New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-05-10
A Bixer Man Than Old Grant.

It is not often the privilege of the gen.
eral public to get inside an eminent man.
but our readers will enjoy that experience
this morning. We have seen faint and i'm
perfect pictures from time to time of the
wild quest for offices and perqnisites when
the bars of the federal pen at Washington
were let down last December, and the hun
gry Democracy rushed in after fifteen
Years fasting outside. But the scene can
only be appreciated by those who are able
to put themselves in the place Of the
scrsmblers, and who know what it is to be
stuffed after starvation, and wrapped in
sweet clothes" after half lifetime of beg
gary. Hence the letter in which Mr.. Fitz-
hu9h describes to friend in Texas the
emotions which made tempest in bis
bosom when he found himself dOOrkeeper
of the House of Representatives, possesses
not merely curious historical interest, but
considerable value as study in psychology.
It laws bare sentiments which most great
men are careful to keep secret, and repro
duces in real life the feelings of Christopher
Sly, who fell asleep q tinker and awoke
Nor is it only of himself that the new
Christopher gives us . faithful portrait.
He was not more hungry than the honor
set to guard. II have been beseiged," he
writes, from light in the morning until one
or two At night. 1 have had to
keen two ushers and two or three clerks
ever since the hour of my election in my
Office" Members have been $50 clamor-
GUS" that be could save nothing for his own
friends. II can not put my foot on the
floor of the hall but that they make break
for me, and sometimes dozen begin at
me at once for places, y and in consequence
of these rude opportunities Mr.. Fitzhugh
hardly ever dares ito git out of his office"
There is not q wretched little bone of q
clerkship, or a messengers dry and mouldy
crust, for which these furnishing Represen-
tatiyes are not scrambling and fighting.
There is nothing too small for them to grab,
and we suspect there are not many things
they would refuse to do to please man
who has snythinE to give away away .hou,a MT
be turned by his sudden transformation
was not to be expected:
What think you If he were conveyed to bed.
Wrapped in sweet Clothes rings put upon his
fingers,
And brave attendants near him when he wakes
Would not the beggar then forget himself
.Ouite q contrast here and Austin, "
writes Fitzhugh. II have more invitations
TO frolics with the members and Senators
than any man in Washington. l am big
ger man now than old Grant" And the
members all seem to be so fond OF him!
Mr.. Cox "is the warmest friend of mine you
ever saw. Also the new Speaker, Mr..
Kerr: Beauty smiles upon him. Mr.. and
Mrs. Kerr have him to tea. He is great
favorite with eminent ladies generally.
"The government furnishes me with .
fine turnout aud spanking pair of horses. "
The centennial commission invites him and
the rest of the government to Philadelphla
to .have big time" There are scores OF
clerks and assistants under him; coach
man to drive him to his breakfast and his
one at his beck if he only turns around.
1--WE do things in STYLE" he exclaims in
burst of enthusiasm, "and when l
get all my new appointmente broken
in / shall have nice time" upon my
life," cries Christopher. II am lord in
deed" There is no happiness on earth
without alloy, and even DoOrkeeper Fitz.
hugh has troubles, in common with the rest
OF the House of Representatives.. 1t is
only little matter of money; "all our
members are like myself, tight up on the
first of the month";" But pay day comes
fast and regular at tho capital, and we
doubt not that if the person to whom this
letter was addressed accepted his cor
respondents invitation, and went on to
Washington at Christmas, there were
means forthcoming for the GLORIOUS time
promised in such confident and enthusiastic
terms. At any rate the coachman was
there, with the spanking pair Of horses, fol-
the government pays for those, and the gov
eminent, fortunately, is not tight up the
first of the month";" so We make no doubt
that Fitzhugh might have been seen during
the holidays by anybody who chose to LOOK
for him spinning through Washington with
the fine turnout, and singing to the friend
from Texas the words Of his Shakespearear
prototype,
We shall neer be ounger and let the world slide
-Ne,u York Tribune.