Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-10
MR.. MARTIN OF TEXAS.
He was Not Provided with Artillery
bat He had an Effective Substitute.

From the Chicago Herald
Ex-congressnaa Martin Of TEXAS happened
70 Be ct the Sherman house while Mr.. Cum
mings was ct the Leland, but nsithsr knew Of
the others presence in the city and perhaps II
was - well that they did not meet Mr.. Martin
came to Chicago ten days ago to look after some
Texas land cases in connection with the Taylor
Farwell syndicate.
II viii be remembered that Consrsssman
Martin II the member from Texas who Il was
falsely said blew out the gas at willard's in
1885 and came near being carried out corpse.
It was Amos Cummings who started that stsry
and Martin, while he pretended 70 laugh II OF,
never forgavs Amos. Nor did he subsequently
forgive him for the Sua's account Of Martins
maiden speech in the House.
IL was along in February. 1887, that Gum
mings, Bob Vance Of Connecticut and C'Neill
Of Missouri, all Of whom had been having, or
thought they had had, huge lot of fun with
Martin OF Texas, concluded to make the smende
by inviting the eccentric Texan to swell din
ner at . French cafe on F street. Il wss in
tended to be guy Of course, and a. .
starter the table was TO be decorated With vege-
table tops instead Of flowers, and notices Of
mock sentiment were to be hung on the walls
As another feature Of the feast each Of the en-
tertainers was to bring o toy cannon, charged
the guest he was to place the same beside his
plate and touch 1t of in grand feu de joie.
Then mock speeches were to be made, glorify-
ing Martin OF Texas, and the festivities were to
conclude by the waiter presenting the Texan
with bill for the whole feast.
kkl this was prettily conceived and was in
tended to be very funny. Martin of Texas is
not nearly SO green as he was thought to be.
He was given quiet tip as to the true meaning
OF the intended compliment So, when he ap-
peared at the feast his lapel wore radish top
for a boutonniere. His entertainers looked at
each other. Mr.. Martin praised the table
decorations and spoke feolingly of Texas fori-
culture and how superior it is to the coarse
methods of the north. Somehow, wherever
Vance and Cummings laid the foundation for
some fun Martin Of Texas wouldn't have the
fun. The dinner dragged a little. but finally
came the time for the toasts. The three en-
tertainers and two othera at the table pulled
their toy cannons and put them beside their
plates. Each lit cigarette. Martin gave q
funny little look at the cannon, and then with
a movement as quick as a fash went to his hip
and laid huge Colt revolver, loaded to the
muzzle, beside his plate. Vance and O'Neill
turned pale and red by turns. Cummings
murmured something, but Martin of Texas
cheerily remarked: "The waiter didn't give
me any artillery, and, of course, I've got to
JOIN In your salute. Touch 'em Off gentlemen"
and he swung the revolver square in Vance,
face
The cannon were not touched of. And then
the boys began to see that their huge joke on
Martin of Texas had proved fzzle, but Mar
tin OF Texas though enjoying their discom-
future, was disposed to be generous. He at
once led the conversation. He told funny
stories, discussed congressional measures with
rare intelligence, complimented the viands,
dealt out taffy to all three of the congressional
jokers, and finally, when the feast was over, in
vited the whole party to dinner at his expense
at Wormley's an invitation which was not &C.
cepted.
Amos Cummings never likes to hear much
about that dinner to Martin Of Texas, nor did
he ever write anything about it.
ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND-ExCURsIo TO
CII H. all 4. 4 a