Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-04-25
QUEER PEOPLE.
The stories that Witty Washington
Correspondents TeEl-Beautiful Dia-
m0nds and Poker Playing,

The Stories that Witty Washington
Correspondents Tell-BeautffuI Dfa-
| mOnds and Poker Playing,
| Correspondence of the Philadelphia Star.
l strolled into one of the offices on News
paper row the other evening, where found
gathered number OF those shrewdest and
brightest of all the journalistic profession
| Washington correspondents. It was rather
late, and what little news there was had
been sent of, and the boys, as they are
called, were smoking and telling stories.
1t was IS good as a play TO listen to these
men, and l regret can not remember
enough to give you at least half q column
of their wit. l do remember, however,
some little gossip about our public men,
which know will be interesting.
One of the stories goes that in the last
| Congress there was Democratic member
named Bright, from away down in the to-
bacco-growiDg part Of Virginia, who,was no
ted for his extreme filthiness. He never wore
a white shirt, and paper collar Oh his col
ored wooden shirt would last him for weeks.
But the worst of him was that he would
never use pocket handkerchief. He sat
between Generals Young and Du Bose,
two very elegant aud high-toned Georgia
members, who tried many ways to avoid
bis nasal pecadilloes, but in vain.
A SUPPLY OF HANDKERCHIEF.
At last they hit upon plan they thought
would do away with the nuisance. They
purchased dozen very large white hand
kerchiefs, did them up in paper, addressed
them to him, and laid them on bis desk.
Both Young and Du Bose were in their
seats, anxious to see how their friend would
receive their present. When he came in
he picked up the package, tore it open, and
began examining the handkerehiefs. Soon
he turned to Young and DuBose and said:
"Look here, did you fellows git any ofthese
things?" They replied that they had; that
they were a part of the perquisites of the
members, and that all the members had re-
ceived them that morning.
"Wel," says the Virginian, "what are
the darned things for?" They explained,
and were in high glee for little while, out
imagine their disgust when, after Bright had
examined each piece of muslin, be said:
"Oh, yes them is just like what my wife
uses sometimes" and as he said it he took
a large official envelope, put in the handker-
chiefs, put on his wife's address, franked it,
and threw it into the mail bag. II
This story reminded1one of the correspon-
dents of 8 somewhat similar one. In the
Forty-first Congress there was a Senator
from one of the far Western States who had
the habit of using his napkin instead of his
handkerchief at the dinner table. He was
clever man, and when he came to board
at one of our most fashionable hotels be
was invited to take seat at table where
sat Judge of the Supreme Court with bis
family. There WAS also at the same table
another prominent Senator and very fas-
tidious Journalist and his family.
TAKING A HINT.
The Western Senator accepted the offer,
and on the very first day his abominable
habit was noticed. Days and days passed
by, every effort being used in the way of
hint and innuendo TO call his attention to
his gross yulgarity, but all to no use. The
question was how to stop him without CIV
ing ofense. At last one of the party hit on
a plan which was successful. He wrote an
note, which he sent him. The
Senator got it, and it had its effect, for never
was he guilty of his former breach |
of etiquette.
This reminded another correspondent |
of member from Tennessee in the last |
House who was guilty of the same offense
as the Western Senator. None of the regu-
lar boarders at the Ebbitt House could bein- |
duced to sit at the same table with him. TIE |
same person told of the wife of very prom |
nent Senator who gave many brilliant re-
ceptions last winter, and who always asked |
The society reporter of the newspapers to |
speak of her diamonds. Her diamonds were |
nothing bat the Alaska diamonds bought |
in dollar jewelery-store. The way the |
act came out was that the many illusions |
o Mrs. Senator So-and-so's beausiful dia-
nonds led the dollar ewelry man to use it
Is an advertisement with bis other cestom-
IT'S.
1t was Gold of another Senator's wife that /
he is one of the best poker and Boston
players in the country. During the session
The entertains lavishIy, and scarcely night
,asses that she doesn't have card party at
Ter house. OF course she always plays,
md they say she never loses. A certain
oreigu legationist is said to have lost sever
i thousand dollars at her house in one
light,