The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-02-10
It was Cleaverly Done.


Baltimore Day says:-The presence OF
John L. Sullivan, the champion pugilist
in the city last week revives the memory OF
probably the only joke that was ever sue
cessfully played on Roscoe Conkling. Dur
ing the senatorial term of the late Zach
Chandler he occupied handsome and COM
modious residence on H-street. One OF
the rooms was fitted up for gymnasium
and here after dinner Zach usually spent an
hour swinging the clubs and dumb-bells
Frequently his senatorial friends would
drop in upon him. There were masks and
foils for those who found pleasure in fenc,
ing; while for those inclined to spar there
was an excellent assortment of boxing gloves.
Chandler was big, burly man, with a
hand on him like hired man. He de-
lighted in rough sports, and was never Sc
happy as when pounding some one, or be-
ing pounded in return, with the gloves
Conkling was almost a nightly visitor. He
was clever sparrer and in the exciting bouts
between himself and Chandler usually
came off victorious. On one occasion he
punished Zach so badly in the presence OF
dozen spectators that the giant Michigan
der foamed inwardly with rage, and swore
by all the gods on high Olympus he would
be revenged if it cost him his fortune.
The opportunity came sooner than he ex-
pected Lawrence Barrett was travelling
that season with a company Of his own Sc
lection; impersonating round OF Shak-
spearean characters. In order to invest
the play with as much realism as possible
Barrett engaged Jem Mace, the pugillst,
for one of the characters When the COM
pany visited Washington Chandler invited
Mace to call at his house, where he unfold
ed to him the details Of plot to 'put up a
lob" on Lord Roscoe If successfully car
ried out Mace would receive a substantial
reward. Mace consented. That evening
Conkling dropped in, as was his wont.
Chandler introduced the pugilist as one OF
his constituents, a lumberman from Michi-
gan. Conkling murmured his pleasure at
meeting any friend of Zach's and then the
pugilist was gravely presented to Senators
Beck, Bayard, Morton, and several other
gentlemen, among them well-known news
paper man. They were all in the secret,
and were there by Zach's express desire.
Zach had planned the affair with diabolicai
coolness Not only did he intend that
Mace should "dust the floor with 'Conk, y
but he had invited his senatorial friends to
witness the operation which thrOug h the
journalist would be read the next day with
loud outlaws by an already prejudiced pub
lie. 1t required but little maneuvring to
arrange a set-to between the New York
senator and the ''lumberman" The latter
with blunt candor disclaimed any know
lege of science, but added that he was
''used to rough -and-tumble fights, and
could give and take some powerful blows )"
Conkling smiled serenely. Here was a foe
man worthy of his steel, a veritable pugilis-
tic diamond in the rough. He would show
the assembled spectators how science could
conquer brute strength. He removed his
coat and vest and tied his suspenders
around his waist They took their places,
Chandler acting as referee. Mace's posi-
ton was one of studied awkwardness. He
held both hands in front of him, and in
stead of bracing himself with one leg be-
hind the other, both feet were wide apart
and nearly on parallel line. Conkling S
movements were the perfection of grace.
He fourished his fists rapidly for a mo-
ment before Mace's face, and then with a
''Look out for yourselfr' he struck blow
straight from the shoulder. But somehow
it fell short. The lumberman in his heavy,
awkward fashion had, by good luck, it
seemed, just moved back far enough to
escape it. Conkling laughed and said, in
a patronizing tone: "You did that very
cleverly." A few moments Of sparrine
followed Conkling saw good opening
and made for it, but the lumberman clum-
silly avoided it and countered so heavily
that Conkling measured his length on the
floor He came up smiling, however, and
complimented the lpmberman on his extra,
ordinary luck. Not suspicion entered his
mind. In the uext round Conkling sue
ceeded in planting a few light blows on his
opponents chest, but was knocked down at
the conclusion with so much force that he
was unable to rise for an instant. When
he rose to his feet it was plain to be seen
he was very angry, but he struggled hard
to CONTROL his emotions. He was badly
used up. His hyperion curl had lost its
curve and hung limp and soggy ON his
forehead His clothes were torn, while
great beads of sweat rolled down his face
The spectators were ready to shrek with
laughter, but were held in check by old
Zack, who promised them still further
sport. He then signaled to Mace to "go
in." Mace did go in, He pushed Ros'
coe. He crowded him, he pounded him
He worried him so that at last Conkling
dropped into chair so weak and exhaust
ed that he could no longer retain his legs
Then the pent-up merriment of the specta-
tors broke forth, led by old Zach himself
They howled and yelled. You could have
heard them a block Slowly the truth
dawned upon Roscoe that he had been
made the victim of ridiculous practical