The Washington critic., 1886-12-09
TOPICS OF THE DAY.

are perhaps as well illustrated by the
career of Senator Jones of Nevada as
any other man In public life, says Towlc
of the Boston 7raroller. Jones has
been worth millions, and not a year af-
terward has been In debt. Last winter
II was generally known that he was not
In good financial condition. lie didn't
pay much attention to the work of the
Ser ate, but was absent most Of the
time. Now 1t leaks out that he has
made another rich strike, and is makinga a
great deal of money, running up into the
millions. Senator Bowen Of Colorado
Is another who has seen ups and downs.
He Is a practical miner, and has just
returned from his State, where he has
mining property. He told the TfaUellor
100000 in one hole "but," said
he, with smile, II pulled $4,000
out Of another, so am not feel.
ing rs badly as | might" Another OF
the Western millionalres, who has been
visiting Colorado, said that Macl<ay's
luck has not deserted him. In several
of his mines wonderfully rich lands
have been struck. Stewart, who will
probably succeed Fair in the Senate, is
upon his feet again. lie and Jones have
made half dozen fortunes and lost
them all. Now he comes to the front
again with another "ten strike" and 1t
is probable that he will be able to keep
hold Of this fortune, although he will
certainly lose 1t If history repeats itself.
Hearst, Jones and Bowen are three
Senators who have made their money
out of mines. Most of the other wealthy
Senators have made their fortunes out
of railroads or land speculation. SEN
ator Sherman hasn't dabbled much in
railroads, but he has been bold real
estate operator, and Is still interested
lar ely in this class of speculation.
~
President Arthur worked very hard
while he was in the White House, says
Carpenter of the Cleveland Leader, and
he ruined his health by working IT.
regularly. He sat up late and rose
late. He ate his dinners at midnight,
and 1t was often or 2 o'clock before
he got away from the table. He usu-
ally rose at $3.50. took light break
fast of coffee and roll, and then went
into his Office to receive callers. From
10 to 10 o'clock he had a continual
siege of office seekers. First, the Or
dinary ofllce-seeker came, then the
met minister. Sometimes he received
his callers in the afternoon. and he
went through the hand.shaking regu.
larly. He did not begin his dinner, as
a rule, until after o'clock, and often
later. He liked high living. and
tickled his stomach with terrapin and
champagne. Toward the latter part of
his administration the richness of his
food began 10 tell upon his system,
and he strove 10 remedy the evil.
He did not, however, cut
down upon his diet, but
tried to work off the surplus by exer-
else. He took horseback rides and
walked considerably. Very fond of
fishing, and the killer, believe, of the
largest salmon ever killed In this coun.
try, he took many little fishing jun
ket, and 1t was at the advice of his
physician that, with his cabinet, he
went to Florida. The Florida health
trip was not great success. He had
severe attack of stomach trouble dur
ing 1t and the papers were full OF
alarming reports. The excitement of
the latter days Of his administration
had much to do with keeping him up,
and he began to fail as soon as Cleve-
land was inaugurated There is no
doubt that White House wining aud
dining had much to do with his death,
and he Is only one of great number
of public men who have been killed by
this element of Washington life. Dur.
ing the last year of his administration
President Arthur made 1t rule to dine
all the Congressman and Senators and
their wives He spent more than
So 600 year on his dinners, and $40
plate Is low estimate of their cost.
Arthur paid his cook $1,000 year,
and 1t is said that his private dinners
often cost as high as S5 plate. He
kept up his dinners until the last, and
he closed his administration with an
elegant lunch to President Cleveland,
Immediately after the review of the
procession on Inauguration day.
~
Says the same correspondent: came
across curious story today. in which
a man named Clapp claims to have
played marbles with Presidents Gar
field and Arthur. The three men were
boys, and Clapp was living at Ballston,
N. Y, when President Arthur's father
and President Garfleld's uncle came
there, bringing Chester A. Arthur and
James A. Garfield with them. Clapp
says he slept with young Arthur, and
that he was having game of marbles
with little Chet In his front yard the
next day when the Rev. Mr.. Garfield
drove up, He stopped at the gate and
lifted out of his wagon little fellow
about years old, saying: "Here, my
lads, is my nephew Jimmy. Let him
play with you while attend to some
business As the story goes, little
Jimmy Garfield sat down on mound
and watched the game, and then the
Two boys. Arthur and Garfield, sepa
rated. Whether they met again before
their nomination as President and Vice.
President do not know.
~
The "Memoirs of Dolly Madison"
inform us that the mother of President
Madison lived TO the great age of 0S.
After her husbands death, in 1901, her
son James, who inherited his father
landed estate, greatly enlarged the man
sion, but left the old part Of II unal ,
tered and reserved it for the exclusive
use OF his mother. He held her In the
deepest veneration, and studied her
comfort and preferences in all the ar
rangements of his house. She kept