The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-25

malaria from his Ohio home. but he never con-
suits the requirements of his stomach or his
blood. 1t is probably due to the fact that he
hasn't enough body to be very i'll that he is able
to go on as he does. plodding day after day at
his desk in the House of Representatives and
his other desk at the Riggs House.
He IS man of bad physical habits, or of no
physical habits whatever. He gets mp in the
morning at or half past o'clock and break
fasts lightly Then be goes up stairs 10 his
rooms at the Riggs House-the rooms In which
he has lived ever since he came to Washington.
There he works until il is time to 60 the Cap
itoL Sometimes he varies this by going to the
White House. or to one of the departments, on
business. Occasionally it is his business;
oftener it is some ones in whom he has par
ticular interest, for he is a kindly upon
whose good nature 8 large number of people are
accustomed To impose.
.'Since he has been Speaker he often attends
to the work of his office during the morning at
his private room. Twelve o'clock finds him in
the chair ready to open the House. I never
beard of any one who ever saw him in restaur-
ant lunching during the session OF the House.
Now that he is Speaker his luncheon is brought
to his private room. where he disposes of it in
three or four minutes. during which time he is
raided by inconsiderate members who have ia
vors & to ask and who are willing TO be:tow an
attack of indigestion upon the Speaker ii they
can only get promise of recognition that will
please boss in an inconsiderable village
wnen the House IS IN COMMITTEES or the
whole the Speaker hastenS again to his private
room and dictates letters to mis- private secreta-
ry. Sometimes a friend goes in TO see him. aud
then the speaker, VINO IS hospitable and social,
entertains him as he hurries through his
cumulated letters But there is little pleasure
in Mr. Carlisles life. It is hard. and grinding
existence of toll.
'Wheu the House is ready to rise the Speak
er goes home. He rides in his carriage from
the Capitol to the Riggs House. Just as he rode
from the Riggs House to the Capitol in the
morning. He was never known TO walk the
length of the avenue. A friend once induced
him to walk from the hotel on Fifteenth street
as far as Ninth stree: and back. 1t was great
triumph especially as the Speaker insisted for
a time in riding back in the horse-car.
when he reaches the hotel in the evening he
goes directly to dinner. This formalty lasts
scarcely more than twenty minutes, and then
he goes at once to his room. There he seats
himself at his desk and works until late in the
evening Day after Day and night after night
this programme has been followed. If he il in
vited out TO dinner he declines it il he can. If
there is a reception he shirks it, unless Mrs.
Carlisle insists on his accompanying her.
After several weeks of devotion to bad air
and his desk. during which time he has
taken no exercise, he is astonished to find that
his side troubles him, and that he is suffering
excruciating pain, while every one else Is won-
decing how he has stood the strain so long.
Bad and hot air and lack Of exercise make him
susceptible to cold. When ne went to Albany,
in 1885. on the invitation of President-elect
bed for three weeks. And now, after shutting
himself up in the Capitol for weeks, arranging
his committees, his weak body gives way, and
for q time his life is in danger. 1t is reported
that on the evening when he was attacked by
his present illness, he said, in answer to q ques
tion put by a sympathizing member: Yes
tired, very tired He is ALWAYS tired, al
ways in danger of tho surrender ef ! body for
which he has too little respect. and yaS he stands
the ills that come upon him as though he ap-
of neglecting body which the ordinary man
would nurse with the utmost care"