The Portland daily press., 1882-03-08
PRICE 8 CENTS.
Fond of Jelly-Caks.
preciated Good Pastry When They
Saw 1t.

Especial Corr. of the Chicago Tribunal
MADISON, Wis, Feb. S.-The fiat has just
gone forth that after Friday Of this week ns
new business will be considered by the LeEis-
lature, and in consequence the usual avalanche
of bills from the teeming brains Of the gentle
men from Cranberry Patch and other localities
is pouring down upon the Clerks desk, the
various measures covering the wide range
bounded on one side by memorial to Congress
concerning the filling of vacancy in the UNI
ted States Supreme Court, and on the other By
a bill making the service fee of stations lien
on the progeny of the horse.
The average legislator from the rural die
tricts is queer specimen, and stands out with
cameo-like distinctness no matter ia what sit
uation or company he may be placed. Esps-
cially at the hotel table do the peculiar points
Of his nature appear in bold relief. In the IA
ture my yremembrances of the Wisconsin LeEs-
lature will be indelibly associated with jelly
cake, and the universal fondness Of bucolio
statesmen for pastry Of all descriptions is sin-
ply wonderful. Why this should be so il not
clear, since there is no apparent reason why
the sturdy tiller of the soil may not indulge in
food of this description to his hearts contsnt
while beside his own hearthstone, instead Of
waitiDc until an election to the Legislators
and consequent residence at hotel during
certain portions OF the year enables him TO look
lovingly into vista OF pie, apple dumping,
tapioea pudding, and ice-cream-which dishss
are standard at every hotel from Maine 10
Louisiana. But the fact, solemn in its dyspep-
tic significance and grand in its popularity,
stands out in manner that does not admit OF
its being passed unnoticed or treated with In
difference.
At dinner to-day it was my fortune TO Be
seated at a table the other occupants of which
were legislators from "outsde" districts. They
were all men of more than ordinary intelH-
gence and education. They discussed the cur
rent topics of the day in a manner that showed
them to be thoroughly conversant with what
was going on in the world. They partook--
somewhat sparingly, noticed at the time, sea
ing they were all OF robust frame and health
full complexion-of the various meats and veg
etables which the bill Of fare provided, and
finally, when all had concluded this portion Of
the repast the waiter came to take their order
for pastry. One OF the party, man who had
Just finished a clearly-cut analysis Of the preD
ent ASPECT of National politics, and who was
evidently regarded by the rest Of the group as
one whose words were entitled to consideration,
picked up the bill of fare, glanced at it hastily,
and said, in nicely modulated tones:
"Apple dumping. mjnce pie, and ice-cream,"
The next one took the menu from the lead
er's hand, regarded it attentively for matter
of thirty seconds, and remarked to the waiter:
'Mince pie, ice cream, apple dumping, and
coffee"
The third man also pretended to read the
bill of fare, but it was evident that his miad
had been made up long before the document
reached him. Finally, however, he turned 10
the waiter, and said in an impressive manner:
"Ice cream, apple dumping, mince pie,
and''-here his voice assumedsa forensic tone
''some jelly cake"
The various aids to Indigestion were brought
and disposed of, after which the consideration
of President Arthurs policy was resumed.
Finally there was a lull in the conversation,
whereupon the gentleman at the lower end OF
the table remarked in manner that showed
he had been giving ithe subject serious. .consid-
eratiOn
"That was good jelly cake"
"Was it?" asked his right-hand companion.
eyes, it was that" replied the pastry slave,
and summoning the waitersby one extensive
sweep through the air Of his sun-kissed hand,
he said
"Gimme some more ielly-cake."
"And me-" said the gentleman who had de-
Tended Blaine's South American policy.
ST guess I'll have some, - came from the third
Assemblyman.
A large plate heaped with the seductive COM
pound was soon brought, and in a remarkably
brief space of time had disappeared Then the
legislators arose and started across the street to
the Capitol. AS the hotel door closed behind
them the words, "That 1odS good jelly-cake,'
were waited back on the pleasant Winter
breeze.
This incident brings to mind story which .
well-known Chicagoan tells, and which runs
as follows:
In the days when Boss Tweed ruled New
York City there was elected to the Legislature
from the district which included Baxter street
a son of the Emerald Isle whose chief recon-
meudation for political preferment was the fact
that he could hit hard and vote often on cleo
ton day. Having passed his life in rather hum
Bile circumstances, the newly-hedged maker Of
laws was somewhat astonished at the change
which had come over his prospects, and re-
solved to so comport himself that no one would
suspect him of having previously been content
with somewhat limited cuisine. He went to
Albany in palace car, and secured quarters at
the Delayan House. The next morning he
walked into the dining-room with we'll
feigned assumption of familiarity with apart
ments of that nature, and was shown to seat.
The waiter handed him a bill-of-fare, but Wav-
ing it loftily aside, O'Brien gazed solemnly al
the sable individual who was awaiting his or
ders and said in stentorian tones:
81 wants poi"
"What did you say sah?" asked the waiter.
Again the countenance of 'Brien assumed
fixed expression, and again he formulated his
desire in:
81 wants poi"
This time the waiter understood him, and az
planned that it was not customary to furnish
pie at breakfast.
"Nuvver moind what the cushion is," said
the gentleman from Baxter street, II wants
poi, and me intention is to have il"
The waiter endeavored to convince him that
there was no pie for breakfast, but in vain, and
finally he referred the matter TO the head wait
er That functionary related the circumstances
of the case to the clerk, and he stated the fscts
to the proprietor, saying that nothing but pie
would satisfy the enraged guest The proprie-
tor, not seeing any reason why man should
not have pie for breakfast if he wanted it, or
dered generous supply of the article to be
served at once By the time these instructions
reached the dining room the waiter with when
O'Brien had discussed the pie question was In
another part of the room; but just after receiv-
ing generous supply of his favorite article Of
food O'Brien caught sight of him, and, waving
his pie triumphantly over his head, shouted
out:
''No poi, hey, Charlie? thought if the boss
knew what us Numbers of the Assimbly want
ed we'd get it''
New York Press,l