Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1888-08-02

Speaker Carlisle chews gum. He keeps q
little package of tutti-frutti on his desk
when he is presiding over the House. For
number of years he has been an inveterate
tobacco chewer. The chewing of this weed
to such an extent involves an amount of
expectOration that might be inconvenient to
the pages and officers of the House who sit
around below him. For this reason Mr..
Carlisle refrains from the use of tobacco
while occupying the chair. He has got to
be almost as inveterate a chewer Of deli
cately Favored elastic paste.
Gum chewing and chewing of caramels is
becoming almost as common among states
men as with school girls and debutantes
in Washington society.
On one side ofthe main door ofthe House,
in the corridor, is little stand where news
papers, cigars, tobacco, gum, and candy are
sold in small quantities. At any moment
during the session from one TO half dozen
members may be seen about this stand stuff
ing little packages in their coat-tail pockets.
l asked the yender to-day what it was
members bought so much Of. He said
mostly gum and caramels. Members
neither smoke nor chew tobacco rs much as
formerly Mr.. Kelley and Mr.. Buchanan
are largely responsible for this tobacco
reform. BY constant and open protest
Mr.. Kelley has made it very embarrassing
for fellow-member to undertake the task Of
vitiatiDg the atmosphere of the House with
tobacco smoke; and Mr. Buchanan checked
by formal resolution, which was afterwards
considered and reported on by committee,
the habit, once very common, Of splitting in
the air ducts that open up through the floor.
Comparatively few cigars are now sold to
members at the capitol stands, and many
members have abandoned the habit Of chew
ing tobacco. The vender told me that he
used to sell more tobacco than anything else.
Now thardly pays to keep it on hand. In
stead Of it he sells about one hundred and
fifty sticks OF gum and ten pounds Of cara
amels to the members of the House each
day. Tom Reed, the republican leader,
chews gum-when he is not chewing at the
ear of the democratic party. He sits and
works his jaw upon this elastic cushion while
listening to Mr.. Mills or Mr. Breckinridge.
When he gets up to reply he stufs the gum
in the back part of his jaw with his tongue,
and draws gall from its sweetened flavor
Mr.. Springer has broken himself of the
habit of talking all the time by keeping
chunk Of gum in his mouth. An effort is
being made, in a reformatory way, 10 induce
Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Taulbee TO chew gum.
1t has worked upon others besides Mr.
Springer. Mr. Cox is said to chew little
now, but his silence is always regretted.
Mr. Johnson, of Indiana, soothes his nerves
by the use of tutti-frutti. He has had only
about three attacks of nervous excitement
over the bloody shirt since he contracted the
gum. chewing habit. Mr.. Bliss is said to have
contracted this habit from constant associa-
ton with the young ladies Of Washington.
He chews about as much as any man in the
House. Senator Hoar chews gum, and
occasionally reads a light romance. Next
to Mr.. Reed and Mr.. Bliss, Tarsney, Of
Michigan, is the greatest gum-chewer in the
House