The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-02
EX-SENATOR SHARON.
His Career in Washington-A Graphic Sketch
of the Millionaire.

His Career in Washington.A Graphic Sketch
of the Millionaire.
Washington Letter in New York Yorld.
Sharon, the San Francisco millionaire, who
has just been defeated in the divorce proceed
ngs brought against him, has been in Washing
ton for one or two winters He went through
the form of pretending to serve one term in the
Senate, but the financial troubles upon the Pa
cifc coast, following the failure of the Bank Of
California kept him occupied there. For two
winters of his term he never put in an appear
ance. and it was only during the last year or
two of his service that he made any pretense of
performing his senatorial duties He was one of
the smallest and most insigniicant-looking men
who ever served in the Senate Not even the
reputation of his millions could clothe this
cheap-looking man with a semblance of dig
nifty. He is about FIVE feet six inches in height,
VIII lie his figure is as poor and thin as if ne were
half starved His head is very small even for his
diminutive figure. There is thin struggling
growth of hair smoothed over his yellowish
brown skull, and down over his low, cunning
forehead. This hair is q rusty gray brown. His
face is thin. sunken and smooth shaven, with the
exception of a SMALL scant, grayish brown mus
tache, which curls in at the corners of his mouth
His eyes as black and sparkling as those of a
ferret, and are lighted with an expression of vul
gar cunning and odious dissatisfaction. His
nose is constructed upon the same meager scale
as the other features of his face. It's small
pug, and no amount of wine. however generous
in quality could FIRE the livid pallor of this nose
up to the color Of life. There was something
almost atrocious III the aggressive vugarity of
this coarse little man. His dress was thoroughly
IL harmony with his general appearance He
was very fond of long, shiny broadcloth coats.
about three sizes too large for him. brocaded
waistcoats, black, blue and red velvet cravats
and yellow gray trousers. He used to wear
boots made by some San Francisco shoemaker
which in themselves were curiosities. They had
very long legs and were so short in the sole that
the upperS were pressed out beyond theem in the
wearing. The heels We're very high and were
pushed SO far forward as to be under the centre
of the foot The idea was TO give the appear
ance of very small foot The idea may have
been all right. but the result gave the Senator
the appearance of having two club feet.
Like many,men Of shallow minds and small
education, Sharon aspirad to talk in the deeply
philosophical vein. While he never had the
courage to do more in the Senate than to read m
occasional speech from the laboriouSly prepared
manuscript, III private he was dsagreeably az
gresSive IN asserting most oracularly the widest
kind of nonsense about religion and politics
When he first came to Washington to stay he
was invited out to a good many dinners. But
very soon the principal dinner givers of the
town began to grow shy Of him. At dinner
given in the interest of Justice Fields alleged
candidacy for the presidency of 1880 Sharon was
a guest The genial host intended to turn the
general conversation toward the latter part of
the dinner to the subject Of the resplendent vir
tues of Justice Field, but after the fourth course
Sharon began with crackle and snort which
were the usual signals employed by the Senator
to indicate that he was about to speak He Sc
lected Buddhism as his topic and without word
of knowledge of the subject or of excuse, he
drifted out into two hours snarine soliloGuy
upon that subject. OF course Justice Fields
merits were never reached. And the price of IL
had to be charged up TO the profit ami loss of tho
Field campaign fund.