The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-12-14
A SENATORIAL STORY.
How Zach Chandler Got Even with RoS-
coe ConklIng In the Gymnasium,

coe conklIng In the Gymnasium,
Zach Chandler, Of Michigan, loves to
boast Of his strength, a correspondent
writes. Upon this particular occasion
he raised his arm over the table.
"see my muscle" said he; "I can
lick any man Of my sise anywhere, II !
am On old man that Is because / am
scienced IN the business, But l won't
lick a.ri1an unless lie Is gentleman"
ohandler's great hobby 10 his skill nS
pugilist. Roscoe uonkling, Of New
York, is also q great boxer. He has o
private gymnasium in his residence at
Washington, where after dinner he in.
yites such OF his friends as are gymnas.
tically inclined for n friendly little bout
with the gloves. Conkling Is q very
good amateur boxer, and as he "a very
large, powerful man, he generally hts II
hia own way with the guests who are
bold eBoush'to put the gloves on with
him. For some time 1t was an open
dispute between Chandler and Conkling
which was the better boxer Of the two.
Chandler would, alter every dinner
party OF which he was member, calm.
ly assert that he could hck, any mar, oi
hih weight in the United States. One
day last winter Chandler dined with
Conkling, and the latter inyeigled the
great war Senator into the private gym.
nasium. The gloves were donned, and
the two champions began TO make
graceful Senatorial passeS towatd one
another. The bont, however, was Of
very short duration. Chandler sud.
denly received blow between the eyes
which caused his huge form TO 60 over
backward; his 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,
hut he threw up the sponge at once,
without any further effort to punish
Conkling. The only remark he was
heard 10 make was, "strauge," and
"1'll fix him yet"
Conkling and Chandler were much
together In q social way, and it was not
long after the above occurrence when
Chandler received another invitation 10
come up to his house and spread his
legs under Conkling's social board.
Chandler sent back word that he re-
gretted very much his inability to be
present, but he mad guest OF his
house, o valued constituent from Michi-
gan, and he could not leave him,
Conkling sent back word, Bring your
friend along" With this form Of inyi.
tation Chandler consented TO come up.
He brought his friend with him, aud
introduced him as Mr.. Howard, OF De.
trois, Michigan. Howard was q sad.
eyed man OF difident manners, who
contented himself with paying q very
close attention 10 the themes OF the bill
OF fare rather than TO Join in the gen.
eral conversation OF the dinner table.
Conkling was in great glee during the
dinner. He told over and over agaiu
he story Of Chandler's discontinue as
q boxer, and never seemed TO tire OF
asking him what he thought about his
ability to lick any man in the United
States. Chandler took all these re.
marks in IN absent-minded way, Us II,
suddenly, he had become lifted above
any such petty ambition Of considering
himself o fine athlete. After dinner
'Conkling led his guests into the gym.
nasium for general smoke and chat.
Come" said be pleasantly to
Chandler, "don't you want another
bout with the gloves 2" and then Conk.
ling laughed again as he put on pair
@No, / don't want to box" said
Chandler; "but perhaps my friend
here would consent to amuse you y
Tdrning to Mr.. Howard, Chandler re-
marked, "You box, do you not"
Mr.. Howard still looked sad.eyed
and absent.mInded. He Gid once know
something about Il, but II was such a
long time ago.
Come, come, said conkling, "let
us have q friendly bout. Iwont hurt
you"
Evidently the great New York sena-
tor was pining to kneck some one down.
The sad.eyed Mr.. Howard, evidently
tlattered at the prospect OF being
knocked down by so distinguished o
man, began slowly to put on a pair Of
gloves. As he was drawing on the
gloves Chandler was observed TO walk
down q little to the background. A con-
tented look was on bis face.
The sad.eyed man now came for.
ward, and the round began. Conkling
was for proceeding ut once to knock his
opponent doWns and he Would have
done 80 had he not found great diff.
Guilty in getting anywhere near the sad.
eyed man. The affair eliminated by
the sad.eyed man's suddenly rushing
forward and landing q thunderbolt OF q
flst between Conkling's eyes. The
Senator went over like o big tree, and
rolled into the corner OF the room,
where he lay for q moment stunned by
the conclusion. He was heard to say
afterward that he thought house had
fallen on him.
i Conkling had enough Of boxing for
once. Chandler made several pleasant
little retnalks about the skill OF his
friend Conkling, which were not re.
ceived in the most cheerful way.
Judge Of Conkling's feelings the next
day when he learned that Chandler had
played o joke upon him by giving Mr..
Howard 800 TO come up and bounce
Mr.. Conkling. The Mr.. Howard, Of
Detroit, Michigan, was none other than
Jem Mace.