The Washington critic., 1888-04-14
OLD MEN IN CONGRESS
Senators Who Are More Than Three
Score Years and Ten,
a ETorABLD GROUP
Six Members of the House In the
Same Category.

evening, ana Is the Oldest man In
Congress, where he has sat in one
House or the other thirty-thrce win
tiers. No other Member has been here
so long. AT the end of his present
term he will be 81 years Of age. lie
has already had u longer continuous
service than either Clay or Benton
had. Vermont will rc-elcct him
unanimously as long rs she is per
mittcd to do so.
Mr.. Morrill, started in life behind
the counter Of n country store. lie
has lived wholesomely and frugally,
lie looks no older than his colleague,
Senator Edmunds, who is his junior
by nearly 90 years. Mr. Morrill, says
that he seldom fails TO enjoy two
meals day, and ! recently saw him
jump on a moving horse-car grace
fully. lie is over six feet tall, but his
round shoulders make him look
shorter. lie dresses carefully and
well, and cultiyates his resemblance
to the late Charles Sumner. His
birthday parties are important events
in Washington.
HENRY Il. PAYNE OF ONO,
who does not know what the B. stands
for, is the next oldest Senator, being
only eight months younger than
Senator Morrill,. lie is, like Mr..
Morrill,, tall and thin.
His weight has not varied q pound
in twenty-five years. IIenever drinks,
and Stephen A. Douglas tempted him
to smoke the only cigar he ever
tasted. 1t was while they were riding
together during the Lincoln-Douglas
debates. Douglas and Payne read
law together in John G. Spencer's
office in Canandaigua, n. y. The
Little Giant went to Cleveland three
years before Mr.. Payne, who came
out to find his old mate sick He
nursed him through this illness, and
Douglas went to Illinois to become
first an auctioneer's clerk in Jackson
vile, and next the leader of the
Northern Democracy. In the Charles
town convention of 1860, Mr.. Payne,
true to his old friend, brought in q
minority report from the Committee
on Resolutions. 1t expressed Doug
lass views on slavery in the Terrific
ries, and the convention adopted
Payne's report; but it smashed the
Democratic party for few years.
This is Mr.. Payne's first term in the
Senate. His only Congressional SER
vice was rendered during q single
term in the House, when he sat on
the to Electoral Commission. He
is very deaf, but is otherwise in quite
good condition.
The next oldest man in the SEN
ate is
PHLETUs SAWYER OF WISCONSIN,
who will be 70 in September, but he
is as young in spirit as he was when,
ut 1S years Of age, he "bought his
time" and took charge of sawmill.
He is a sturdy old Vermonter, who
has been getting rich on Wisconsin
lumber for forty years. His passion
for smoking is so strong that often
when called from the cloak room to
some duty on the floor he keeps his
cigar burning by stolen puffs, con-
cealing il meanwhile under his hand.
The moment he is at liberty to retreat
| from the chamber the weed returns
to his lips. He works very hard, laughs
half Of the time, and worships his
colleague, Spooner, as q son. When.
ever Senator Spooner speaks the
| senior Senator from Wisconsin is
either keeping the orators water
glass filled or is listening with open
mouthed attention, crying over the
| pathetic passages, and moving il
sympathy with every phase of the
uttcrances of his fellow statesman.
HENRY LAURENs DAWES
of Massachusetts will be 70 in Octobe
and is the fourth Senator in age Mr.
Dawes does not cat half us much n
Uncle George IIoar; and although no
known as q teetotaller, he is neve
seen to smoke or drink at the Capitol
He is as fond of pretty faces in til,
gallery as young man OF %. He ha
been in political life steadily for fort,
years and in Congress thirty-one. ii,
will be nearly II at the expiration o
his present term. His health is quit,
promising.
ELI SALISBURY,
the long, lank STOPPING Senator iron
Delaware, is the fifth oldest Senator
and will be II in December. He i
the only bachelor in the Senate
where he has sat for seventeen years
He drinks and smokes freely, bu
with no appearance Of unwisdom.
WILLIAM MAXWELL EvARTs
has only lately reached the three
score-and-ten period, and is the sixtl
Senator in age. He looks to be tn,
Oldest in the chamber, and has age,
rapidly Of late. His voice has broker
good deal, and physical decay i
evident in many ways, But.his appe
tite is as good as ever, and while h
always looks hungry, he enjoys a bi
dinner every night, although h
rarely eats an ounce ut breakfast. III
likes good old wine, and knows it al
most at sight. When he sits down h
twines his bony legs around eacl
other. His mouth is deeply sunker
He was Bostonian in the beginning
but has been member of the NeN
York bar forty-seven years, durin
which time he has taken part in man
of the most celebrated cases Of hi
time, not least noteworthy anon
them being the Beecher-Tlton trial
the Johnson impeachment and tn
Tilden count-out. He has belonge
to two Cabinets, but is now servin
his first term as legislator,
WADE HAMPTON
became 20 only few days ago, and
the seventh and last Senator to re
ceive his scriptural allotment, a
though John IL. Reagan of Texas wi
cross the line before the current yea
ends. No Senator has led a more a,
tive life than General Hampton, tn
gallant cavalryman of the South. III
IL. ..s.,t ,.aovg - thn pallIa M