The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-25
HOW STATESMEN EAT.
The Habits of Some Noted Men of Washing
ton at the Dinner Table.

ton at the Dinner Table.
Washington Letter to Galveston News.
Roscoe Conkng is not so aesthetic as to live
upon the exhalations of the lily, but he has been
known to inhae the vapors Of pork chop and
go away from the table At Chamberlain's or
the Arlington he always had choice bouquet at
his plate. He is dainty to perfection. On seat
ing himself at the table his first act is to exam
inc his napkin to see if it has been properly
laundried or if it has the least speck on it. Then
his plate is infinitely inspected on both sides,
and the knife and fork are carefully examined.
Dry toast eggs and cafe au lait constitute his
favorite breakfast. Mr.. Conkling is a great
lover of saltwater fish, his taste running partc~
ulary to boiled cod and the pompano of the
Gulf For soup he imperiOusly demands terra
pin or green turtle He once loved macaroni,
but it inclined him to fat and he abhors it now.
1t is said that Conkling has contempt for all
fat men, and, like Napoleon, his greatest dread
is obesity. Oysters, when guaranteed to be en-
trely fresh. he is fond of, and his mouth has
been known to water over young mutton chop
trimmed with parsley and favored with walnut
sauce. Mr. Conkling does not believe in tips"
but he occasionally gives his favorite waiter a
S. bill always leaving it on the table, as if he
had forgotten to take it away
Elk Secretary Robson was one of the bonviv-
ants of the capital his appetite running to deep
sea fish, rare roast beef, macaronl and red wine.
There are some vivid stories of his prandial per
formances justifyipg the belief that a castro
nomic contest between himself and Ben Butler
would be show for mortas. Speaker Carlisle
is lean and hungry Cassius, who really thinks
TOO much and does not sleep of nights He was
high roller for several years around Cincinnati,
when he suddenly discovered lie mad stomach,
and since that he has had appetite to speak
Of but he has enough dyspepsia for two men.
At the Riggs House breakfast he worries down
piece of toast and cup of coffee. During the
day he takes bowl of soup and thin slice of
roast in the House restaurant. and later, at the
Riggs House, he takes moderate dinner, know
h,,r-g. Il Aln1
of indigestion will perch upon the headboard of
his bed during the long hours of the night.
Senator Edmunds is good eater, and what
may surprise some people, a good drinker at
times Very frequently the venerable senator
would have found 1t difficult to walk crack III "A
floor. He usually takes his toddy at John Han
cocks, on the avenue, where Henry Clay and
Daniel Webster punished great quantities of
corn juice. Last winter Mr. Edmunds awarded
the Senate restaurant to Francis, a eolored at
tendant at Hancocks who had stood behind the
bar and mixed cocktails and punches for the
Vermont senator for the last thirty years.
Senator Joe Brown, of Georgia, does not look
like IL but he is one of the big eaters at the
capital. His thin, wan face does not betray the
formidable appetite for which you must inquire
within. A Georgia member said during the last
session. "Tll tell you what makes Joe Brown so
thin-he eats so much it makes him poor to
carry it." The Georgia senator takes kindly to
roast beef well done and rice hot biscuit for
breakfast and corn bread and vegetables for
dinner with milk heavily laden with cream. He
generally goes into the Senate chamber with
two or three apples in his coattail pockets. and
at intervals he retires to a cloak-room and
munches on this fruit
1t was related of Tom Corwn the great Ohio
congressional wit, that certain occasion he
called on political friend, but finding him alb
sent, accepted an invitation to remain Tor dinner
from the young lady of the house. This young
lady, it seems, had mania for using hard or
uncommon words. Looking at the Senator from
the head of the table, she kindly inquired, 'Will
yoa take condiments in your coffee, Mr. Cor
win2" With face of marked solemnity and
bowling gravely to the young lady, Mr. Corwin
replied: Mustard ana pepper, please, but no
salt" This story is brought to mind by Senator
John Shermans well known penchant for ''con-
diments" He is as fond of pickles as girl of
seventeen, and the vinegar he consumes will
doubtless account for the sour and angular quail
ity of his visage Spiced oysters are his delight
as we'll as picked behring's and bread soaked in
tomato catsup. when Mr. Sherman eats nut
tonchop" said waiter at the Arlington ''he
wants it black with pepper and plenty of sauce
or mustard, and then, if be can't get buttermilk
he wants sour lemonade"
Hon. Luke Pryor, of Alabama. is one of your
old-fashioned men, greatly inclined to primitive
speech and habit He was strong Carlisle man
during the speakership contest Being APP
preached by some Randall people who wanted to
convert him he said Gentlemen, it is onnec-
essary to persuade me; my mind is made up. We
need a iudgematic man and Kerlise is the man.
am for Kerlsle for Speaker first last and all the
time" This honest old member turns to fried
bacon and coPnbfead, with black coffee unsweet-
eHed for breakfast and for dinner the substan
tial bacon anil cabbage, roastbeet and variety
of vegetables, with milk and butter There are
not few members to whom boarding house
with frying>pan and cornbread attachment and
a Jug of old bourbon under the bed would appear
as the chief elements of comfort 1t was Henry