Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-23
BIG FOUR STORIES.
THE GREATEST is JOHN ALLEN OF MIs'
sIssIPPI.
The Others are Taiilaw Of New York, Tart-
= ney Of Michigan, aud Mason
OF Illinois.
Correspondence Of tho Richmond Dispsieh.l


WASHINGTON. December %, 1883.
There are four story telling suns IN
the House Of Representatives,. Around
them revolve q score or more OF planets.
The suns give out light OF their own.
II penetrates 10 every nook and Granny
OF the House and makes them welcome
in every clo8k- ard committee-rOOm he
planets reflect the light OF the suns and
tone II dowu when too garish. The ce-
lestial bodies in the world OF reminis-
cence are equally divided between the
Republicans and Democrats. John Al
len, Of Mississippi, and Timothy F..
Tarsney, OF Michigan. are TepreseDta-
tive LOco-FOcO narrstOrs. aud William
T.. Mason, Of Illinois and William o..
Ilaillew. OF New York. fiji the bill on the
Republican side. The most brilliant OF the
suns Is the MississippisD. The light OF
his humor IS as clear and sparkling "a
the hight OF an old-mine diamond. HIS
stories bear the stamp Of genuine orig
nality They are drawn from tie pages
Of his personal experience, and are I'M
matched in Congress Laidlaw IS fully
~ quaint and entertaining when con-
fning himsclfto his recOllcctiopsOf Cbau-
tauQua county. Outside OF tnat bound
airy, however. his stories are usually
reset gems. The setting is always more
brilliant than the jewel Mason's tales
remind you Of Florida beans swinging
from watch-chain. Unknown persons
gather them from the sands OF time, and
the Chicago Congressman polishes them.
1arsney's "reminiscences have Celtic
flavor They recall scenes from Harri-
gans plays You can almost hear the
fddles ia Dave Braham's orchestra while
he rccites them. The planets arc OF all
magnitudes, from ponderous Jupiter
down to the asteroids.
THU BEST STORIES.
The best Of stories are usually gene
rated in the heat Of election contests.
The late presidential fight was undoubt-
edlv as fruitful as ever. but little OF the
fruit has been brought back to the
House. Much Of that little IS bruised
and specked. The remainder, however,
Is sound and Of an exquisite flavor.
When the House debates are long and
unintorcstlng, and when there arc tedi-
Gus r0li-cols. the story-tel,er is IN his
element lie either finds 4 soiH in the
rear of the ball or he occupies "A chair
near glowing CRATE in a cloak room.
lis audience If prOpOrtioued 70 his mel
lowness. IL night mellow the Teminls
ccnccs are rare and racy. The laughter
of the b9standcrs frequently interests
the rnilcri,s. At times the speaker j.
annoyed. 4 sharp rap OF the gayel may
scatter the crowd If not q word OF
warning IS heard.
At the opening OF the present session
the Republicans We're exceedingly lubl-
lint. rheir presidential success bad
been capped Ivy reported majority IN
the next Congress. zach member told
how 1t was done. Many claimed that The
speeches OF tho "Rebcl Prigaders had
increased their pluralitles. James ;.
Sherman. Of Oneida county. y. Y, said
that John Allen had secured him a thou
sand votes. John had turned up IL
Utica aboard Of ou Erie canal-boat and
evcrytod V mad turned out 70 hear the
Confederate brigadIcr When ques-
toned concerning the result, John re-
piled II reckon not. The boys were
with me. / captured them at once.
told them. Of course, that had served
through the war, but lot rs a Coincide
rate lriCadicr. was only a little mite
in the army-a no-account rebel pri-
waite and, said ], If you Yankees
really knew bow very little harm / did
to the Union army ! am sure there is not
one among you who would not gladly
forgive me. This brought down the
house aud stopped the brigadier cry in
Utica.
TAyO8ITE SEAT.