The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-12-10

~V4AVos0 ySSs@At u
girl. Her husband, King Humbert, is puny
and consumptive, both from inheritance and
dissipation. Their only son and heir. the
Prince of Naples, 10 also weakling, and not
expected to live long. The king and queen are
frat cousins, and their marriage has turned out
to be an unhealthy one for the Savoy dynasty,
GAN AN HISTORICAL CHARACTER.
Forty-Ntne Years IN tho Servtce Of tho
81. T .fa.5.. s.s.- Senate. , l.
Visitors to tho national capitol when they
come into the Senate while it is in session
have often noticed in tho neighborhood Of
the clerks desk an old gentleman with very
white hair and very long beard, and
''thsreby hangs tale.'' s..-.t.......
This old gentleman is Capt. Isaac Bassett,
assistant doorkeeper of the Senate Of the
United States. One could not tell where he
got his title, but surely he has as much right
to it as great many majors, generals and
colonies, and perhaps in the sequel It will
appear not undeserved. !
The captain dresses in neat suit of black,
and has his hair trimmed in style which
suggests forgotten age. He is always to
be found at his post while the Senate is in
session, that ia in the large chair which
stands to the left of the Vice Presidents.
In fact, 80 great was his punctuality that SEN
stors would rather 60 by him than by the
clock. They would say the clock struck IL
when Capt. Bassett was in his chair, not
Capt. Bassett was in his char when the
clock struck IL. Capt. Bassett entered the
senate in 1880, and has been in the constant
employ of the Senate for forty-nine years.
He is, therefore, full of old "reminiscences,
and entertaining ones. g.. ~ 80
II entered the Senate" said he, ''in 1881
as page, through the influence of Daniel
Webster. Mr.. Webster wanted mo to get
thoroughly acquainted with my duties. So
during the year 1880 I worked as page
during the whole year for nothing. Up to
1881 there had been but one page to forty
eight Senators (the pages now number four
teen), and there was great opposition among
Senators to have more than one. They said
it was not to be thought of, one was quite
enough. But Daniel Webster said he must
have his boy, and in went.'' ...a..~..s.
"Speaking of Daniel Webster, the captain
said, remember one rainy day Webster
told me to go and get hack. hunted for
a long time and came back wet and tired
without finding any. Webster was always
very friendly with me, and so came to be
quite friendly with him. On this occasion,
being rather cross, I rushed up to Webster
and said with boyish rudeness, 4 can't find
any hack Webster just looked at me. But
what glance! would rather endure any
thing than another such glance. I felt like
sinking through the floor. Then Webster
said, GO and get hack .>-
s'It is needless to say, the carriage was
found.' .."o.'l .a IT,. :. ...
I asked tho l. captain one day, what lie
thought of Webster's eloquence?
''Have you ever seen anybody that could
make you laugh and cry at pleasure? Well,
he could do it,
The captain states as curious fact that
Daniel Webster always required certain
quantity of whisky before he spoke.
The writer has heard, on very good author
ity, that on one occasion, the Senate being
in executive session, that Webster, who was
in that stage when the mind is most active,
got up and made brilliant speech. The
question was on the confirmation of the
same official. Webster, with an entire for
getfulness of the matter in hand, quoted an
entire play of Shakespeare. The Senate was
enthralled by Webster. Imagine play of
Shakespeare personated by Webster, with
his magnificent voice and awful presence!
"Rufus Choate, continued the captain,
Railways wanted cup of strong tea before
he spoke. -,,-...: g."
. "'Get me cup of tea,' he would say, tas
hot as HE'LL j., III :f'n
"They speak of the eloquence of Rufus
hnf 7 Al o4k
penter, who studied in his..ofice. I was
present at the celebrated Webster -Hayne de-
bate"
"Well, did Webster get the best of it?''
''Ihey say SO. He got the best of the ar
gument.'' "'j -
The way which the captain said this in
clines one to believe that his sympathies
were with the fiery Southerner. This, how
ever, is merely conjecture. t5,n4 p
Bassett said the other day: II remember
famous one, the end of which was that Foote
pistol cooked in his hand. ~
throwing open his coat, cried, Shoot, you
villain.''' -''"> g. - :
Foote relates this in his book, bat he
OAA!Alo I1O jumping, oA1 Cllo O0Sh.
Bassett again: II was present when
Brooks attacked Sumner. The circumstan-
ces which gave rise to the attack are we'll
known. Brooks came into the Senate with
cane in his hand. It was gutta percha one
all evidence to the contrary notwithstand-
ing. Sumner was writing, and Brooks came
up behind him and beat him over the head.
The blood covered the head of the Senator,
and he became senseless. I assisted him
into the cloakroom. The cane was smash
ed to pieces, and have piece yet in my
possession. read some years ago an &C
count of the presentation of this cane to an
historical society in one of the Southern
States. The pieces had grown together, I
suppose. am going to publish book
containing my experiences, but I am wait
ing until complete fifty years in the service
of the Senate, that is one year more, if they
only let me stay long enough. .J3I. =
But who thinks OF removing the honest
captain? It would be sacrilege. He could
stay in the Senate Thousand years, if he
lived long enough. ..'.t4
,Inventsonf for Transporting Wheat.
tShakopee Argus. Il - ti.'i '.