Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1872-03-21
ais :eIlanfous.
Coyode andlHis Whiskey.

! Washington Correspondent of Cin. Com.l "a
7 do not know whether the doctor
used to prescribe whiskey for Covode
or not, but presume he did, for Uncle
Johr, was too faultlessa man to drink
twhiskey unless it was good for him.
! AT any rate he used to keep it in his
room and drink some when he felt
faint. He came from whiskey pro-
ducing district, and the boys used to
say that he always had on hand nice
article. In those days, before we had
any ongressional. Temperance SOeie-
| ties, when McDougal, Yates and such
kindred spirits were in their prime,
whiskey used to be sold at the restaur-
ants in the Capitol, and it was not un-
frequently kept in some of the COM
mittee rooms. -, So
Ifthe chairman of a committee was
bibulogsly inclined, and had two or
three of the same feather on the COM
mittee with him, the chances were
that a thirsty soul could always find
comfort in that room. CovOde at that
time, was chairman of the committee
on Public Buildings and Grounds, the
same over which Mr.. Halsey, of New
Jersey, n0wso ably presides. -, There
was not much business for the commit
T. eto do, and the room was q hand
some one, with lounges, and arm chairs,
and all the inviting influences; besides,
lit was convenient. 1t was handy. Tor
the members to run into during the
long debates, to smoke cigar and have
a chat, and at almost any hour in. the
day party of jolly members might be
found in that room, drinking smoking,
and telling stories. The whisky was
plenty, COyOde was liberal with 1t;
case after case came to his address from
Penn5yivania-a dozen bottles, two
dozen bottles, a small keg, demijohn,
all sorts.
{ ,.eioi GOING TOO FAST. 90 '.''.
One day, early in the session, Csvode
told one of his friends that there was a
great deal of whisky drank in that
room. His friend seemed perfectly in
idifferentt to the Information, merely |
answering II s'pose so. 5-r..
, ."Well,p said Covode, "I don't so
much object to the boys drinking all |
they want, but I don't want them to
walk off with it wholesale. A fair re-
tail business is all / care for. They may |
come here, if they're our friends, and
drink ss much as they want, but don't |
want them to steal it. IA i don't want |
them to take a bottle to-day, demi- /
john tomorrow, and a keg the next !
day..
Have a new lock put on your wash
! 1Thaf;s a good idea,'' said Uncle
john SITS a wonder / hadn't thought |
of il before .,t..... ~ ''' Z.
! So new lock was put on the wash
stand-7a large rosewood case with
doors in front and marble top. This
would hold a small keg of whiskey, /
two or three demijohns, or q couple, of
dozen of bottles. The new lock did
not seenisto work very satisfactorily.
a day or two afte- it was adjusted, the
whole store about dozen strong, was
taken. a few days after the lock was
changed again; no use-mOrei whiskey
gone mysteriously. Finally very in
tricate and complicate lock was put
on. Then the robbery was to stop
sure. The very next night g demijohn
Z - 49, 81" I
1t Mas But natural by this time that
Uncle John became a little discouraged
and unhappy. Still, he could not give
up the luxury and satisfaction Of hay-
ing something nice about him. all the
time. 1t was, pleasant to give a friend
a drink once in u while, and it was sor
ciable, and finally he got, mad and
swore he would be dogoned ifhe would
not keep little of the stuff in his
room, and he would be dogoned if he
would allow anybody to steal it, eth!
er. So he's a trap. A new stock
had arrived that day, and he putt in
the washstand as usual. After the
House adjourned he concealed himself
in the room and waited. He did not
have to wait long. fe heard two pair
of feet tip-toeing upto the door. He
laid low. Pretty soon q key was turn I
ed in the lock, and then two men, en-
tered. From his hiding place Uucle
John peeped out and recognized two
waggish Democratic members, who
were fond of their joke, but still fOnder
of Uncle Johns whisky. Still Uncle T
John laid lox, but kept his eyes open.
The two men walked straight to the
washstand and deliberately lifted of
the marble top! That was all, but it
was quite enough for uncle John! He
kept quiet, however, until they had
out two or three bottles. Then
he stepped out and said:
stThat'l II do, boys; want the rest"
There was at first CONSERVATION on
one side as may be imagined, and
anger on the other, but these soon gave
way to laughter, and laughter was sue
ceeded by drinks. 1t was good joke
on both sides, but Uncle John Covode,
to the day his death, nevec forgave
the Democratic party for that trick.
f~@ 81 Remarkable set"