The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-08-24
RrAD1xe rHr1n s1xsoszs.

$ y D.. Z
Il seems impossible for Senators to
make speeches any more. Thoy are inn
PEELED by some horrible and resistless
force to write essays. The idea that
any one can be convinced BY speech has
gone ont Of fashion.
The essays are intended for publ cation
in the newspapers and the Record, ir
order that tho authors constituents may
know that he remains true to his "prin-
ciples. Many vigorous men have been
deluded into adopting the vicious hsbit.
Even Blaine was gradually becoming q
captive, and his best friends were wish
ing that he could be taken back into the
House bys some fortunate freak g(of poll
tics, in order that he might again as-
sumo his place among the strong men Of
Congress.
The absence Of Conkling leaves Ed
munds about the only strong man on
either side who has enough confidence
IN limselt 10 get on his legs and talk On
hour or two AZ though he really were,
talking to the Senate aud not to the
country. The loss of Conkling is sad
one in this respect He certainly added
to the vigor Of the Senate, and visitors
to the gallery, who all dislike written
speeches, will miss the entertainment
which the New York Senator was acc,ls-
toned to provide for them. Even Beck
has fallen into the practice. and reads
his speeches. 1t is impossible for him,
however, to suppress his jealous Scotch
nature, and 1t is very funny to see him
bouncing up and down and gesticulating
with his clenched fist, while he is bent
almost double in the attempt to deciphsr
his manuscript. Beck can not help the
gesticulation, but he can help the manu-
script and he ought to throw it away.
At present his performances are very
much like those Of the dumb orator. A
placid man, in whose face there is no ex-
preston (because nothing is in view but
the face and top Of his head) and whose
eye can not be seen, utters the word to
the accompaniment of poundings and
oontortions that apparently have no
connection whatever with the speaker.
It don't do to have q gentleman get ex-
cited over manuscript that he can not
read very well.
Imagine q man leaning down 30 that
his head almost touches his desk, wetting
his thumb and tearing over page after
page to find the lost one in which is writ
ton the sentence he had begun, while all
the while the disengaged hand, closely
clenched, is pounding the oircumam-
bient air. II say, sir, etc., etc. Isay,
sir, ETC., etc. Sir, I say. etc., etc"
Why do Senators who are members Of
this legislativs body, ftr the purpose,
presumably, Of attending to the public
business, waste themselves in this alb
surd way2 Senator Vest was just saved
by timely advice from abandoning ora
tory to become an essayist He had an
nounced his intention Of making Q
spaAch ON y curtxin Enurnink and then.
for the fl1st time in his LIE, wrote uus
what he had to soy. He privately con-
fessed afterward that, though the essay
was charming piece Of literary work,
it would have been dead failure. Some
Senator who happened to know the Mis-
souri, Senator's gift for speaking, passed
behind his desk and noticed the huge
pile Of manuscript. 81
"Vest, are you going to be such fool
as to read your speech ?" said he.
"Well, find it's the custom" an
swered Vest, "and don't want to insult
the Senate by breaking into the estab-
Iished order Of things"
"Custom be blowed," said the rude
but wise man; "give me that manu-
script, and then stand up on your lega
and talk to 'em like q man." Upon this
the other Senator snatched up Vests
manuscript and carried it of, leaving
the Missourian to make an extemporane-
GUS speech.
"Was it as good as the written one,
Senator
ga sight better, +" was the confession.
Washington letter.