The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-04
THE EDITOR IN CONGRESS-.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.--Henry Watterson,
the gentl man from Kentucky. gets the best at
tentou Of the House Whenever he taks the
floor. which is not often. Watterson has two
peculiarltics which. perhaps. distinguish him
from the ordinary run Of Congressman: he does
not begin 10 talk until he has something to say;
and when he has said IL. he stops talking His
manner Is n curious mixture Of modest SELF
cons ,iousnrss and buster The modest self
consciousness is evidently natural to the man.
Tho buster il natural N the mans ciroum.
stances. 1t is the attempt at self-assertion Of
one accustomed 10 think and write. but not ac-
customcd 10 speak; who is sure OF his thoughts,
but not quite sure of success in giving them ex-
preston. and therefore a little defiant.
From a gallery point OF view Mr.. Waticrson
is q blond young man, apparently thiriy-fve,
but probably older. with yellow mousiaehe and
imperial. brow and chin rather moro promi-
ncnt than the neutral territory between eyes
indeterminatc. top of head showing littls veneer.
alton but considerable hair. of medium statures
provincial habit, and loose gait. When he rises
70 speak. his ingenious face wears the deproca-
tory smile OF a school boy aboutto speak pieco
before critics of whom he IL little afraid.
When he finishes his remarks. the dcprccatory
smile reappears. as. II to disarn criticism. and
he walks away from whore he has been stands
ing with slight swing or swagger. which says
very plainly Thcre | suppose I've given my.
self away. Make the most of tl' /.
His style Of speaking il dcclamatory. ~ IN
tolorably good taste. His voice is cIoar and
fresh He Is ono Of the few liepr -scntatyos who
can be heard and unders GOD in every corner OF
the hail. HIS g-srures are awkward an often
ina ",.r,priate. He gives undue emphasis to
I unimportant words. Mob ly would call Him an
orator. but nine persons out of ten would listen
10 him with pleasure. Independently oi the sub
jet matter. and even the tenth would find 1t
| hard To- 20 TO sleep while he was speaking. Ho
| Is a better speaker than FRYE, who shouts and
auivers. ami much better than li~e fngens
Hale. VINO has the advantage of great i"al u
practice, being on his feet threc-luait IS II tho
| time
AS printed in tho Record. Mr.. Wator-ons
longer speeches read like vigorous Leaders. and
his shorter remarks like wcll-con- drrsi edi-
torial paragraphs. 1t is probable that h. writes
out what he has 10 say beforehand. AMI being
good editor. uses only the good ideas AMI eon-
dennis all others to the waste basket. His re-
marks are always to tho point. always conveyed
in strong. square-shouldcred English and ale
ways manly and sensible. do NOT recall Rep
rcsentative. novice or veteran. who over talked
less buneombc TO tho thousand wor'- than
| Henry Wauersp m OF the Conrin'-IpuWG.
Socially and personally Mr.. Wait'r-on is SAD
TO be "a fayorite on both sides OF the House. Ha
can be partisan enough whom duty se'm- re-
luire, but after the second bottle he knows I'D
party. His delight is 70 be- the good follow MS
chief annoyance is the necessity Of refusing 10
print in full in his newspaper the long $40 r'hes
of all his friends. Watt'r-nn has eypro--iy de-
clarcI that There Is in the world only ou Vors,
poker pnycr than himself; but this op.l'oa IL
fur too modest