The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-04-09
The Congressman.
National Citizen-Soldier.]

When new Congressman first reaches
| Washington, he looks around for quar-
tiers, then wonders what he has to do any
way thinks he will go to the theater !;
perhaps he attends church the first Sun
day drops in at the Sample rooms ;"
stands amazed at the new bonnets and
laces that pass on the streets calls on
the President; draws his pay and still
wonders why he came to the capital.
The next week he begins to receive let
tiers, asking for positions in the depart
ments The writer's all voted for him,
unless they are women and their hus-
bands, sons, fathers or uncles worked
hard for his election. They will do any
thing; will write, or boss those who do
any real nice place will do. He be
gins to look out for situations and an
swer letters. He soon pays out 50 in
postage, and finds basket Of letters I'M
answered. Then he thinks that is the
legitimate work of a Congressman. He
hears tap on the door and answers,
when dozen railroad men enter. He
knows then he is in Washington to serve
the railroads but just as they leave the
room six well-dressed old maids ask an
interview on the sixteenth amendment.
| By this time he swears that he don't
quite understand the duties of a Con
gresham. The next day he is waited
on by a delegation from his district,
asking him to introduce a bill calling
for an appropriation of $500, 900 to open
| Skunk river. Now he begins to see his
road and calls on an old Congressman to
draft bill for him in obedience to the
demand of his constituents
| He gets this in and seats himself to
find six new pamphlets on gas, banks,
matches, and four daily papers calling
| his attention to four different promises
he had made their editors as to postage
on papers Sitting in front of him is a
lady book agent who knew MS wife when
she was in school, and won't he subscribe
for new book 1t is just splendid
and his wife would be delighted with it,
Yes, he would subscribe for it on old ac-
quaintance sake. Now he is bewildered
as to his mission in Washington until
an old gentleman who knew his grand
father calls to pay his respects and
merely to ask for a situation for young
lady whose mother knew the Congress
mans aunt Hannah long before he was
born. On this he sleeps, but dreams
that he is in the land of trouble. The
servant next morning wakes him up,
telling him that SIX young men wearing
plug hats and each having cane Eyes a
Washington cane) want to see him.
They tell him that their fathers were
his warmest friends, and could he get
them pass back home and lend them
each So? They will call at 6 o'clock p
NJ, as they wish to return at once. Be
fore he is ready for his breakfast three
beggars who had walked the streets all
night call for q penny, ''please sir. As |
he walks TO the Capitol eight newspaper
reporters waylay him, wanting to know
if he is going to vote for the bill which |
steamers to Hong Kong. He don't |
know, as he has not yet read the bill. |
On his table, when he reaches his seat, |
he finds a petition with 733 names on it,
asking him to introduce bill to appro- |
pirate 81 ,237 ,517 to build bridge over
Rush river. He then writes letter to
his wife, saying that he will be at home /
on Saturday night.
He goes TO the committee-room to |
find thirteen men waiting for him, and
the usher hands him card from seven
women in the reception room wishing to
see him. He excuses himself, goes over
to the Senate chamber and meets eleven
applicants for clerkships, or would act
as private Secretary to him if he so de-
sired. He rushes out and goes into the
Supreme Court room, where he is met
by five lawyers from his town, and all
agree to call at o'clock P. NJ. and go to
the theater with him. Gle to pay the
bills.) He makes one more effort to
free himself by going to the top of the
dome, but there he finds seventeen men
and women who recognize him. They
all knew his wife, and is she well and
how many children have thew? just
got here today, viii call on him at
P. NJ. He first thinks he viii throw
himself off the dome. He is satisfied
that he will never find out what he was
sent to Washington for. He disappoints
all Of his callers and goes over to see an I
old Congressman who is at ease, smok-
ing his cigar. He wants to know what !
he shall do; he believes he is going ]
crazy. ''Do you see that bag of papers
in that corner y He saw it. ssWel, /