Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-12-11
Miscellamu.
A Good Story, True or Not.

ROSCOE CoNKLING.
Chandler loves to boast of his strength. |
Upon this particular occasion he raised |
his arm over the table.
"See my muscle" said he; "I can
hex any man of my size anywhere, if
am an old man; that is because / am
scienced in the business. But won't
lick a man unless he is gentleman.
Now, when man tells damlise about
me, my way is to 20 and lick him, if he
is a gentleman. Now look at Don Pott
(PiatD he tells more damlise about me,
and would lick him, but Don Pott is
no gentleman. George Townsend | was
going to lick once for telling damlie
about me; and hunted for him over a
week, but before | found him l learned
that he was no gentlem IN, and so his
hide was saved"
Chandler's great hobby is his skill as
pugilist. Roscoe Conkling is also
great boxer. He has private gymna-
sium in his residence at Washington,
where after dinner he invites such of his
friends as are gymnastically inclined for
friendly little bout with the gloves.
Conkling is very good amateur boxer,
and as he is very large, powerful man,
he generally has his own way with the
guests who are bold enough to put the
gloves on with lin. For some time it
was an open dispute between Chandler
and Conkling which was the better box
er of the two. Chandler would, after
every dinner party of which he was a
member, calmly assert that be could lick
any man of his weight in the United
Stats. One day last winter Chandler
dined with Conkling, and the latter in
weighed the great war Senator into the
private gymnasium. The gloves were
donned, and the two doughty champions
began to make graceful Senatorial pas
ses toward one another, according to the
most approved rules of the P. R. The
bout, however, was Of short duration.
Chandler suddenly received blow be-
tween the eyes, which caused the huge
Senatorial form to 60 over backwards J;
bis trusty legs failed him, and then he
sat down so hard that tears came out of
his eyes. It took four men to get the
war Senator upon his legs, but he threw
up the sponge at once, without any fur
ther effort to punish Conkling. The only
remark he was heard to make was,
Damn strange" and "Ill fix him
yet"
Conkling and Chandler were much to-
gether in social way, and it was not
long after the above occurrence when
Chandler received another invita-
tion to come up to his house and spread
his legs under ConKlin's social board.
Chandler sent back word that he regret
ted very much his inability to be pres
ent, but he had guest at his house, a
valued constituent from Michigan, and
he could not leave him. Conkling sent
back word. Bring your friend along"
With this form of invitation Chandler
consented to come up. He brought his
friend with him, and introduced him as
Mr.. Howard, of Detroit, Michigan. How
ard was a sad-eyed man of diffident man.
ners, who contented himself with paying
a very close attention to the themes OF
the bill of fare rather than to join the
general conversation of the dinner table.
Conkling was in great glee during the
dinner. He told over and over again
the story of Chambers discontinue as a
boxer, and never seemed to tire of ask
ing him what he thought about bis sbil-
ity to lick any man in the United States
Chandler took all these remarks in an
absent-minded way, as if, suddenly, Ae
:: had become lifted above any such petty
; ambition of considering himself fine
I athlete. After dinner Coukling led bis
guests into the gymnasium for general
smoke and chat.
"Come," said he pleass ntly, to Chand
Ter. don't you want another bout with
: the gloves p and then Conkling laughed
again in his most cheerful, turkey-gob
!, bier style, as he put on a pair of gloves.
"No, don't want to box, said Chan
dler: "hut perhaps my friend her,