National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-02-19

military record,
"The Democrats in those days were very gifte,
men compared with the present so-styled Democ
| racy"
The Democracy in those primitive days wer
giants in intellect" rejoined the oldest inhabtani
COLONEL PRESTON
of South Carolina. was one of the most brilliant
statesmen of the day. His likeness, by Healey in
the Corcoran Gallery, gives poor idea of him. HI
was one of the handsomest men in the Senate, ant
the wittiest. No man in Congress bore purel
| record; 1t was without a stain. An anecdOte o.
MN, which have never seen in print, occurs L
me at this moment: He was standing one day il
the Congressional Library, pouring over the con
| tents of volume, when two lady acquaintance
| hove in sight
There is Mr.. Preston cried one of them rush
| ing up TO the Senator. Dear Mr.. Preston yor
promised to escort me to the Capitol and here you
are reading book
Al will escort you over said the gallant sena.
tor; but where do You wish me TO take yOu?'
"'l think YOU may take me 10 the rotunda and
then to the crypt
90 But the crypt is very dark and lonely sug-
gested the modest Senator.
'' Never mind replied the Vivacious lady, am
not afraid to go with YOU
Mr. Preston gazed steadily at the lady for briei
second, and then said in his peculiar sarcastic
manner: What confidence! what trust! Oh,
woman, great is thy faith
Colonel Preston had a great respect for old age
One evening, while attending an entertainment; at
Carusis saloon-then the only public hall in
Washington-he observed an aged man, respecta-
bly, dressed, standing in the aisle while every one
else was comfortably seated. The Colonel rose
andpolitely insisted on his taking his place.
80 Mr. Preston whispered a friend, nudging his
elbow, do you know you hsvegiven up your seat
TO oneof those id abolitionists ??
81 cannot help it, said Colonel Preston firmly.
lift were the decR himself it wouldn't make a
particle of difference
"PELIX GRUMPY
G Senator from Tennessee was a noticeable man of
his day: as chairman of the Judiciary he was re-
garded rs an able and industrious worker Tray
cling in these days of stage coaches and canal
boats was necessarily tedious and SLOW and Mr.
Gr,lndy, for convenience, generally rode in his
private conveyance 10 bis home in Tennessee q
distance Of more than five hundred miles and
have often seen his odd-Iooking eq,lipage drawn
up before the Indian Queen" Just before starting
on his journey
- r. Grundy was very peculiar and disliked in
truders in the Senate Judiciary Committee rooms
even members from the Lower House. He had his
fayoriteS, however, and was one. Dropping i'll
one morning l found no one there but young
man, lying on the sofa, q sicklv, pale but intel
lectual looking youth, apparently about twenty
five. He was laboring under great physical ex-
haustion, and from time 70 time coughed and
expectorated blood in considerable quantities. 1
easily recognized him as the talented and fiery
young member from Accomac,
TIE HoE. HENRY A. WISE
Mr.. Wise c0urteously apologzed for not rising
He had just finished long speech in the House
and was completely Frustrated
80 Mr.. Wise, said |, / am afraid you are killing
yourself
No.sir,' interrupted Wise, in voice scarcely
above whisper, 4 intend to speak while have
strength enough to denounce this administration
for its corruption and folly. I shat 0ugirc, sr,
every locofoco in the land
- prophecy continued the oldest inbabi-
tant, strangely and literally fulfilled. He lived
become a radical Democrat and a thorn
in the side ofthe Wing party; he lived to become
the leader of the great pro-slavery wing South
and violent and bitter denouncer Of measures he
had once strongly advocated; he lived to see his
old political associates die of one by one until he
alone remained, quite forgotten in the mutations
of political life-but You are not putting all that
down."
why, yes" replied CIR Nib, who had been in
plying his pencil. Anything morc?"
There was
DIXON H. LEWIS,
a member Of the House a modern Jack Falstaf
but unlike Shakspeare's character in disposition
for he was one of the quickest tempered men
ever knew. His immense cOrpulency, which in
creased with advancing years, was a source of
great discomfort to him, and, having great dread
Of fire, he could never be prevailed upon to occupy
chamber unless On the ground floor. II reminds
ne of a characteristic anecdote of him. l had
looms Oh Capitol Hill at the time. and as Mr. Lewis
and myself were great friends l proposed his
Messing with NE. TheneXt morning the old gen
leman came over TO my lodgings, and the Obse-
Iuious lapdlady showed him vacant apartment
he entrance of which was unusually small and
narrow. The good woman, anxious 10 secure Mr. |
Lewis as a tenant, commenced 10 expatiate on the
merits OF the chamber, referred 10 its amplitude |
he convenience of its closets, the comfortable and
cheerful character Of It's surroundings ending with
he assurance that the Congressman could have !
{ on. the most reasonable terms.
THAT'S sll very well, said Mr.. Lewis who had !
listened with commendable patience TO the land !
ady's harangue; but how in Gods name am | |
0 get i'm
" Messing at the same house with me, at Mrs !
ILLS, on Pennsylvania avenue" continued the |!
ldcst inhabitant, "Were two Congressman dcs- |
med in after years to play an important role OH |
he great theatre of public life-one was Franklin |
Fierce, Of New Hampshire, the other W. r. King, |
If Alabama, aftcrward respectively President and |
ice President of the United States. King was a |
rissy, peculiar man, and obtained among his asso-
iates the nick name of Miss Nancy, sobriquet |
Which in some way other got into The news
apers, and chung TO him throughout his life
inc. Then there was old Tom Car'isi, one
f the most brilliant men of his day, of whom more
leasant anecdotes could be told than of any other
nan living; Willard Fillmore, afterwartt Presi-
ent, but then little known outside of his own
ircle: my old friend Elisha Whittlesey, who for
Many years was COmptrOllero of the Treasury: Ed
rard Everett and John Quincy Adams, Tom Ben
1n. John G. Calhoun, Harry Clay, Daniel Web
ter, Silas Wright, William Rives, Tristan Burgess
nd the eloquent, witty, and accomplished Tom
larshall. All. sir, the Twenty third Congress was
he grandGst Congress that ever met and doubt,
If, whether this country will ever look upon the
Ike again; but there's a HeTdie approaching, and
will bid you good evening
Our Nib thanked his obliging infoman and hay !
lg seen the Oldest inhabitant safely ensconced
I the vehicle pursued the even tenor of his way
5 he gained the Avenue the phantom of the ink
0ttle passed, noddingly reminding our reporter
/ the graver duties devOlving on him, and of the
ceans of ink yet to be spilled on unmenti0ned
uires of foolscsp on the morrow.
The sun was iust-setting, and as our Nib turned
view the glorious spectacle of the Capitol dome,
ittering in its crimson light his eyes fell again
u the dread phantom of the ink bottle ne Was
lusing on the street corner, and his cork head
as nodding as gravely as ever.
Giving Aims.
Two men, one rich, the other poor, set
ut upon apgrimage together. As they journeyed
ong they came to place where, beside the way,
y multitudes Of cripples, and those who were
ok and in deepest poverty. The rich man cast
lem q handful of money and haughtly passed
y, holding his robes about him 50 they might not