Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-12
THURspAY's cAPrURE.
sTATESNTEN,s ANTICS.
Peculiarities of Some of Our Leading
COngressmen.

The London Truth has been amusing
itself and its readers by giving
some of the peculiarities of noted
men in public life in England. The
great men in this country. saws
a Washington special to the Cincinnati
1imeS-Stdr, have their peculiarities 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 a member
of the House, whie in his seat, scratch his
head, clean and pare his nails, and in oc-
casiOnal instances blow his nose on
his fingers, and make use of the lining
of his coat or the bottom of his pants in
stead ofhis handkerchief. Mr.. Reagan, of
Texas, for instance, the eX-POstmaster
General of the ConfedeTacy, is never at
his best unless he has a short string. with
the ends tied together, with which he NAV
employ his hands, pulling and twisting
and working it. after the Seats 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.
Mr.. Hewitt, Of New York, has a queer
custom of crossing his legs as he stands
between seats, and putting his hands on a
desk at each. side of him, crosses his legs
as he stands and talks. When he gets
warmed up he can stand with his legs
crossed without holding on to the desk.
Kelley, who is the central figure on the
Republican side, does not talk much now
adays. He is getting pretty old and rec
ognizes this fact. The last time he made
a set speech in the House he began bv
% VII h1f hp.r Il r,oN
not his strength would be sufficient to
carry him through. He has wonder
fully strong voice for his slight PHYSIQUE.
and can make himself heard in every cor
ner of the great hall.
Mr.. Reed, of Maine, who sits near him.
has very incisiye manner, and is proba-
bly, as much at home on his feet as anv
other man in the House. He is never fur
RED. lie is not an orator, and does not
indulge much in gestures when he speaks,
put his antagonist is usually glad when
he sits down. He has a way of saving
cutting things, and can be severe as well
as witty when occasion requires.
Mr.. Hurd, of Ohio, has a curious man.
ner OF flinglng his arms out at right an
giles with his body, giving him the appear
ance of flying machine. He walks with
cane usually, one leg being consider
ably shorter than its fellow, and finds a
difficulty in standing without it on any
other occasion than that of speech max
ing. 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.
Mr.. Holman, "the objector," seldom
striking 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 funny way of
checking up his sentences, spectacles in
hand, with chOpping motion of the right
hand, which is rather amusing to the. OBJ
server, but quite annoying to the gent
who wants to get little bill through and
cannot because of HOlman's collections"