Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-02-27

apropos reference to Woods proposing that
New York city secede, which of course Wood
denied. Townshend then in vulgar parlance
"came back on him" with the record. He made
striking review by citation of the factious and
in reality treason-advising position the eX-may-
or had assumed and compared it with the po-
sition of Gen. Howard, causing to be read n
speech of the latter made in New York when in
1861, he commanding Maine regiment
WAS moving TO the front at this point.
The review was accompanied by a causti,
vet eloquent speech, in which Wood was
not only "roasted" with scorn but BLASTED"
with sharpest wit. He made feeble defence,
but could not break the force of the arraign-
ment, which was completed when Mr.. Town.
shend caused tn be read resolutions of congress
thanking Gen. Howard, and compelled Woods
friends to object TO the reading of those passed
by the seth congress declaring Fernando Wood
an unworthy member of the House.
STROKE OF ATTIC WIT.
Near the front, Just behind the inimitable Bino-
ham, 10 the right of the speaker, sits man of
small stature, dark hair, eyes and tone, (f |
may use such wOrd) nervous, mobile, bilious,
with waspish wit, and restless nervousness,
that some call or miscal vanity, which makes
him bob up at every available moment and go
through all the phases Of ground and lofty tum-
bling, which witty word-monger can display.
Need say that refer to s. S. Cox--familiarlv
termed Sunset" and sometimes "Shoo Fly p
He has another name now, which ought to stick,
and would If all men knew Homer. Cox has
"maggot in his brain" l apply terms used
about him by leading democratic journalist,
and that is belief in his wit and
an intense anxiety to show it on
every occasion. There have been few slight
passages at arms between Mr.. Hoar, your rep
rescntatiye, ami the New York member. Yes
terday the latter assaulted Massachusetts, and
with asneer, referring to Mr.. Hoar, emarked at
the close of his attack that she must be oozing
out when her Hector does not appear in de-
fence. The allusion was q most unfortunate
one for Cox, as the sequel showed. Mr.. Hoar's
defence of the Bay State was most spirited and
at times eloquent, and when, in closing, he re-
marked that, like Troy, she had no need to send
her Hector out to combat, Indicating Mr..
Dawes by a graceful motion of his hand,)
when Thersites alone appeared before the walls,
there were roarS of laughter that told how
straight the barb went to its mark. Cox felt it,
and was unable to reply. Every one, even
though not Greek scholars, knew who was
Thersites, and the laughter was Homeric in its
wholesome jollity. Garfield improved the oc-
casion personally by sending for classical die
tionary and reading to various members what it
said as to Thersites' character.
Sbokasneara'c Tr1lIus ond Crecsido 1voc no1Iad
for. Mere brawlers and bullies, as his pen trans
forms Homer's Greeks inc, there is fat, rank
and jovial fun in the quarrels of the common
scold he paints Tnersites, especially in the scene
where he is beaten by Ajax. But the splendid
heXameters of Chapman give us the best descrip-
ton All readers of Homer will remember the
council at which this illfaYored berator gets
well thrashed by the wise Ulysses. Here is the
description of ThersiteS. 1t is so apt parallel
that it might have been written for Cox him
self:
Gan safe, and audience gave,
Thersites only would speak all most disorder'd
store
OF words he foolishly pourd out, of which his mind
Than 1t could manage; anything with which he
could procure
Laughter, he never would contain He should have
To touch no kings; toppose their states becomes not
testers parts.
But he the flthiest fellow was of all that had
deserts
In Troys brave siege"
1t was for slurring the king that Ulysses
thrashed the fellow. There are some who wish
it might be done to the modern Thersites when
he berates the speaker. How one would laugh
if we might say how, as at the Homeric council
board:
from his eyes did flow
Moist tears, and looking tlthiy, he safe, fear'd,
smarted,
His bubber'd cheek dried, and all the press, though
grI we'd to be denied
sOmeiy.'
Just as the house did yesterday. Cox is railer
and well knows how to pour out his words.
Hearing him sometimes one is irresstibly re-
minded of that quarrel between Ajax and Their
sites, in which Shakespeare makes the latter
throw epithets in the following style:
"Ay do, do; thou sodden-witted lord thou hast
no more brain than have in mine elbows. . Thou
selrVy valiant ass! thou are here but to thrash
Trojans; and thou art bought and sold among those
Of airy wit, like BAL barian slave If thou use to
beat m, will begin at thy heel and tell what thou
art by inches, thou thing of no bowels, thou"
One would suppose man SO valiant of speech |
was bold in action; but one remembers how he
turned away FROM Hector and Margarelon, and |
recalls the character himself pronounced on his |
own qualities:
Hector. What art thou, Greekf art thou for Hec-
tors mltchg
Art thou of blood and honorY
IherSites. No, no. am a rascal, accompanying |
knave a very nlthy rogue.
Hector. 81 do believe thee-live.
As such a "scurvy-railing rascal," the modern |
Thersites, has the member from Worcester
stamped this specimen of Carlyelian "Bind.
bag he so neatly pricked the hatuIence from.
OBSERVER.