National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-11-10
THREE ORPHANS.
what They Said to Each other In VIII
lard's Rotunda.

NnHt Iney Shlu 10 Bach OtheE IN VIII
lard's Rotunda.
A vlcarious representative Of the REPuB-
LIcAN saw the other day In Wizards lobby
what might be irreverently described as
miniature resurrection. There stood In she
rotupda three-enough to make crowd or
a politicians OF ito olden times.
Their aggregate ages summed up 2l4 years.
First, there was John Harmon, OF Detroit,
aged 40; second, A. NJ. Clapp, OF Washing
ton, 10, and third and last, but not least,
Ward Lamon, now OF Denver, GO.
Said Mr.. Harmon TO Mr.. Clapp, "Dldn't
you come over with Columbusp
"No," was the answer; "but l was pres
ent, John when you killed your Cousin
Tecumsehn
81 rather remember that incident"
chimcd in Col. Lamon.
"Yes," said Harmon, "you were known
as kid from Martinsburg in those times"
And then these resurreCted fell to talk
ing politics. They talked about jackson,
Pierce, Lincoln, Douglas, and other by
gone. II not forgotten, leaders OF their day,
finally branching off into politlco-persOnal
"reminiscences. Messrs. Lamon aud Clapp
were at the birth, or several birthplaces OF
the Republican party, and told all about IT,
Mr.. Harmon was at the birth OF the Demoe.
racy, and one OF the numerous putative
fathers thereof. He told all about that Then
the venerable Buiraloniau declared his Wing
0ntecedente, whereupon the ponderous
ex-marshal asserted that he had presided
way back when the idea Of honest elections
was first invented.
ooh, yes ~ said Harmon, chat was
b. c."
"Please, STRIP pleaded beggar boy TO
Harmon at this juncture, "please, sir, give
me nickelp I'm Orphan.h
"Why, my boy, I'm in the same category
myself" was the reply.
"You look like It," rejoined the boy,
"fer yer old enough to've been private sec
rotary to Ponchus Pilut."
"Go long, you young scoundrel,n ex-
claimed Harmon, 81 never talk politics
with my juniors.n
1t turned out, though, that all three OF
the venerable orphans Clipped in and gave
the young mendlcant dime apiece. After
this interruption the conversation was re-
sumed.
"You're getting out new edition OF
| your Life Of Lincoln, aren't youH asked
Mr.. Clapp OF Col. Lamon.
eyes, I'm revising IL have finished its
revision In fact. You see, told the whole
truth In the first edition in too plain a
style, and now I've been rounding of some
Of the rough edges. Though do say 1t
myself, it's the best biography OF Mr.. Lin
coin eXtant, and will soon be In the hands
| OF my publishers
~ Travelled with Douglas during his
famous discussion with Lincoln," remarked
Mr.. Harmon.
Sand / Travelled with Lincoln" said
Lamon.
"well," relolned Mr.. Clapp, 81 went to
the Chicago convention for Seward''---
Sand Lincoln made you postmaster
interrupted Harmon.
"He did, was the reply, "for two terms
| INT hot 10 M mn
mon, save that Frank Pierce didn't appoint
you collector"
SPY the way, Harmon, II l remember
rightly" said Lamon, "you were once the
most unanimously nominated man in the
country"
ayes; that was,' he replied. "ThC
second time l ran for mayor the Democrats
and finally Protestant ticket was put NJ
with my name at the head OF 1t. There
were no more nominations to be made, oil
I'd have received them.n
evidently" interjected Lamon, "tht
Professionals didn't know of your 'Ponchut
Pilut' record.n
"You're right; they didn't, but ] let tn,
Hebrews know all about that and polle(
nearly every vote in the cltv.n
~ say, Harmon, do you remember befor
the railroads were built" asked Mr.. Clapp
show we Travelled by lake from Buffalo tC
Detroit, you pushing the Free Press aud
the Express Y'
"of course he does,n chuckled Lamon
she remembers from way back, before TIL
flood"
"Let me tell you now" replied Harmon
"I'm not so young as used to be, but II
the only man alive to-day who has al
tended every Democratic national CONVEX
, ton held In this country. Tom Hendricks
: was the last OF my contemporaries, and
expect to live to see many more OF them.
! "Well," replied MIR. Clapp, ~ can sa
almost as much for myself regarding Re
publican national conventions"
"Being TIE onlyyoung man In the party,
, remarked Lamon, at cannot be expected
Of me that should claim so much for my
self. But here, Harmon, 1t appears tina
Carlisle's coming back to Congress o.
crutches.n
"D-d II don't believe the whole party
be on crutches pretty SOON" said Harmon
"But the lamer II is the better the fight
? will make.n
! "Weii," said Mr. Clapp, "we'll all liv
to see another Republican President
Don't know" exclaimed Harmon, "thi
Q want to live quite so long as that. don
y care to go down to history as igger ma
a than old Methuselah.n
q an be on hand, though" prophesie
Lamon, "to write your biography, John.
o "The heavens forefcnd p rejoined JohI
: SIN that event want to live forever"
= Then the three orphans strolled out q
g the rotunda, all rotund, all straight as {
s many arrows-Mr. Clapp with his snow
l. white locks, Col. Lamon with grzzled ha
T. and beard, and the ex mayor, the oldes
o the straghtest, the most stalwart of the
n ALL with his long hair almost as black as
Il ravens wing, making tableau, as It wer
l. rarely to be seen In any community on
O side OF Washington. Volumes upon vo
s umes could be written of their joint az
a several experiences, but 1t was gratlf
n ing sight to see them hale and hearty,
Q good spirits, full Of humor, and In the g
joyment Of the best OF health.