Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-01-10
From the Indianapolis Journal,

While in Montreal heard story of Sir Peter
Mitchell, member of parliament for New Bruns-
wick, of whom spoke in recent letter. He
was an opposition member during the lamenta-
BILE government of Sir John Mackenzie in the
last decade. and was a constant and most I'M
comfortable thorn in the side of that unhappy
premier. Sir John was a conspicuous railroad
magnate. and just before the opening of parlia-
ment one winter Sir Peter called on him to in
! duce him to pay $40 for widows cow that had
| been run over by the cars.
| Il don't believe there's anything i'm it >" ex-
| claimed the premier peremptOrily; Its propa-
bly, trumped-up case, but I'll inquire, and you
| call Tomorrow
| The gentleman from New Brunswick was not
used to being treated so cavalierly, but he pOck
| eted it, and called in the morning.
There's no justice in it. We won't paw for
| the cow" broke liz Sir John.
''You won't; won't you?" rejoined Sir Peter.
| with manner quite as bouncing as that of the
leader of the government. Have you been there,
or sent there and investigated it!'
'NO haven't; but won't pay for the cow
It's mere trihe, and she ought to have kept off
| the track"
Don't the law say you shall have fence?"
II won't pay for the COW, now; and that's all
the answer you'll get"
"You won't pay for the widows cow; won't
| you. Sir John Mackenzie? l will make YOU nav
for it" exclaimed Sir Peter, now thoroughly
aroused.
You will; you will! How will you?" growled
the premier.
I'm take it out during the session. as sure as
you are living man. The widows $40 isn't
anything, isn't it? I'll take it out of you!"
1t was an lrishman against ScOtchman, and
both were angry. The sequel proved that Sir
Peter took 1t out OF him very thoroughly. He
is rOundheaded man, hard worker, pugna-
ciOus and redoubtable foe, an unforgiving enemy,
bold and elegant In debate, no dettante. but a
hard hitter, and some of his onslaughts were
furious. If he had not great tact he had great
force, and he never forgot the COW. In the
speeches he made every day against the measures
and methods of the government then under
serious suspicion, he told the story of the COW
and trotted her out with frequency that must
have seemed like cruelty to animals.
Finally the last day of the session dawned.
and the consideration of Mackenzie's expense
budget was resumed. 1t provided the apprO-
pratiOns for the coming year
Sir Peter Mitchell took the floor and launched
priety OF making an appropriation for the
widow. He was greeted with laughter and
knocking applause, and then his auditors waited
uneasily for him to finish. He did not finish
He continued. He told the story over again with
embellishments and Celebrations. He cOntrasted
the stinginess Of the wealthy ruler with the quiet
endurance OF the penniless widow. He began to
read from the Bible the commands to mercy.
Justice and charity, when the honorable MEM
bers struggled out one by one to dinner. Sir
and continued, impressing upon the empty
chairs about him the tender duties and graces
OF humanity. Members struggled in again. He
quoted the Song of the Shirt They appealed
to him to draw his remarks to a close He
told the story Of the COW. Meantime. Sir
John Mackenzie was perspiring with wrath
and anxiety in the premer's apartment hard
bv. All his hopes were bound up in the ap-
preparation budget. What if it should not
come to vote! The honorable member from
"a nCyyink hn co.
was the one bill in the Canadian Parliament on
which member could speak as long as he
wished. There was no way of cutting short the
| debate No motion was in order while he was
speaking, except the motion to adjourn-and
that would be adjournment sine die The gov
eminent members were in CONSERVATION as the
orator delivered a speech on the blessings of
vaccination, gave statistics on the cost of fences
in the United States. passed an elaborate en-
cOmium on the superiority, for draft purposes.
OF Devon CATTLE to which class the deceased
domestic friend of the bereaved widow belonged.
and then began to describe the religious cere-
monies in which the sacred COW of Burmah
takes part when the bell rang for vespers.
| short time more and the session would expire
by law, and the government had passed no
| appropriation bill
At this critical juncture one of the govern
ment members returned excitedly from the pre-
mier's room. rushed to the orators desk. and
| exclaimed: sin the name of God, what ais
you, MITCHELL What do you want?" STILL"
said Sir Peter, finishing the sentence he had on
his lips, mot cent has ever been paid for the
widows GOVT The member uttered vehe-
ment exclamation about that animal and added:
''Sir John Mackenzie authorizes me to saw that
he will pay for the COW if you'll let this bill come
to vote"
Sir Peter sat down, rather tired. and the
widow got her pay. The government organs
declared that the widows cow cost 200.
Her champion is still known in Canada as Bis
marck Mitchell, on account of his boldness and
shrewdness in outwittipg cabinet and making
himself long the adyiser-in-chef Of q vacillating
governor.
An Ice Palace In Montreal.