Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-11
PEN PICTURES.
Some OF the Prominent Figures In she Con-
vention Sketched BY Gath.

Some OF the Prominent Figures In she Con-
vention Sketched BY Gath.
George Alfred Townsend telegraphs TO
the Tribune under date OF wednesday:
As the Convention is about assembling
to-day, will run over some faces see be-
fore me TO give you an idea OF the very
striking Democratic biography here. The
most noted person in the Convention Is
Thurman. He looks like a man between
advanced middle life and old age. OF s
rather large frame, with broad shoulders,
little stopped, a rather white skin, face in
which Is a little cunning, some good ma.
ture, some old fogy, and considerable mild
fOrtitude. He Is now gray, and wears
very light gray suit, which at distance
looks like homespun. He sits down, and
is rather passive and phlegmatic while the
proceedings are going on. When he rises
10 make motion be puts both hands on the
chair before him and leans forward, and
seems to be pretty cautious, for 1t is the uni
yersal testimony that he has got the presi-
Dental bee bad, and expects to be the Car
field OF this Convention, perhaps by a
speech to sweep things in bis direction. 1t
seems that he has no political tact, however,
snd the Ohio delegation play around him
like cats around the foot OF q statue. There
is no diplomacy in him, no fneSSe--nothlng
but q very healthy, almost simple. ex-
pectation that in the Convention Is
lightning somewhere ready to be at
tracted to his top-knot. The next man
TO be considered is Hendricks. He
is Of the very nervous temperament, with
a rather reddish skin, 6eXibility and fem
inlty in his countenance, and he watches
everything with a good deal OF quickness,
not moving much in his seat, and rather
disposed to crouch down II. attention shall
be called to him. During the talk about
the great fraud he seemed to grow more
modest and non-committal. lie Is pretty
well preserved, the tints OF bis hair still
being those OF youth, and he conveys the
impression Of gentleman with sensibillty
and understanding, but not much leader
ship. By hi. side sits voorhees,,
man rather of the southern type,
though Of old Holland Dutch stock. lie
is tall, with large. willowy limbs, gen.
orally sits with his arms folded, has brown
moustache and goatee, with little red in
both, and his countenance Is somewhat low
ering, yet with equipolse in his glance, as
IL he could on occasion start to fire. Beck,
OF Kentucky, is on the platiorm-a large
man with not much OF the appearance OF
professional person or scholar, looking
rather like big quick-witted planter, fond
Of gong to town and talking politics. lie
is rather active quantity here, and has
considerable influence in the Kentucky del
egation, and thinks Cleveland is mistake.
BUYING NEW YORK FIGHTS RvBRY FOUR YEARS.
His view was that OF Harmon, OF Michi-
gan. who said to me: "For thirty years
we have been buying the quarrels OF New
York State and Matchmaking them, and
have got so In the habit OF doing il that
they come out every four years easier and
easier 10 make a sale TO Us OF the old traps
and perpetual fights" The next man to
notice is John Kelly. He has rather good
face, with baShlulness in it amounting 10
timidity, and an easy address somewhere
between courtesy and smile. His lace
rather bellies these indications, As 1t II
very large and square. though the Jaws are
not animal. The jaws are covered with
silyer-gray beard, in which remains some
hairs OF the former black. His head Is also
becoming gray, and his skin is assuming
the color which temperance and age concur
TO bring. His eyes seem to be dark, and
are bright. He Is very we'll dressed like q
gentleman. and might pass for an old army
officer or railway president. When ne
rises TO speak il Is seen that he uses the
language generally well, and is careful
about losing his temper. HIS voice has
two tones. one very deep, but the loquaci-
Gus tone is rather low and cannot be heard
far distant. lie is compelled by the ext
gencles OF his situation TO compliment per-
sons he dislikes, and the scene between him
and Fellows yesterday was good instance
OF outward proprlety withoutpoliiicai SIN
cerity in II.
Fellows Is for the moment the hero OF the
Convention on account OF his very capable
power both in his head and with his tongue,
not man OF any substantial character,
with nothing accumulated, spendthriIt, a
yoluptuary, yet he has on great pubic oc-
casions q better power than his enemies
would suppose. lie seems to be we'll ac-
Cuainied with the parliamentary manner
and therefore does not name individuals eX-
cept when proper. He gets in his points but
without any evaporation or apparent
desire to wound. His oratory is all
designed for broad effect and not to
encourage hostility TO his side. lie
has an admirable voice, not very deep, but
clear and loud, and well modulated, and
has been we'll likened here to the pictures
OF John Adams IN his youth, though ne mas
none Of Adams's impetuOusity and Doid-
ness. He Is an excellent fencer, ana mas
the gift OF using but few words to accom-
plish his end, and every word sparlngiy
used, as il words might soon weary the au-
ditors. He seems to know the caIlDre OF o
Democratic convention, where there are so
many comparatiyely uneducated men, ana
he wastes nothing to reach their conviction
and at the same time gain their goodwill.
No person in the Convention, not
even LAWYERS like Doolittle and Bragg,
has the worldly command and know
ledge OF this man, whose life has been
an adventure, but is kept fresh by
perpetual iuvenility, which in such large
arenas as this sounds to maniless, snd nc
wastes nothing in frivolity. \ rather shor.
man wearing q suit OF blue, somewhat
punctiIious about his dress, he seems 10
need only poise OF character and perseVe-
rance on the moral lines OF life TO make
strong character. His family went from
New York State to Arkansas, and the war
coming on in.his youth he was Coniede-
rate, and drifted TO New York city, Where
his speaking powers and social ABILITY soon
gave him positions not always up 10 MS
mark. II Cleveland is nominated ana eject
ed be will owe IL mainly this mans parIlcu-
lar talents to shape him well before tue
Convention. -
Barnum, OF Connecticut, sits on the
platform, and has the appearance Oh a
farmer or foreman who has been successful
in commerce. He has not much sKul,
blue-eyed, red-faced, looks to be long Iol
life, and is about sixty years old. Ihere u
some gray beard around his face. lie In,
none Of the arts OF address, Is up auu
down, does not concede In essentials, anu
believes In thoroughly practical pohtics ,
that the end Is also the means. In Tue
present contest he is not very steady, see
ing dangers almost everywhere the nomi-
nation may perch.
ONE OF THE BEsT-Io0KISG MEN IN TIKI HALL
+. A. Burke, OF Louisiana, generally
called "Ned" Burke, Is one OF the best
looking men in the Convention, six Feet OF
more high, spare OF body, With lace on
which are silver lines, and he Is compare
lively young, though he has become gray,
He Is perhaps fifty years old. lie =
known In the South for his indefatigapic
application. During the war he put up
telegraph lines for the Confederacy anu
soon grayitated into business, and when
he reached Louisiana began to straighlen
out her politics and had considerable innu-
ence with President Hayes. He Is care
full In his dress, Is q native o.
Kentucky. does not antagonlze persons