swing of successful man
who has mustered ever untoward fate.
Success is the best tonic. 1t is better than
pepsin tor a weak digestion. 1t 10 a
perfect developer of curves. 1t is the
w
angular and skinny" Mr.. Blaine is
tall, of fine stature, we'll rounded out
by prosperity. AS he looks back to its
beginnings, nobody knows better than
he that the world has gone well with
him, and no one could take the knowl-
edge more kindly. An Indian Summer
of Youth still gloriies his face, under
mass of hair already wintered with I'M
timely gray. His eyes are the remark
able feature OF his face. They are
large, full, and clear, of a limpid brown,
which makes them the rapid transla-
tors of every emotion-the sort OF eyes
which impossible maidens who have
not outlived their fondness for dark
eyed heroes. declare to be perfectly
lovely" MIR. Blaine has all that "good
fellow" and "hail fellow" element
which makes him popular with men,
and the delicate suavity and personal
impressmenL which makes him gem
eraI fnvorite with women. He is said
TO be delightful travelling companion,
and know by memory that he is II
brilliant table-talker. He Is impul-
sive, generous, and kind-hearted; but
enough of politician to keep his lar
ger charities walking steadily in the
track of his interests, and not very far
behind them. BE has won just honors
enough TO make him want Il great
MANY more. He has cast still high
er stakes in his political future,
and is working steadily, yet enthusiast
tically, toward them. He is emphatiN
cally a rising man; and. if he does not
push on so hard and so fast as to iostle
and hurt other men equally powerful,
lie is like ely to reach his highest mark.
In this overweening quality lies his
danger. For, while his impulses prompt
him 10 generosity, his passion tor sue
cess tends toward Overreaching. He
certainly is not tortured by that eXqui-
site moral sense which in the highest
natures holds ambition i'll allegiance.
And l scarcely think that the morbid
tenderness OF his conscience will eyer
he the death of him, true Republican
and agreeable gentleman though he be
The Chair of the House has been sc
long associated with the person OF
SCHUYLER Coifax that the House scarce
" seems the House without him. Yet
one can not FAY that he looks mot al
home" in the chair of the Vice Presi
dent. It is one of his characteristics
that he always brings reserved qualities
to every new position. He presides with
perfect dignity over this body f"grave
and reverend seignors," and sits as mo.
tionless in the Vice Presidents desk as
if he had not been accustomed to writ
ing hundreds of letters per day and
having good time generally in the
Speakers chair-all of which must seem
a serious bore and n fearful waste o,
time to such busy man.