The Washington critic., 1886-04-16
TOPICS OF THE DAY.


State brass buttons, and wide
brimmed slouched hat, has been hob
bling about the corridors of Congress
on his wooden leg says the corresponds
ent of the Jersey City Argus, for
several days attracting much attention.
The gray clad individual is John $.
Robson, formerly Of the Fifth-second
Virginia Rebel regiment, and for some
time one Of General Jubal Early's
couriers. He lost his right leg at the
battle Of Cedar Creek, Va, October 10,
1864, after receiving desperate wound
in the side the year before. Mr.. Robson
Is selling book written by himself, en-.
titled "How One Legged Rebel Lives
in YanAeeland. While walking
through the House corridors last Satur.
day Robson was approached by a gentle.
man who gave his name as Edward L.
Hoffman, formerly of the Third New
Jersey regiment and latterly of the
Pennsylvania Reserves. After short
conversation the two men compared
notes, and Mr.. Holtzman recognized In
the one.legged Confederate, although
twenty-three years have elapsed, the
fair Virginia youth who guard
ed him as prisoner of war at Win
chester in 1868, just before he was
transferred to Libby Prison at Rich
mond. "Do you remember the plug of
tobacco you gave me at Winchester"
that prison penl" II do, replied the
ex;Confed. "Well, old boy, that was
a life preserver. l hadn't tasted to.
fn k,,I
Der, too rejoined the man in gray,
that belt you gave me. l wore 1t un-
TIL l lost my leg at Cedar Creek, but
lost 1t finally at Chimberazo Hospital"
After this exchange of "reminiscences
the "blue and gray" arm in arm, ad.
joufned down stairs to the House res.
taurant, where they partook of liquid
refreshments, and, between drinks, re-
called many events that occurred in the
stirring days of sixty-four.
Nv
During the progress of business in
the House of Representatives, says
Murray in the indianapolis Ne,os, the
Speaker receives callers, consults the
leaders Of the House on legislative OR
other matters, arranges with members
for recognition, writes letters, signs
bills, etc. In fact, he does scores of
things which might be reasonably
deemed impossible. Perhaps it would
be, only the Speaker has two sets of
eyes and two sets of ears. AT times
tl Sc are doubled. That is to say, the
s.. eaker- has a page. The Speakers
page is young man of 20 or 30. He
wouldn't make n clever spectacle in
tights, for he is long and lank. with
legs like tooth-picks. This young
gentleman is not for ornament; he is
for use. And he is about the most use
full man in the House. He stands be-
tween the Speaker and the Reading
Clerk while the bills are being intro
duced, and tells the Speaker to what
particular committee they belong This
sounds very funny sometimes, but it is
only heard by those who lean over the
rail above or are in the near vicinity.
When the Reading Clerk gets stuck on
the Congressional chirography, which
is very often, this young gentleman in
a'ructs the Reading Clerk. When the
Speaker is too busy with Members, the
page actually refers the bills himself.
When a vote is being taken by tellers
he is near by, with tab and pencil,
keeping tally. He superintends every
thing that 1t is the business of the
Speaker to see and hear and do. He
!, must know every one of the 325 Mem
! bcrs and the Delegates, so as to call
their name and State at sight. His
recognition is the Speakers recogni.
tion. He is the Speakers other eyes
and ears. With him the Speaker can
keep run of everything and perform
other arduous duties during the days
session. Without him-well, he has
never been without him--the strain
would be too much for any living man
to endure.
~*~
The Washington correspondent of
the Cincinnati C0mm6rcidi- Gdzette says
"Senator Jones of Florida had better
begin TO practice the old song, viii
You Love Me Still the Same? The
Senate has bounced him Off the Com
mittee of Commerce, and he has been
towed out of the Committee on Naval
, Affairs. 1t begins to look as If his as
A sociates here think that his prolonged
want of success in making at
Detroit is a reelection on the ability Of
the body"
x*x
Indoor pedestrianism affords an
escape for many hard-worked legis-
lators that nothing else could, says the
Troy Times man. In the house Will
liam Walter Phelps has habit every
day of Withdrawing into the west cor.
ridor and pacing up and down, usually
in company with Nordholf of the New
York HeraM. This march is quite
interesting to observe, They step
along with very stately and animated
gait, wheel exactly on the same tile at
each end of the route, and all the time
maintain sprightly conversation.
Over in the Senate old Salisbury of
Delaware will pace up and down the
rear of the Democratic side by the
hour. Sawyer of Wisconsin will stride
up and down the middle aisle when he
ismore than ordinarily busy in thought
Teller, too, has habit of walking
back and forth in the rear of the Re-
publican side. Logan is not much of
walker, and likes to retire to the
cloak-room and lie down. He has
some weakness of the back which
inclincs him to lie down as
much as possible, but he may
very often be seen pacing back aud
forth in the cloak room, with his head
down and evidently in deep thought.
Don. Cameron walks with soft, vel.
vety step in the cloak room whenever
he is weary with the run of proceed.
ings. Eyarts, too, Is given to a little