Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-05-08
THE PECULIARITIES
Or Some Of the Prominent Men Of
the House and Senate.
Queer Things Which Our Wiscacres
DO When on Duty I'm the
Halls Of National
Legislation.


The London Truth has been amusing itself
and its rea ,ers by noting some of the pecul-
tarites of prominent men in public life in
England. The great men in this country
have their peculiarities as we'll 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 a member of the house while in his seat
scratch his head clean and pare his nails,
run his hands through his hair, tickle his ear
with a feather, or do any other absent.
minded trhe which might seem out of place
elsewhere.
Reagan, of Texas, for instance, the ex-
postmaster general of the Confederacy, is
never at his best unless he has a short string,
with tho ends tied together, with which he
may employ his hands, pulling and twisting
and working it after tho "cats cradle"
fashion. If he does not have the string, his
next choice is some loose pieces of paper,
which he tears into bits, scattering them
about him until the floor in his vicinity looks
as though sort of blizzard had struck it.
Hewitt, of New York, has queer habit
of crossing his legs when he talks. He
usually gets into an aisle between the seats,
and putting his hands on a 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 boiling on to the desk.
Judge Kelley who is the central figure on
the Republican side, does not talk much
nowadays. He is getting pretty DID, and
recognizes this fact. The last time he made
a set speech in the house he began by saying
that he did not know whether or not his
strength would be sufficient to carry him
through. He has won erfully strong voice
for one Of his slight physique, an can make
himself heard in every corner of the great
hail.
"Tom" Reed, of Maine, who sits near Kel-
ley, has a very inciSive manner, and is prob.
ably as much at home on his feet as any
other man in the house. He is never furriei
He is not an orator, and does not indulge
much in gestures when he speaks; but his
antagonist is usually glad when he sits down.
He has way Of saying cutting things, and
can be severe as well as witty, when occasion
requires.
Frank Hurd, of Ohio has a curious way of
fngiug his arms out at right angles with his
body, giving him the appearance of a flying
machine. He walks with a cane usually, one
leg being considerably shorter than its fell
low, and finds diff Ai,ulty in standing without
it on any other occasion than that of speech
making. When lie gets warmed up in his
speech, however, he forgets cane and leg and
everything else, and the way his arms fly is
caution to thoso within reach of them
Holman, "the objector," seld ,m strikes out
from the shoulder in making his gestures, as
do most orators. Nearly all his gestures are
sim. " 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 quito annoying to the
gentleman who wants to get a little bill
through and cannot, because OF Holman's
"objcction."
Hewitt, of Albania is qunor-looking man
at BEST but when he is making speech, he
certainly presents very peculiar appear
ance He has way of pinching up his
hand as if it were half full of salt, and OF
stretching it out, in making gestures, as if he
were trying to drop some Of the salt Oh the
birds tail, anl Of then drawing 1t back
quickly as if his fingers had been pricked.
Gen. Tom Browne, CT indiana, never
began speech in his lf, unless both hands
were ramme1 down in bis breeches pockets,
and he never takes more than one Of them
out at time for the purpose OF gestlcula-
ton.
But it is the greatest AMI only Belford who
has the most particular way Of his own in
addressing the hous,. He was never known
to stand by his own desk. He always takes
possession of the aisle adjoining, AMI some
times he traverses two or three alsies Ill the
course Of his remarks. Belfor1 Uses arms,
legs lungs, coat-tails and, in fact, every
avaab ad junct to oratory; an thus 1t is,
perhaps, that he attracts 50 much attention.
1t has often been remarked that his speeches
sound Inuch better than they read.
In the senate there are quite as many Pc
caaritics, comparatively, as in the house.
A visitor to the gallery Of tho senate may
often hear the rafting Of a bunch of keys
OF 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
rattling their keys in a list.ass way.
Senator Groome, of Maryland, has great
way Of whirling his chair aroui so That his
back is towar1 the presiding officer: thus he
will sit and read OF talk, or ponder for half
an hour at a time. Senator Ransom,
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 d1or-Jamb ana
drums on the sides OF the wall when he is
hes:tating between his duties on the floor and
comfort in tire colk-ro IN.
Logan is kept pretty busy sometimes push
ing his raven hair back out # his eyes, AMI
Edmunds, when occupying the char and in
the SOW progress OF a dull debate, trims his
nails to keep from going to sleep, and then
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