The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1869-01-28
WAC OF THE LAST CENTURY.
Anecdotes of Judge W-----, OF Uonnec.
ticut.

tlCuls
Grace Greenwood draws the following
sketch in the last issue of the Ldepef,-
dent:
One Of the strangest and most original
characters of the time-that of the Revo,
luton, and of a considerable period sue
ceeding-was Judge W. of old LIE
banon. He was a man Of fiery temper,
yet OF strong sense, of keen ready wit,
most apt in quick turns and expedients.
For many years he was a member of the
General Assembly, or Legislature, where
he distinguished himself for executive
ability, for his wit and sarcasm, his pas
slonate partlsanship, and his incorrigible
disregard Tor parliamentary authorities
and proprletles. He had many memoir
able encounters in the legislative arena
always making the best fight for a forlorr
cause. Honest, yet wary; courageous,
yet obstinate; hot-headed, yet clearhead
ed; 1t strikes me that he was, as a poll
tlclan, somewhat ike the late Mr.. Stevens
and not altogether unlike him as a ma !.
lie had no small party spites. He was
bitter, but his was wholesome bitter
ness he was a good hearty hater, and
never stood In the way of the woe de-
nounced upon those of whom all men
speak we'll
At one time, after working like Tor
jan, against powerful opposition, for a
measure he had much at heart, after see
ing argument. invective, and skilIful ma
nauverng fail, and his measure voted
down by an overwhelming majority, he
was guilty ola grave and startling offensc
against the dignity of that august body OF
sovereign legislatures, that carried muir
muir of Indignation and horror, like an
audible shudder through the hail. With
a snort of contempt, he said: This
House isn't fit to carry garbage to a
bear
For this he was summarily dealt with,
the Assembly voting en- mGsse that he
should take back hisrude. insulting words,
on pain of immediate expulsion. With
depreciating smile, the culprit arose
May it please your honor. Mr. Speaker, y
he said, land the honorable members of
this honorable body, spoke hastily and
rashly. L said in my position that this
House was not tit to carry garbage to a
bear-l think these were my words |
now take them back. It's Just ft."
This audaclous speech was followed by
a perfect uproar Cries of ''Silame
shame expel him = came from all parts
of the hail. AT last when the angry
members become quiet enough to proceed
to business, it was voted that the contu-
maclous judge must instantly ask the
pardon OF the House on his knees, or be
ANONYMOUSLY expelled.
His own bitter words made diet that
hardly suited the offender proud stom-
ach but, after moment hesitation he
concluded to gulp them down. With a
droll grlmace that came near making the
whole angered assembly laugh outright,
the Judge under judgement dropped on
his knees and dryly repeated the form OF
abiect apology distated to him. This
done, he rose, and, bending down, began
to brush the dust from his black clot h
small clothes, giancing significantly throuh
his long eyebrows from one side Of tt e
assembly to the other, and saying with
the most telling EN- phasis, "a dtrtl
house dirty house -
This was received with such a burst of
uncomfortable laughte that nothing more
was attempted in the way of discipline at
that time. 49,.
During another session, report was
laid before the Speaker Of the House of
another fragrant instance OF contempt.
Judge W was accused of saying, as
he was leaving the hall the day previous,
after he had failed TO get through bill
which he had ably advocated and Pressed
with his usual obstinate zeal: This
Assembly is make up one-half of fools
and the other half of knaves F"
For this gross disrospoct the Speaker
called the member from New London
county sternly to account; and, as the
accused rose to answer to the charge. he
was confronted with many flushed and
lowering countenance.
May ask who heard me make the
remark in question he asked in hi>
coolest and most s;lvery tones, putting On
4 very mystifed look
II heard you, sir" said the witness,
rising iii his seat.
"Ah indeed. Did I address the re-
mark to you, sir?''
"Why. not exactly, you appeared to
be talking to yourself; but you smoke too
loud for me to be mistaken in what you
said, and | felt it my bounden duty to
report you
All | understand now" said the
Judge. Then addressing the Speaker:
May 1t please you honor, hare an awk-
ward habit of talking to myself. And
this one thing L have often observed
when | talk to myself l altooys speak my
mind
There was no resisting this. Both sides
OF that grave and aggrleved assembly,
friends and foes united in roar of laugh
ter; and this time the wit Of the offender
saved him.
The Judge had a very quaint and care
less style of dress. [ am inclined to think
he was in this respect the prototype I'VE
all have our prototypes. doubtlessl Of our
honored countryman, Dir. Horace Gree
ley; for he always wore, in cold or stormy
weather, very light colored overc0at,
''fearfully and wonderfully made" and
shocking bad hat A -brimmed
black felt hat was this last ; but worn
sometimes very much cooked. sometimes
halt-cocked.
One cold spring day as he was riding
to Hartford to attend the Legislature, at
tired in this coat and wearing this hat.
there came up sudden and violent rain-
storm. The felt proved not to he water
proof; the driving rain soaked through
it, carrying the color on to the Judge s
face in long black streaks, and down over
his coat, making him look very much like
a zebra-or, as be afterwards said, as
through big bottle of ink had been
broken on his head
In this sorry plight, and chilled to the
marrow of his old bones, he applied for
shelter at the first house he came to after
crossing the Hartford ferry Blu. such a
fearful object Was he to look upon that
the good people declined to receive him.
From house to house he rode, asking to
be taken in out Of the storm But no
one dared to admit him; no careful
housewife was willing to have her clean
lz;tohon NTH its frarhlu sandal floor