Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-12-27
The PeriIs Of "a Member Of Con-
gress.

gress.
Washington Cor. to Chicago Times.l
The member in question, who was
talking upon the subject the other
evening, said that any man who makes
a speech in congress that was the sub
ject of any sort of attention was sure
to be the subject Of an attack from
some feminine hero worshiper. Said
he: There is nothing in God S world
that women so much admire as a man
who can make a speech.
To continue quoting his own Ian
guage: II never met woman in my
life who could tell what is free trade
or what is protection. or who under
stood, in the slightest degree, the
issues of the two contending parties of
this country. But all the same, the
female hero worshipers sit in the gal
leries and drink in the sound of his
voice, catch here and there fowery
sentence, and rave with delight over
what they call such b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l
speech, without apprehending, per-
haps, single one of his main thoughts
or underlying suggestions.
why, said the congressional ora
tor, Il made a speech in the house
which | myself considered something
in the way of hit. At any rate it
received the attention and approval Of
a larger number of my associates.
That night | received one of the
longest and most ardent love-letters
that was perhaps ever penned to any
man. The full name of the writer
was signed to it. The subscriber said
that she was in the gallery when |
made my speech, and that its infu-
ence had caused her to fall madly in
love with me. She knew nothing of
me, whether | was married or not. She
was just swept away by the mad i'm
petuosity oflove kindled by my fiery
eloquence. | think that was the ex-
preston she used, And she placed
herself at my disposal, granting in
advance anything | might demand
for the small favor Of loving me un-
checked and unrebuked.' Well, un-
less a man is fool, such note is
devlish embarrassing. 1t is not at all
flattering to a mans vanity, for |
knew perfectly well that she was an
absolute stranger to me, knew moth
ing aboutme, one way or the other;
and that it was just feminine craze,
peculiar, to, perhaps, anot very strong
mind, occasioned by speech that
seemed to command attention. | paid
no attention to the matter for a day or
two. The notes then began to rain in
on me from her to such an extent that
| made up my mind to find out out
who she was, at least, and acquaint her
friends of the fact in a quiet way, il
she had any, as | had no idea of play
ing Paul to a lackadaisical Virginia.
| found that she was a young lady of
very good family. Her people live in
the interior of New York. They are
rich, well-tO do people. The girl had
been well brought up and well educat-
ed. So now | was put in a more en-
barrassing position, because | could
not go to these people and say that
their daughter was making violent
love to me, SO | just adopted the policy
Of totally ignoring the whole thing.
But have had more trouble than |
ever had in my life in just trying to
get rid Of this woman. And can not
say that am yet clear Of the matter,
for | still continue to receive notes;
and only this session / have heard
through her that she has rival in
town, and will never renounce her
pursuit of me. She says she loves me
more than any oge else can, and she
knowa che can make me love her. She
keeps up her amOrOus bombardments;
but, up to the present time, the con
gressional fort holds frm.