, 1884-05-04
THE P~ECULIARITIES
or Some OF the Prominent Men OF
tho House INK Senate.
Queer Thines Which Our wisencres
Do when On Duty In the
Halls OF National
Legislation.

LN hAhllELpn COF. BhltltnOFC SmellCdn.
The London Truth has been amusing itself
and its realers by noting some OF the pecul-
iaritics of prominent men in public life in
England. The great men in this country
have their pcculiarities as well as those of
other countries. An hour in the house will
demonstrate that fact to nHy 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 tritic which might seem out Of place
elsewhere.
Reagan, OF Texas, for instance, the ex-
postmaster general OF the Contederacy, is
never at his best unless be 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, scattering them
abont him until the floor in his vicinity looks
as though a sort of blizzard had struck 1t.
Hewitt, of New York, has a queer habit
Of crossing his legs when he talks. He
usually gets into an aisle between the seats,
and putting his hands on n desk at each side
OF him, crosses his legs US 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
a set speech in the house lie began by saying
that he did not know whether or not his
strength would be sufficient to carry him
through. He has Il wonderfully strong voice
for ono Of his slight physique, and eau make
himself heard in every corner OF the great
hall.
tom Reed, of Maine, who sits ncar Kel-
ley, has a very incisive manner, and is prob
ably as much at home ON his feet rs any
other man in the house. He is never Hurried.
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 a way of saying cutting things, and
can be severe Us well as witty, when occasion
requires.
Frank Hurl, of Ohio, has a curious way OF
hingiug his arms out at light angles with his
body, giving him tho appearance of a flying
machine He-walks with a cane usually, one
leg being considerably shorter than its tel
low. and finds adiiilculty in standing without
it on any other occasion than that of speech
making. When be gets warmed up in his
speech, however, he fOrgets cane and leg and
everything else, and the way his arms fly Is
II caution to those within reach of them.
Holman, "the ohjector," seldom strikes out
from the shoulder in making his gestures, as
do most orators. Nearly all his gestures arc
simply by the motion OF the hand, or at least
of the arm, from the elbow down. He has n
very iuuny way Of checking up his sentences,
spcctacles in hand, with a chopping motion
Of the right hand, which is rather amusing
~ the observer. but quite annoying to the
gentleman who wants to get a little bill
through AMI cannot, because OF Holman's
objection
Hewitt, OF Albania, is Il queer-looking ma
at best, but when he is making u speech, he
certainly presents n very peculiar appear
aace, He has a way of pinching up his
hand ms if it were half full OF salt, and Of
stretching it out, in making gestures, as If he
We're trying to drop some Of the salt OH the
biri's tail, AMI of then drawing 1t back
quickly, as il his fingers had been pricked.
Gen. Tom Browne, cf Indiana, never
began n speech in his life unless both hands
were rammed down in his brooches pockets,
and he never takes more than one OF them
out at a time for the purpose OF gesticula-
ton.
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 some
Illlts ut AIhNtiHtN lNo Ut llTtt hlhltS III tue
course Of his remarks. Bedford uses arms,
legs. lungs, coat-tails, and, in fact, every
available adjunct to oratory; and thus 1t is,
perhaps, that he attracts so much attention.
II has often been remarked that his speeches
sound much better than they read.
In the senate there are quite as many PEI
culiarities, comparatively, as in the house.
A visitor to the gallery of the senate may
often hear the rafting OF a bunch of keys
oil the floor. He may then he 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 l~istless way.
Senator Groone, of Maryland, has n great
way of whirling his chair around so that his
buck is toward the presiding officer: thus he
will sit and read or talk, or ponder for half
an hour at a time. Senator Ransom, a
handsome man, by the way, turns his chair
sideways, and keeps his eye on the ladies'
gallery.
Senator Sawyer, Of Wisconsin, presses his
rutund figure against the door.jamb and
drums on the sides OF the wall when he is
hesitating between his duties on the floor and
comfort in the cloak-ro IN.
Logan is kept pretty busy sometimes push
ing his raven hair back out of his eyes, and
Edmunds, when occupying the chair and in
the slow progress OF Il dull debate. trims his
nails to keep from going to sleep, and then
scarcely succeeds.
The best smoking tobacco is Little
Joker.