National Republican., 1888-05-20


staturcis below the medium height. His
head reminds one of the late Stephen A.
Douglas. 1t is equally as large and well
proportional, and the hair Is worn long as
was the custom with the "Little Giant in
his lifetime. Mr.. Moson's voice is power.
| ful and his gestures singularly appropriate.
| The tariff has been so much discussed that
| members are rather sick Of the subject, but
| Mr.. Mason's speech was so original, able,
| and humorous that he commanded the at.
| tcntion of both sides of the House. 1t is
not often that new member wins such
| reputation as O dcbater i'm his first session,
and the friends of Mr.. Mason and his i'm
mediate constituents have just cause to be
proud and to anticipate for him very bril-
| liant future.
Perhaps the most methodcal worker in
the Cabinet is Secretary Whitney. If one
were to judge Of Mr.. Whitney's habits from
the frequency with which his name appears
In the recital Of the various receptions aud
dinners that are given, It might be supposed
that he gave pretty much all of his time up
to social obligations. But such is by no
means the case. Mr.. Whitney is system
attic man, and he dsposes of the innumera-
bic matters which are constantly presented
to him with the ease and patience Of a
trained lawyer and an experienced business
man. Always courteous, an interview can
he secured with Mr. Whitney up to 12
o'clock any day. 1t is amusing to see how
rapidly and politely he gets rid of those
| who have no real claim upon his time. 1t
shows that his social knowledge is not with
out It's benefit. The Secretary has one de-
cided "penchant," and that is his love for
horseback riding. The weather Is rarely too
inclement to prevent him from indulging in
his favorite exercise. lie is partial to gray
horses, and all OF his horses (and he has five
saddle ones at the Riding Academy are of
| famous pedigree and are excellent trotters.
| II was upon one of his rides that Mr.. Whit
ney saw "Grasslands," and determined to
| purchase It, 1t was mainly through his
| eXertions that the Riding Academy was
started and the love of riding revived. For
this, If for nothing else, the people of
| Washington owe debt OF gratitude to the
handsome and aifabe Secretary of the
Navy.
1t is wcll-known fact that Justice Miller,
| Of the Supreme Court was q doctor before
| he became lawyer 1t is not, perhaps, as
well known that the Hon. L. Z. Atkinson,
of Pennsylvania, was q doctor, serving
through the war Of the rebellion as such,
before he adopted the profession of the law.
Justice Miller became lawyer because he
thought more prosperous career awaited
him than II he adhered to medicine, and his
views have been fully sustained by the emf
! nence which he has attained at the bar and
on the bench. In the case of DIR. Atkinson,
as he is still called, he became follower of
blackstone" on account Of physical in
| frmites contracted from exposure during
| the war, and which rendered the practice of
medicine an impossibllity. DIR. Atkinson is
| recognized as one Of the foremost lawyers In
| his state, and is serving his district in Con-
| grcss for the third time--a very unusual cir
cumstance in Pennsylvania. At this session
| OF Congress Speaker Carlisle placed DIR.
Atkinson upon the committee on the Dis
| trict Of Columbia. He has shown himself
| most faithful and able advocate Of our in
terests, and has manifested a liberal policy
| wherever the District was concerned. II is
| gratifying TO the friends Of the doctor to
| hear that his denomination (which means re-
| election) is assured. The eighteenth Penn
sylvania district could not have more
----h'- - i-h'----H \ M----~...-.i.'~-
There can almost any day be seen on
Pennsylvania avenue, walking slowly along,
a gentleman Of very striking appearance.
He must be over 20 years of age, but he
carries himself erect, and his $50 pounds
OF avoirdupois does not seem to worry him
In the least. His mustache and whiskers,
worn "a la Burnside" are snow white, and
his hair, what he has of it, is of the same
color, His face is ruddy, and there is ap-
parently in store for him many more years
of happiness and usefulness. The gentle
man to whom this reference is made is the
noted "bon vivant," Beverly Tucker, of Vir-
ginia, brother of the Hon. John Randolph
Tucker. "Bev Tucker" as he is generally
called, has probable eaten more good din.
ners and more thoroughly enjoyed excellent
wine than any other man in Washington
The late "uncle Sam Ward,n the acknowl-
edged authority upon all that apper'
tanned to the delights of the table,
was wont to say that Mr. Tucker was one of
the few men that he had known who not
only knew how to appreciate, but how -
COOK a ilrst-class dinner. As far back as
1857 Mr.. Tucker was consul to L;' 'erpool
under Mr.. Buchanan, am, ID to proptiate
the stomachs Of - English guests with old
Virpir', :.....is and Bourbon whisky. He is
low quietly spending his winters in Wash
lngton and his summers at the Berkeley
Springs, respected by all who know him,
ana charming those who converse with him
by his graphic "reminiscences of the past
"w@
As President Cleveland is rapidly remoy-
ing all of the old District officials and filling
their places with those who affiliate with the
Democratic party, 1t may not be out of
place to relate here pretty fair story con-
nected with Virginia politician who sought
District Office under President Tyler The
story has the merit Of at least being true.
The Nirginian was named Col. Jack Dade.
lie had been close friend of Mr.. Tyler's
when he was governor of Virginia, and
when, on the death of Gen. Harrison, Mr..
Tyler succeeded to the presidency, Col. Dade
came to Washington I'm the new role, to him,
OF an Office seeker He worried Mr.. TYLER
almost to death, and at last, to get rid Of
him, he was appointed superintendent Of the
penitentiary, which was located where the
arsenal now stands. To the astonishment |
OF his friends, who knew his easy, convlvial
nature, Col. Dade accepted the position, |
The morning after he took possession of the |
penitentiary Col Dade had all the convlcts
ranged before him, and, mounting n chair, |
he made this remarkable speech:
GESTLENES; am Col Jack Dade, of yir.
gina; have been appointed superintendent
OF this penitentiary by my friend, John TYLER
President Of these United States. am gen,
tleman, and have been accustomed all nv
ne TO associate with gentlemen. | intend TO
treat you as such, and II any OF you do NOT
hare. '''"' ''' "
1t simposslble to depict the CONSERVATION
produced among the prisoners by such
speech, but II is not of record that any of
Them had the temerlty to incur the threat
ened penalty. The colonel remained in
charge OF the institution for several wears.
dispensing hospitality that made the place
favored resort for many prominent people
IN both private and official life.