The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-08-14

SPEAKER REED ON THE TENNIS GROUND.
quarter, there on the large lawn was the
speaker of the house, clad in his now
famous summer suit and broad silk sash,
with racquet in his hand and his eye
on the little ball. In the opposite court
was one Of Mr.. Hits young sons, an ac-
complished tennis player. 1t was after
ward explained to me that Mr.. Reed had
not really been playing tennis, but that
in moment of pranlzisnness he had left
the veranda at the challenge of one of
the boys and taken momentary part
in the game. He was very awkward
but very jolly looking tennis player,
Mr.. Reed.
And this reminds me that the speaker of
the house, who is known throughout the
country as the man of iron will and Ma
poleonic leadership, is after all good
deal of boy He is fond of games, such
us whist and tennis, and is in himself
one of the most humorous and jovial of
companions. He is an exceedingly witty
man, and every day some one or other Of
his bright sayings is passed around in
the Capitol as "Tom's" latest joke-his
friends always speak of him but never
to him as "Tom." For one am glad to
know that a man may be great and
powerful-be hated and feared-without
being a hard sort of man. Mr.. Reed
fairly bubbles over with fun at times.
If anything humorous occurs while he is
in the chair he makes no effort to repress
his laughter. On the contrary, he shakes
his fat sides in such hearty enjoyment
of the incident that others, looking on,
catch the spirit of the moment and join
in. Mr.. Reed is like big boy, further
more, in that he has not forgotten the
art of blushing. have seen him blush
I like freshman when some speaker on
the floor mentioned him or his course as
presiding officer.
Moreover, the speaker of the house is
not an unpopular man personally. He
may often be seen of late over on the
Democratic side when the house is in
committee of the whole and another is
occupying the chair, talking and laugh
ing right JOLLY with the very Demo-
Gratis who few months ago were shak-
ing their fists at him and denouncing
him as tyrant and despot. Not many
days ago, before Mr.. Springer, Of Hi
nois, the Democratic war horse, fell sick
from overwork and retired to the sea-
shore saw the speaker and that prince
of fighters slipping lemonade together
Il In l,o hoc olH yyc
been supposed that Reed and Springer
were deadly enemies. Recently the
speakers amiability has been most
marked. He had not been able to reach
his present eminent position as the lead
er of his party in congress-for he is a
leader both in the house and senate
without walking rather roughly upon
the toes of good many mon, and not
all of them were Democrats, either.
So his geniality of the present may be
ascribed to desire on his part to soften
some of the acerbities of political war
fare, and to convince the men who were
hating him that he is not so bad after
I'LL. There may be more of ambition
han of goodness in all this. but rs saw
the big speaker awkwardly turning ten
MS racquet amid the undisSuised amuse-
:nent OF the young folks the involuntary
thought was that he is likable man.
)ne must il inire any man who has his
way Hbout tha affairs of life in which he
IS engaged, u necessary by running over
every onc who stands in his way, and
who, at the same time, laughs and grows
TAT.
Mr.. Reed is fond of sitting on the
veranda of MIR. Hits house, and this is
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