The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1885-03-07
CONGRESSIONAL LIFE
Not All Clover-Writing Ones Self TO
Death--A Members Constituents.
I\N,sbIn,to., ctn,,a

1T isn't all the perfume OF flowers
and the smiles of fair women to be
member of congress We don't feed on
locusts and wild honey and sleep on
down" said a weary member as he
tilted back in his chair and brushed
aside the heap of letters piled upon his
desk. He had haggard look in his eye,
and his right hand hung limp at his Side
with pen between the fingers. IF any.
body 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 problem Of
geometrical progression, and he pointed
in despairing sort of way at the desk
before him, the ample waste basket by
his side and the floor about him-all full
of letters. They are accommodating
every day. Every one | answer brings
two more, and answer them all. Just
think of it, 1t makes my head swim.
When l first came here used to 90 out
little. | went to the theatsg occasion
ally, or to an entertainment, or to q
reception, or to see q friend. Now
l go 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. I've 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 hight-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 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.
mo, sir; we don't live in clover.
And he drew in long ireath and set
tied himself down in his chair as if re-
signed to his impending doom. "Why,
it started this way--it,, always has a start;
any member will tell you--it started
this way: AS. soon as got to congress
] got letter from one of my constituents
congratulating me upon my election,
and saying that he knew now there
would be some legislation; the eonsttu-
ton should not be violated; | must in
troduce bill in tho house to prohibit
fishing in my district with three hooks
to one lfne-twas unconstitutional. I
answered that letter, bowailing the utter
disregard Of congress for the ma.
tional fisheries, and explaining the utter
u Seiessness of attempting class legisla-
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 letter. My promptness
to answer any and all letters was her
aided all over the country, and was
asked TO pass al sorts ofabills, from one
to regulate the length of prayers to one
for the suppression of kissing at pound
parties. tne man wanted to know
whether the rope Guiteau was hung
with was hemp or cotton. referred
this letter to the department of justice.
The attorney general Ind9rsed it to the
warden of the jail, who returned it to me
with minute official description of tho
rOpe the material, length and manner of
make This contributed largely to in
crease my correspondence. Everybody
who had something TO write about that
no one else would noti c was told of my
address, with the assurance that loved
to write letters. A large number of my
letters now are applicants for places
under the new administration. One
man wanted place that would take
him to Canada did not know what
particular place. His doctor told him
that it would benefit his health to live
there, ana if would iust look around
and find place there for him with a
pretty good salary attached he would
like it. But, by the way, he had chill
dren just growing up, might take
this into consideration, and get him
located where there were good free
schools.
"Another fellow wrote that he would
leave it to me to pick ont his place for
him, but | IN stn g the salary below
Fl, 300 lie thought I'd bo a better Judge
of good faces than he was.
some men may refer these letters to
the waste-basket. bat Il don't do. They
must be answered. must write; COOL
bye | mustn't waste more time talk
in=. I'll have to sit Up late to make up
for il. | must write The walls are
closing around me. "
well, my COOL fellow, what can do
for you" and he turned to a Suppliant
in soldier Clothes who stood at his elbow
with pers stcnce in his face and q gla ed
cap in his hand
'Tm an American by adoption. In
80 | married an American woman with
a mule-her grandfather left it to-"
But at this point the petitioner was
thrust aside lya "czican penSioner,
who wore three medals and had been a
personal friend of Win SCOTS and
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