Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-03-03

He is 1.-the, gracefully formed gentle
man of medium height. dark hair, and
sparkling black eyes. that mirror a
frank and genial nature.
Il was page" replied the con-
schaum and putting out long, deIb-
crate column of smoke, in the winter
of 1S47 or 1S4S. / think during the
final days of Polk's administration,
was appointed through the influence
of my uncle, Henry A Wise, who,
though not IN congress at the time,
wrote letter to a number of his per-
sonal friends in the house, recon-
mending me to that position. 1t was
a much more difficult thing in those
days to obtain a pageship than now,
but when you consider that l had a
number of influential relatives like
Joseph Peyton and Thomas H. Bayly
to back me, of course l slipped in
without much trouble"
Il remember one reminiscence only
replied Mr.. Wise, with humorous
twinkle of his eye. "a little fellow by
the name of Cox il was then stand
ing rule of the House, after the expira-
ton of our days duty, TO detail us
pages off to work in the folding-room,
and Cox and used to plod industri-
ously for hours together folding docu-
ments. He was remarkably expert at
this business, while |, ON the contrary,
was uncommonly awkward and slow.
| formed quite an opinion of Cox, but
when we separated after our two years
probationary experience as pages, he
went away and l never saw or heard of
him again"
"One day while l was in the old
House, acting IN my capacity as page"
said Mr.. Wise, knocking the ashes out
OF his meerschaum and gazing refec-
lively upat the ceiling. 81 happened to
pass by the desk of Stephen A. Doug
las, afterward popularly known
as the Little Giant" | don't
think | should have taken special no
tice of him then, but he abruptly ac-
costed me: 'Halloo, boy; what's your
name?' George Douglas WISE | re-
piled, somewhat displeased by his
rough salutation. George Douglas ?
repeated the Little Giant, evidently
taken aback: how in HI did
you get possession of my name?'
Iretorted that he had my name, not |
his, whereupon he asked how it came
to be Douglas. replied by the inter-
marriage of one of my ancestors with
lady named Ellen Douglas, with
which explanation the Little Giant pro-
fessed himself satisfied, and immedi-
ately acknowledged that we must be
kin, and dubbed me his little name
sake thereafter. my youthful I'M
pressions of Mr.. Douglas" said the
Congressman, "grew to be of the
pleasantest kind. He impressed mo
as one of the first minds in the coun
try. ! did look upon him as polished
orator, but rather as a powerful and
earnest debater. He never lost sight
of me, but treated me with unvarying
kindness. We met years afterward,
when he (Mr. Douglas) was running
for the presidency. He recognized me
at once, and grasping my hand with
unfeigned cordiality, expressed the
pleasure of meeting me again"
Can you recall, Mr.. Wise, any
other distinguished men of the house
while you officiated as page ?" inquired
our scribe.
Well, yes; there was the Hon.
John Quincy Adams, at that time ven
erable in years and famed in history.
He seldom, however, participated in
the general debate. but was very posi-
tive and strong whenever he did ad-
dress the house. On such occasions he
was listened to with marked respect,
and never failed to command the at
tention of all. My boyish impressions
of this distinguished old man were
very favorable, continued Mr.. Wise.
! regarded him as a sound statesman
and genial, cultivated, though some
what eccentric gentleman | remem-
ber one day while sliding from desk TO
desk, procuring autographs for some
relic-hunter, approached Mr.. Adams
seat and asked rather shyly for his sig
nature"
"The old fellow" said Mr. Wise, tax
ing up pen and placing it between his
index and third fingers by way of illus
trasion, "had very peculiar style of
holding his per-like this-and when
he had recorded his name in his trem-
bling way he gave me a searching
look and inquired mine. Not a rela-
tive of Henry A. Wise, / hope? Yes,
sir responded frankly, he is my un-
cle.' was aware at the time that a
year or two before, when nv uncle was
in Congress, he and Mr.. Adams had a
fierce war of words on the floor Of the
House, Mr.. Adams having denounced
him as an alleged participant in the
Chilley duel, a charge which my uncle
characterized as false. had. therefore,
some prejudices to encounter and over
come at the outset. was in some lit
tie doubt whether to regard him as an
enemy or friend, but the old man elo-
quent soon dissipated all apprehensions
by mounting me on his knee, and from
that day we were good friends in spite
of our political differences. The sin
cere grief l felt at his death, which oc-
CURED not many months after, is one
of the distinct recollections l shadow
from the dimness of the past"
Capital Chips.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2S.-Assistant Sec
retary of the Treasury New will not
take possession of his office before next
Monday.
Government receipts to-day Inter
mai revenue, S233, ,407 So; customs,