The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-15
STATESMEN WHO TALK.
Reagan's String-Hewitt's Attitudes-Hurd's
Cane-Tom Brownies Brooches Pockets.

Reagents string-Hewitt's Attitudes-Hurd's
Cane-Tom Brownies Brooches Pockets.
Washington Letter in Baltimore American.
The London Truth has been amusing itself
and its readers by noting some of the peculiar
ties Of prominent men in public life in England
The great men in this country have their pecu-
llarltIeS as well as those of other countries. An
hour IN the House will demonstrate that fact to
any close observer. For instance, it is not an
uncommon thing to see member of the House,
while in his seat, scratch his head, clean ana
pare his nails, run N hands through his halr,
tickle his with a feather, or DO any other alb
sent minded trife which might seem out
of place elsewhere. Reagan, of Texas,
for instance, the eXPostmaster- general OF
the Confederacy is at his best
unless he has a short string. with the ends
tied together with which he may employ his
hands, pulling, and twisting, and working it
after the cats cradle fashion. If he does not
have the string, his next choice is some loose
pieces of paper which he tears into bits scatter
ing them about him until the floor in his vicinity
looks as though a sort of blizzard had struck It,
Hewitt, of New York, has a queer habit of cross
ing his legs when he talks. He usually gets into
an aisle between the seats, and putting his hands
on desk at each side of him, crosses his legs as
he stands. When he gets warmed up he can
stand with his legs crossed, without holding on
to the desk. Judge Kelley who is the central
figure on the Republican side, does not talk
much nowadays. He is getting pretty old, and
recognizes this fact. The last time he made set
speech in the House he began by saving that he
did not know whether or not his strength would
be sufficient to carry him through. He has
wonderfully strong voice for one of his slight
physique, and can make himself heard in every
corner of the great hall. Tom Reed OF
Maine who sits near Kelley has a very ncisive
manner, and is probably as much at home on
his feet as any other man in the House He is
never iurried He is not an orator and does
1 not indulge much in gestures when he speaks
but his antagonist is usually glad when he sits
He has va Of inc emit
and can be severe as well as witty, when occa-
sion requires. Frank Hurd of Ohio, has a
curious manner of hinging his arms out at
right angles with his body, giving him the APP
pearance of flying machine. He walks with a
cane usually, one leg being considerably shorter
than its fellow, and finds difficulty in standing
without it on any other occasion than that of
speech making. When he gets warmed up in
his speech, however, he forgets cane and leg and
everything else, and the way his arms fly is
caution to those within reach of them. Hol
man, the obiector,' seldom strikes out from the
shoulder in making his gestures, as do most
orators. Nearly all his gestures are simply by
the motion of the hand, or at least of the arm,
from the elbow down. He has very funny way
of checking up his sentences spectacles in hand,
with chopping motion of the right hand, which
Is rather amusing to the observer but quite an
moving to the gentlemen who wants to get
little bill through and cannot because of Hol-
mans objection"
Hewitt, of Alabama. is a q, ser-looking man,
dJ D6SJ UuU WUen ne Is making Il SpetCu lie Cef-
tainly presents very peculiar appearance. He
has a way of pinching up his hand, as if it were
half full of salt, and stretching it out, in max
ing gestures, as if he were trying to drop some
of the salt on the birds tail, and of then draw
ing it back quickly. as if his fingers had been
pricked General Tom Browne of Indiana,
never began speech in his life unless both
hands We're rammed down in his breeches peck
cts, and he never takes more than one of them
out at a time for purposes of gesticulation.
But it is the greatest and only Belford who
has the most particular way of his own in
addressing the House. He was never known
to stand by his own desk. He always takes
possession of the aisle adjoining, and
sometimes he traverses two or three aisles in
the course of his remarks Bedford uses arms,
legs, lungs, coattails, and, in fact every avail
able adjunct to oratory and thus it is perhaps,
that he attracts so much attention 1t has often
been remarked that his speeches sound much
better than they read In the Senate there are
quite as many peculiarites comparatively, as
in the House. visitor to the gallery of the
Senate may often hear the rafting of a bunch
of keys on the floor. He may then be sure that
either Ben Harrison of Indiana or Senator Hoar,
of Massachusetts, are sitting quietly in their
seats. Both of these gentlemen seem to be best
able to unlock their thoughts by rafting
their keys in a listless way. Senator Groome
of Maryland, has great way of whrling his
chair around so that his back is toward the pre-
siding officer; thus he will sit and read or talk or
ponder for half an hour at time. Senator Ran
som, a handsome man, by the way turns his
chair sideways and keeps his eye on the ladies'
gallery. Senator Sawyer of Wisconsin, presses
his rotund figure against the door-iamb, and
drums the sides of the walls when he is hest
tating between his duties on the floor and com
forts in the cloak room. Logan is kept pretty
busy sometimes pushing his raven hair back out
of his eyes, and Edmunds when occupying the
chair and in the slow progress of dull debate
trims his nails to keep from going to Sleep and
then scarcely succeeds.