Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-06-13
"Bev.' Tucker.

"Bev." Tucker, Special Envoy Exlraor-
binary" to the Republic OF Hayti for two
hours the other night, is one OF The chsrac.
ters of Washiogtou He is he o,! Virginia
gentleman To the iife-a relic II ante belum
days miraculously preserved iatsc. for our
edifcation and delight For be is very
edifying and delightful old gentleman, al
most as charming rs his brother, John Ran.
doph Tucker, aud don't wonder that Sec
retary Blaine is fond of him, especially as be
is fond OF Secretary Blaine, and always has
been. This Is the whole secret of bis ap.
pointment Blaine liked him because he
has always liked Blaine and has lost no op-
portunity of showing his liking, and Blaine,
knowing that Tucker ia not overburdened
with the wealth of this world, and also that
he Graves some of its honors, thought to
help him both to fame and money by send
ing him to Hayti. 1t is not the first good
turn that Blaine has done Tucker. If re.
member Alright it was he who proposed to
President Garfield that Tucker should be
sent as a member of the Board of Visitors to
the Naval Academy at Annapolis propo
sition which pleased Garfield because of
his close friendship with John Randolph
Tucker.
"Bev" Tucker (no one in Washington calls
him Beverly was as to Blaine, as to most
men, simply an agreeable companion,
writer of ability, man OF elegant tastes and
habits, as far as his purse would let bis taste
carry him, possessing mastery Of French
among his other mplishments, which
would be very useful in Hayti. So Blaine
recommended his appointment to the Presi-
dent without fear, and was astounded
when he discovered the next day that the
President, after having made the appoint.
ment as he had suggested, had in two hours
withdrawn it. When the President told him
the reason, based on the charges made
against Tucker, Blaine was even more as
founded and angry. One of the charges l
must think Blaine had not heard before;
namely, that growing out of the unsettled
condition of fuckers accounts as Consul to
Liverpool under President Buchanan's ap-
pointment TO the effect that the balance
against him stood S121 900. This had as
much weight with the President as the war
charges and could not be waved away as
easily a. the accusation that Tucker was an
assassin or yellow fever fend. Blaine
promptly sent 10 Tucker for copy of the
denial CT The war charges published by
Tucker just after the war. but he could
nos got so ready an explanation of
these unsettled accounts. Nevertheless
kuowiGc hat in spite Of all charges and
seeming proofs Tucker was "sll right" and
blinking that the President ought to have
taken bis word for it, Blaine was undoubt-
edly offended. But, then, 80 was Harrison
annoyed at being placed in such an awk-
ward predicament. 1t was quite certain
from the beginning that fuckers with
drawn appointment would never appear
again. It was but another striking illus.
tration of the slip that SO often comes 'twixt
the cup and the lip. Everybody, / think,
is sorry for Tucker. Poor old Bev" has
been the common expression. For a day
or two before the appointments were an
nounced "Bev" was known to be unusually
cbipper and mysterious. He was limiting
remotely at some interesting announce
ments which might be expected in day or
two, and at the same time intimatiDg that
he was about to 90 abroad for his health
and inquiring as to the climate of-South
America.
Somebody whom he asked told him that
white flannel was the thing to wear down
that way about this time of year. So"Bev"
went of and ordered two full suits of white
flannel among the other little preparations
which be made. Then came the an.
nouncement and the congratulations OF
his friends extended In his favorite
champagne at Chamberln's, and then
in a couple of hours the chilling dis
appointment. No wonder "Bev" was, as
one of his friends put it, "all broken up,"
or that he has not recovered yet. 1t was q
severe shock for man of his years and
temperament, for "Bev" must be in the
neighborhood OF 70. and is of very sensi.
tive disposition. He is tall, broad should
cred, English-looking old fellow, with scan.
ty white hair, white mustache and side
whlskers and red face. He is heavy, and
walks with all his weight and with gouty
limp ss well. He does not like to work,
but he does like to eat good dinners, drink
good wines, smoke good cigars and tell good
stories, and there is no greater gourmet or
racounteur In Washington than old "BeV"
except his brother, John Randolph. He has
no Government Office, be has no private
fortune and no very great private income,
yet he has hest of friends, and might be q
continual guest if he would. He ia not the
man for Government office, but he is just
the man for a civil pension list, if we had
one, for those who keep the world smiling
and laughing. 1t is the very irony of fate
that, after having lived through democrat.
ic administration which would not give him
an Office, and then getting his tapering fin.
gers fairly on one rendered by republican
administration, it should be snatched away
apparently because he was active in the
Confederate councils when it is well known
that. having been an opponent of secession,
he never had the confidence Of the Confed-
crate rulers, from Jefferson Davis down
Mcfarland in Philadelphia Record.
BuckIen's Arnica SaIve.
prer sA1yE in the world for Cuts. Bruises