National Republican., 1888-01-26
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
A SENATOR AVD A REPRESENT rArivE
WHO OWE Much TO SCIOOLMASTERS.
Mr.. Culbersop's First Composition -
Parsop Cooks Lesson to Senator Nor
gan-A Statesman who Can't Talk -
Congressman o'NeilI and "the Boys"

Correspondence 81. Louis GLOBE Democrat |
WAsniNCToN, ID. c., Jan. 10 In the re-
cent distribution Of chairmanships in the
House, that OF the judiciary committee
went naturally to David B. Culberson, OF |
Texas. Mr. Culberson has had for several
congresses the name OF being the ablest
lawyer on the Democratic side. He would |
have been chairman OF the committee long
ago but for the fact that John Randolph
Tucker, of Virginia, took precedence by
priority OF service. AS soon as Mr.. Tucker
dropped out Mr.. Culberson became, as a
matter Of course, the head OF the commit
tee and the officially recognized legal au.
thority Of the Democrats. The fitness Of
the selection is generally conceded. But
few who respect his ability as q lawyer
know that lie owes his success In life to a
composition on 'possum hunting.
The Congressman cousin, who is a we'll
to do business man OF Atlanta, Ga, tells
the story. "Dave,n and he were boys at
school together pear La Grange, Ca, forty
years ago: "Dave" was then Is. The
schoolmaster was Mr.. Jones, aud lie had
long tried to spur young Culberson into
some interest In his studies, for the boy was
inclined to shirk. The schoolmaster had
assigned subject after subisct In the h Dpe
OF gettirEa composition out OF his easy
going pupil. "Daven had always come to
Tine with some excuse. The schoolmaster
was discouraged aud he talked pretty Sc.
verely to the boy about his shortcomings,
and asked bim how he ever expected TO get
on IN life the way he was going
The reproaches put "Dave" on the de.
fensive and he said "Mr. Jones, l'il tell
you my objection TO writing compositions.
don't want to be smart. Smart folks are
always poking their noses into other folks
business I'd rather be a 'possum huuter
than anything else. Postum hunting |
know something about. II you are set on
having composition, I'll write one on 'pjs-
sum hunting II you like"
$50 ahead" groaned the schoolmistcr,
glad to obtain that much OF concession.
FRIDAY afternoon came round for the
compositions. "Daven took the II )Or aud
read his paper.
"From that day to this" says Ne. Joseph
Culberson, who tells the story, 'there b As
never been finer description written Uf q
'possum hunt.n The schoolmaster listened
| to the paper atteutivey, and when the
| reader sat down he said with great EN-.
| phssis:
David Culberson,u ! see in You the
| marks of greatness. But fear your mod.
esty and your inclination to take things
easy will keep you back all your life. My
| advice to you is, if you want to make some.
| thing OF yourself, to 90 to some new coun-
try and go to work. You need to be s urred
| by different surroundings"
A day or two after that, Mr.. Joseph Chi
berson says, his cousin came to him aud
asked
"Joe, did you hear what old Jones SAID
about me the other day?"
"Ies," was the reply.
"What DO you think of II 2"
81 think there Is good deal In IT," TIL,
| cousin answered,
"l'll tell you what I'm going to do" said
"Dave," with good deal OF earnes ness.
"l'm going to get after he old man to move
out into Alabama aoa try IL. III never
amount to anything here"
| Sure enough, the cousin sIys, "Dive"
persuaded his father 10 move, aud the fan
lily iourneyed $50 miles westward and set
tied. Several years afterwArd " Cousin
Joe" made trip out there 10 see them. lie
found his uncle packing up for another
move. "Dave" had been making repu-
tation In the debating societies, but he
thought the country was settling up top
thick, and he wanted to go further west,
The Old man was willing, for the young
mans ambition had proven contagious to
the whole family. The composition cs
'possum hunting and the scnoolmaster's
advice took the Cubersons to Texas. Before
three years had passed the community
in which the family settled had recognized
"Dave's" ability, and had sent him to the
| legislature. The war came on. Young
Culberson enlisted as private in the con.
federate army. He came out Adjt. Geu.
CulbersoE. Fourteen years ago the Jeifer-
son district elected him to Congress, aud
has kept hip here ever since.
| When a district casts "a 900 votes for a
congressman who has no opposition it is a
pretty strong indication Of good feeling
on the part of constituents without regard
to party lines Mr.. Culberson is popular
with the Republicans OF his district as he is
with the Republicans in Congress. The
secret of this popularity is his fair-minled.
nets. He is not partisan.
| A SENATOR'S EARLY LESSON.
Senator Morgan, of Alabama, is another
statesman who owes much to a schoolmls.
ter. At least that Is what Parson Cook,
venerable resident Of ralladega, SAYS The
Senator began his practice of law in the old
town and while waiting for clients under.
took little educational reforn Parson
Cook was running school. Young Mr..
Morgan, after some inquiry, took it upon
himself to express severe criticisms upon
the parsons methods. OF course the full
report Of what the young lawyer said soon
reached the teachers ears. The parson re.
piled rather contemptuously that Morgan
was only boy and what he thought
amounted to nothing But while profess
sing indifference the parson prepared him :
self to resent the criticisms. He got good
stout stick, and at time when the streets
We're full of people he took chair on the
front porch OF the old Battle House and
sat down. Pretty soon the young lawyer
came along, suspecting nothing. Cook
waited until his critic was just passing him,
and then sprnging up he brought down the
stick with all his might on the lawyers
back.
"You have slandered me, John Morgan" !"
the parson shouted (whack); 81 am going
to chastise you (whack) III show you !
know how TO castigate bad boy (whack J
II don't know how TO teach school"
(whack).
at the first lick. With the terrible voice of
the schoolmaster ringing In his ears and
the stick coming down at the end OF every
sentence, the young lawyer thought he was
a child again, indeed. lie didn't stop to
argue the matter, but kept going-through
the hall OF the hotel, out into the yard, and
down the street, the schoolmaster close Ia
his rear, breathing out his threats and
makiDga cut at the young mans coat tails
whenever he thought ne was within reach.
II was great sensation for Talladega.
The schoolmastCr was the hero Of the day.
But he was magnanimous. When people
congratulated him on the vindication Of
his reputation as pedagogue he replel:
"JUhn Morgan Is very promising young
man, but 1t was necessary to chastise hIm
lie must leOrn to keep discreet tongue.
I've no doubt he'll be In the United States
Senate some time, and then he will thank
ne for this days lessOn.n
O.d Parson Cook still lives IN Tallalega,
and he fixes TO tell Of the timely thrashing
he gave the young lawyer "JOhn MOrg "a
owes much Of his success IN life TO that
litkipg,n he Gays, Mr., Morgan didn't re.
main IN TallRdrga very long after the
scene OF the Battle House. lie moved to
Selma, and there bis upward career began.
MI, RANsOM's DEBUT.
Mr. Ransom has been in the Senate sIcce
1879. He has so rarely taken the floor that
when he made q little speech the otner day
L l.-Ai Nm l.. L