The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-05-19
Uongressmen's Kids.
How the Youngsters Make Things Lively in the
House

Looking down from the reporters gal
lery of tho house the wielder of the quill
now and then has an opportunity of
witnessing some very funny sights, and
like man up tree, makes mental com
ments and says nothing. 1t often comes
under his notice that congressman have
children, though why they should have
is u mystery. and that some of the child
rem arc very good, and that they are
very pretty, and that others are very
ugly and very, very bad, exact counter
parts of their fathers, as it were. In this
connection it is not out of place to say a
word or two of the children that fire.
quently grace the floor of the house.
TO start. with, there is Congressman
Belfnrds boys. a pair of fiery red-headed
cherubs. There is no miatnkc Us To
whose boys they are, for their ''top-knots
pronounce thon vnritabla chips OF the
old block. These lads core up to the
house quite often. They arc each about
two feet high and, very briga.. Whether
tho father is present or not they are by
no means Disconnected, ard scramble
over the desks and make themselves ut
home, and are favorites with even the
Sravest statesmen. "Belford's boys"
are frequently the envy of the most
Juvenile of the pages, because they are
such pets. Such members rs have red
hair are most considerate of this pair.
Should equity member drop in some
morning and anchor himself on bent
pin, .BelforC's boys" are held respon-
sible. Should another find his ink-well
filled with water, ''Belford's boys' are
blamed. and so it happens that many
boyish pranks of which the members
are victims are credited to ''Belford's
boys" however innocent they may be.
Leopold Morse has pair of bright
little lads who often visit the house.
They arc mischievous, as their venerable
papa used to be, perhaps, but more dar-
ing. On more than one occasion they
have caused the heart of pater familias
TO quake with alarm as they approached
and asked some sturdy representative
point blank questions, or when they
rolled spittoons over tho floor, or drew
pictures with chalk on members desks.
Morse is proud of his heirs, but he can't
manage them, and tho little fellows
make it lively enough for him.
The prettiest and most favored child
rem of the congressional group are the
bright-eyed, fair-haired boy and girl of
Congressman Skinner. Their pretty
manners and charming prattle has made
them popular with everyone connected
with the house. They climb over desks
and all that sort of thing, but unlike the
majority of children of their ages are
not boisterous or inclined to precocious-
ness. Mr.. Skinner is proud of them,
and when the house is in session, and he
can sit behind his desk with one on each
knee, he seems the happiest man in con-
gress.
Congressman Hammond, of New York,
has fine little son, who always makes
friends, and when he stands around the
floor he Is dignified and polite, and
shakes hands and chats brightly with
members on all sides. He's friend of
Belford's boys, and when these little
chaps are together it is pleasant picture
to watch their many pranks. Two of the
brightest children are the daughters of
Congressman Mills and Dingpey. They
arc handsome girls and always prettify
dressed. Little Miss Mills is an especial
favorite with Joe Blackburn, who takes
particular pride in teasing her with ref
erence to her fathers political status.
Mr.. Mills is greenbacker. but Black
burn, when talking with the little miss,
always speaks of him as a republican,
at which the little girl fires up with i'll
dignation. and with all the language
her baby lips can command, rcbukes
Mr.. Blackburn ficrccly, Il fact which
pleases the latter immensely, and always
attracts group of statesmen about them.
Congressman Valentines boy is an
other who is favorite in congress, and
is friend of Master Harry Smith, son
of the journal clerk.
These little chaps are bright, hand
some, and full of vigor, and complete
the list of as fine body of youngsters
as ever adorned congress- WaShtmy-
ton Critic.