The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1885-03-19

Not All fI0vcr-Wriiing Ones Self -
IcatIl-A Members Constituents.
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Not All GIoscr-wriitng Ones Self "a
Dcatis-A members Constituents.
Washington siar.l
1t isn't all the perfume Of flowers
and the smiles Of fair women to be a
member Of congress. We don't feed on
locusts and wild honey and sleep on
down, said q weary member as he
tilted back in his chair and brushed
aside the heap of letters piled upon his
desk. lie had 4 haggard look in his eye,
and his right hand hung limp at his side
with q zen between the fingers. If any
Lody thinks it's clover, let him try it.
started out with the idea that it was my
duty to answer every letter got. Well,
have involved myself in a problem Of
geometrical progression, and hc pointed
in a dcspairing sort of way at tho desk
before him, the ample waste basket by
his side and the floor about him.-all full
Of letters. They are accumulating
every day. Every one | answer brings
two more, and answer them all. just
think Of it, It makes my head swim.
When first came here | used to go out
little. went to the theater occasion.
ally, or to an entertainment, or to a
reception, or to SEQ friend. Now
| 20 nowhere. Each year
am more closely confined. The
walls are closing in around
me, and, like the man in the Iron
Shroud,' am waiting for them to close
in and crush me. Two stopped going
out. | leave my committee-room at the
capitol only to go to my desk at home.
! swallow my dinner whole, as it
were. write late at night-later each
night. The progression is working out,
and my mails bigger each day. Pres
emily ! shall have to sit up all night
then reduce my meals TO five minutes;
give up smoking. Write. write, write.
Oh-well- think 'Tis q terrible doom
slowly to write ones self to death. The
pile Of letters is up to my neck. Soon
it'll be over my head daylight will be
shut out-and then.
No, sir. we don't live in clover Z
And he drew in long breath and set.
tied himself down in his chair as if re.
signed to his impending doom. ''Why,
it started this way-it: always has start
any member will tell you-it started
this way: As soon as got to congress
! got aletter from one Of my constituents
congratulating me upon my election.
and saying that he knew now there
would be some legislation: the constitu-
ton should not be violated; must in.
troduce a bill in the house to prohibit
fishing in my district with three hooks
to one line-'twas unconstitutional.
answered that letter, bewailing the utter
disregard of congress for the ma.
tional fisheries, and explaining the utter
II usclcssncss Of attempting class lcgisla.
tion. That settled it. | got four letters
from that neighborhood by returning
mail, and they kept on increasing until
the entire population was represented
by autograph letters. My promptnes.
to answer any and all letters was her
aided all over the country. and wa.
asked to pass all sorts of bills, from ont
to regulate the length Of prayers to ons
!or the suppression Of kissing at pound
parties. tine man wanted to know
whether the rope Guiteau was hun.
with was hemp or cotton. referred
this letter to the department of Justice
The attorney general indorsed it to tn,
warden of the Jail, who returned it to mi
with minute official description Of tho
rope the material. length and manner 81
make. This contributed largely to in
crease my correspondence. Everybody
who had something to write about thai
no one else would notice was told of m,
address, with tho assurance that loved
to write letters. \ large number of m,
letters now are applicants FOR places
nj, ,satSr.,
man wanted place that would tax,
him to Canada. tie did not know wha,
particular place His doctor told hin
that it would benefit his health to livt
there. and if | would just look arount
anil find a place there for him with ;
pretty good salary attached he would
like it. But. by the way, he had chill
lrcn just growing up. | might takt
this into consideration, and get hin
located where there were good fire.,
schools.
Another fellow wrote that he woult
leave it to me to pick out his place fol
him, but mustn't ct the salary below
$1,000. lie thought Id be better judg,
of good places than he was.
''Some men may refer these letters t,
the waste basket. but it don't do. They
must bc answered. must write; good
bye. mustn't waste moro time talk
ing. I'll have to sit up late to make II,
for it. | must write. The walls ar
closing around me"
well, my good fellow, what can d.
for you" and he turned to a supplian
in soldier clothes, who stood at his elbow
with pcrs stence in his face and glazet
cap III his hand.
I'm an American by adoption Ii
80 married IN American woman Will
q mule--her grandfather left it to-"
But at this point the petitioner wa,
thrust aside by Mexican pensioner
who wore three medals and had been
personal friend of Win SCOTS ant
wanted his pension increased.