Morning journal and courier., 1882-12-23
It Was Cleverly Done.

It Was CleVer1y Done.
 A Story of & sparring Match in Which
 Jem Mace, as n Michigan Lumberman' Came off Best.
 l Washington Correspondence Baltimore Day.l | The presence of John L. Sullivan. the
 champion pugilist, in the city, last week, re-
 wives the memory of probably the only joke
 that was ever successfully played on Roscoe
 Conkling. During the senatorial term of the
 late Zach Chandler he occupied handsome
 and commodious residence on H street One
 of the rooms 6tted up for gymnasium, | and here after dinner Zack usually spent an | hour swinging the clubs and using the dumb | bells Frequently his senatorial friends | would drop in upon him. There were masks l and foils for those who found pleasure in 1 fencing; while for those inclined to spar ! there was an excellent assortment of boxing
 gloves Chandler was big, burly man, | with hand on him like a hired man He
 delighted in rough sports, and was never so happy as when pounding some one or being l pounded in return, with the gloves. Conk- | ling was almost nightly visitor. He was 8
 clever sparrer, and iu the exciting bouts be-
 tween himself and Chandler usually came off 1 victorious. On one occasion he punished
 Zach so badly in the presence of a dozen ! spectators that the giant Miohigander loaned l inwardly with rage, and swore by all the gods ] on the high Olympus he would be revenged l if it cost him his fortune The opportunity cdulo SOouer Gndn u6 o3pecteu LaWr6uC6 Barrett was travelling that season with a | company of his own selection, impersonating a round Of Shakespearean characters. In order to invest the play with as much realism as possible Barrett engaged Jem Mace, the pugilist, for one of the characters. When the company visited Washington Chandler invited Mace to call at his house, where he 1 unfolded to him the details of plot to ''put up job'' on Lord Roscoe. If successfully carried out Mace would receive substantial reward. Mace consented. That evening Conkling dropped in, as was his wont.
 Chandler introduced the pugilist one of his constituents, a lumberman from Michi- gan. Conkling murmured his pleasure at meeting any friend of Zach's and then the pugilist was gravely presented to Senators Bayard, Beck, Morton and several other gen. tlemen, among them well known newspaper man. They were all in the secret, and were there by Chandler's express desire. Zach had planned the affair with diabolical cool ness. Not only did he intend that Mace should 'dust the floor" with 'Conk, but he had invited his senatorial friends to witness the operation which, through the journalist. would be read the next day with loud guffaws by an already prejudiced public. It required but little maneuvering to arrange set-to be- tween the New York Senator and the ''lum- herman" The latter with blunt candor disclaimed any knowledge of science, but added that he was fused to rough and tumble fights, and could give and take some power
 ful blows" Conkling smiled serenely Here foeman worthy of his steel, a veritable pugilistic diamond in the rough. He would show the assembled spectators how science could conquer brute strength. He removed his coat and vest and tied his suspsnders around his waist. They took their places, Chandler acting as referee. Mace's position of studied awkwardness He held both hands in front of him, and instead of bracing himself with one leg behind the oth- l~rkI, T parallel line. Conking's movements were the perfection of grace He fourished his fists rapidly for moment before Maces face, and then with Look out for yourself !'' he struck blow straight from the shoulder
 But somehow it fell short. The lumber man in his heavy. awkward fashion. had by good luck, it seemed, just moved back far enough to escape it. Conklipg laughed and said in patronizing tone: You did that very clev- erly." few moments of sparring followed. Conkling saw good opening and made for it, but the lumberman clumsily avoided it and countered so heavily that Conkling meas
 ured his length on the floor. He came up smiling, however, and complimented the lumberman on his extraordinary luck. Not a suspicion entered his mind. In the next round Conkling succeeded in planting few light blows on his opponents chest, but was knocked down at the conclusion with so much force that he nnable to rise for an instant When he rose to his feet it was plain to be seen he was very angry but struggled hard to control his emotions He badly used up. His hyperion curl" had lost its curve and hung limp and soggy on his forehead. His clothes were torn, while great beads of sweat rolled down his face.
 The spectators were ready to shrek with laughter, but were held in check by old Zach, who promised them still further sport. He then signaled to Mace to Ego in" Mace did go in, He pushed Roscoe. He crowded him. he pounded him. He worried him so that at last Conkling dropped into chair so weak and exhausted that he could no longer retain his legs. Then the pent-up merriment of the spectators broke forth, led by old Zach himself. They howled and yelled. You could have heard them block. Slowly the truth dawned upon Roscoe that he had been made the victim of a ridiculous practical joke. Calmly he drew off his gloves quietly he ranged his disordered attire. Meanwhile the laughter continued. He cast whitening glance of scorn and defiance at his tormentors and then, with the dignity of prince, marched down the stairs. He never forgave Chandler and would never allow even his in innate friends to ''chaff' him on the subject.