Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1888-07-19

4 NAetus with the Circus.
wash gton July. a5.
Walking around the northeastern
orner Of Capito Park one afteinooH, I
lcountcred same young full-grcwn fell
VS. pitching ball. Their hats were of.
ID they entered into the exercise with
| uch fervor. One Of them hailed ms
I'd pitched the tough sphere in my di-
ction. A strong, hroad-shouldered man
| was SIX feet tall and gracefully ana
mpactly built. il was "a United States
nntor-John Il. kenna, of West Var
! MIA lie has q clean-shayen face, blue
Is. shock OF chestnut hair, iaclle
inguc, pleasant friendly EXPRESSION
ia IN his manners real eordlallty and
nhomie. And he played ball with .
| lish.
III the morning had heard him make
Z earnest and vehement speech IN tho
naic in defence Of the President ana
policy Of reducing the surplus,-a
! eech that stirred the Democrats TO en-
Aisiasm and moved even the Republic
rs 70 respectful admiration.
lie Is pointed out to-day as tho
hascst member Of the Senate though
hns been in Congress- eleven years,
III Ia 1877 attracted attention as the
nngest member Of the House.
ills personal history has been very OK
ationm and eventful, and almost he
IN the obst les which he has en-
untetcd aud overr ONE
His father, an lrlshmHn who came 10
Ns country IN childhood, died at 30,
aVlHg wite ANA three children. of
loin tile eldest, John t.. was eight
dis old lie was. "a tough, rugged,
working boy, aud lac had need to
lie ohla ned little schooling Tor ne
ld no time At eleven he Flowed q
irle d. Miss n with four woke az
eis. and soWc IL 10 Wilcaf H. spent
ae Mntee as q c0Ul-minee and wo lSad
ieessaMly through his youth, lie p :
'na, melnWhl q, an cNpeit tnmstce
- woodman- aud the best young rifle
lh The uni eN
Though but thirteen when the war be-
fl he enlisted III the Confederate Amy
~. inlght TO the end Of th war re-
iNlng several wounds and being once
wen IN by the surgeons 70 die OF fe-
er After that, he got an education by
Ne hardest knocks hauling stone IN va
toms to ray I, his SCHOOLING
IN $40 he was admitted % the bar at
harleston. w. Va, and rose so rapidly
iat IN 1875 h WIS elected County
gaee The 1t year. at the age of
q he ran for CONGRESS. and stumped
ae District aga So two Democrat op-
ehents. Tho conservatives Of the Stats
efe alarmed, and twenty-eight Of the
Adlng lawyers and business mon of MS
county camf cut in q catd AGAINST
70 "a the 81 und that lie was too
ahnH' kenna appealed to the poo le
itcet. have ne word OF unl.nd-
IL. SAD ne, 40 meeting Whcra his
elites were pres Mt. for pny 81 the q
lstingusled men; hut yen will pardon
e when ! say That il | could exchange
If S. with any one II thCm-if ! could
H4di q maturcd succa ssfni. established
iAn and loolS upon q Boy left H. orphan-
ge 40 eight yeaIs-lf 4 could watch tile
fngress Of his childhood. see tho oa-
ifuttoHs cOnfrO GnI {, and witness his
itugglcs. his hn dships. his labsrs and
W. prayers Z could Sec him marrh-
Ag on through diversity until kinder
tNrs seemed to shine upon M and he
WINS about TO attain through trial ana
YleiSsltude a position Of honor to him
salt ami q useful ess % his fellow mon.
-beloFe woul sign a paper whose
anlN effect Woulf be 10 break down and
'nin that young man, / would be car-
lltd To one cf yeur lonely hillsides and
aid 90 rest forever
The pathetic appeal struck home.
Dung kenna was elected. Ills vOuth.
puck and ability united TO splendid
health, phenomenal strength, q clear and
resonant voice, tact and courtesy, and
l'osllNeness Of purpose. gave him influ-
cnce from the first He was elected to
congress for eight successive wears hut
q the BEGINNING Of the last term was
,.hosen I'm 1889 to be United States
Senator
While in the House he rafusod 70
-hev the instructions Of the Legislature
~ West Virginia TO vote Cor TIC Pacific
4 i subsidy md the Legs atura re-
considered and reversed its Instructions
Congressman Kcnna had q very funny
experience durini the campaign TO r.
move the CAM I from Wheelinr "a
charleston. A # end Of his has record