Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-03-21
CAPITAL GOSSIP.
Statesmen Who Would Rather
Match Pennies Than Eat.
Character in Public Men---Judge Reagan
Of Texas---NOt All Politicians
Liberal.


Among this number is Representative
wilkins, OF Ohio. he is remarkably
lucky too, indeed, so lucky that many are
afraid TO try their luck With rim. However
the other day two members pat up a Job
on him. They agreed to match with him
and each to hold head" or tail at
every match. That is both to be uneven
90 one would always match him and then
to divide their winnings. The first mem
Der approached Mr.. wilkins and asked
him if be wanted to match him for a quar-
ter That's too small" replied Mr.. Viii.
kins. IN match you for dollar. just
then the second couspirsto: approached
and he too asked to Join in, as three made
it livelier. They matched; Wilkins lost
Five times the scheme worked. Now, II
match you for 81" said Mr.. Wilkins. I'm
loose al or get even" They matched.
BE lost again. Try for $l0," he said:
They matched. Wilkins lost again. $50
cried Wilkins. He lost again. Try
$40" ssid one of the conspirators. mo,
said Wilkins; but I'm going to see II
really have lost my lack" Herushed into
the lobby and the first person he met was
a friend who was stock broker. Go buy
me 100 shares of Erie" he exclaimed.
wilkins had not lost bis luck, for he cleared
$3.50 of the stock above the money he lost
msRchipg. The conspirstors now don't
know whether to refund the money thus
won, or to invite Wilkins to wine supper.
~
Character as seen from the external
or rather character as one thinks he sees
it from q casual glance lis very deceptive
in public men. know OF men in Con,
gress who look to be SO good, so kind and
generous aud Christian like, that one
wsuld think from first glance they were
the embodiment OF purity. who are IN real
ity the very reverse. Then | have In
mind three or four men in either branch OF
Congress who look harsh and i'll, who drink
and use profane language, and who are
vet generous 10 fault, and big hearted.
Then there are others whom one would
set down instantly as being rough and
wicked who are Christian gentlemen. The
men who drink often cover their dissipa'
ton, so far as their faces are concerned,
while others who never touch drop OF
liquor look ike veritable bummers. The
public man in Washington ID, therefore
deceptive in appearance.
The only time | remember to have ever
been harshly spoken to by public man
was when | discovered him in his hypo
crisy. There is q tall, grsy,haired old Sen
ator from one of the esstern-southern
Democratic States who looks the very pic
ture of goodness. His eyes give q con
slant glare Of gentleness, and his bearing
is that Of Christian of the old school
On every occasion where opportunity OF
fers he proclaims his temperance
principles, and there are few
If any of his Senatorial
associates who would dare ctfer him a
drink of intoxicaut, anywhere. A year OF
two ago this Senator, whom | knew very
we'll then, had in his possession some news
which very much desired, aud seeing him
enter his committee room one afternoon,
started after him.
Iii never customary for q newspaper
correspondent who ffequents the committee
rooms, to announce his coming by rapping
on the door 80 strobe right in q hal
minute after the Senator. Another CORE
spondent accompanied me. Just as we
entered the Bind-lookiug and christian
like statesman was in the act of lifting q
large goblet hslffull Of liquor-real old
Bourbon strsight-to his mouth. He emp
tied the glass, and before We could an
rounce the mission we were on---we saw the
| Senator'S embarrassment-he turned
around upon US.
There was o pause Of several seconds. A
scawl fitted across the old mans face. i
was as barrel of dagger5. Then we were
abused asifwe were highwsymen, for enter
ing the committee room, and no amount
| of explanation in the face of the well known
custom Of doing as We had done, would
satisfy the sngered SeGatoT. | remember
we did not say we would not mention tbs
act of dissipation. and that is probably
what kept up the flow of invective.
recall another old Senate. from q
Western Southern State. He chews tobacco
and smokes and tells stories and play:
euchre, and is hale fellow we'll met.
! Recently | stood on the floor of the Senate
chamber shortly after the Senate had sd'
iourned for the day, end with trio of old
habitues Of the Capitol discussed the char
acter of the men at their desks.
There's a good.Istured old fellow.
said one, pointingto the Senator indicated,
but III venture he destroys heap of the
chief production of Kentucky, He looks
like he was wholesome absorber."
Yes" said another, he is evidently q
good eater and full drinker."
Quite mistaken" said the third man.
That Senator never drinks drop Of any
kind of intoxicauts. He is temperance
through and through and, if am not mis-
taken, he is for prohibition. iou will find
plenty Of good cigars st his room for bis
friends, but nothing stronger. Besides, he
is leading church member, and you can't
find anyone who ever heard him say bad
word.
-. e
Judge John H. Reagan, of Texas, al
though one of the Oldest men in the
House, is one ofthe most spry ones ofthat
body. he is IS years old, is about six
feet two inches in height, weighs about 225
pounds, and smbles along like a young
man. He has probably had more exper-
fence, and greater variety of it, than any
man in public life to-day.
The connection of Judge Reagan with
the late war would make q volume OF the
most intense interest. as is well known
he was JEFF Davis most intimate personal
friend, assuming charge Of all the Confed-
crate documents and the wsgonloads of
gold and silver at the time Of the evscua-
ton of Richmond, and acting as JEFF
Davis personal counsellor and guard dur
ing the fight south.
But before and since the war Judge Res-
gan was and has been o skirmisher. he
settled in Texas in 1889, studied law, and
had much to do with introducing civilizs.
ton into that then wild country. He was
always at the front He was member Of
the Constitutional Convention in 1875, and
has been more or less with that country
for forty-fve years. II is said he is tired
of ConOress having heon here twelve yaars