Wichita eagle., 1890-02-25
THREE GOOD STORIES.
Amos Cunnani1gs Relates Some Washing
fou;an Jokes.

fouian Jokes.
Amos Cummings not long ago resold in
The New York Sun q nun1ber of good stories
which he had heard in the congressional chcak
rooms at Washington Among them were
the following:
Mr.. Wilson and Clifton B. Breckinridge,
son of John C. Breckinridge, once vice presi-
dent of the United States, are Of less than
medium stature Wilson is little thinner
than Mr. Breckinridge, but at q distance they
look somewhat alike. In the late campaign
the Crescent club of Baltimore held a public
meeting every Friday night. Mr.. Breckin-
ridge made an address at one Of these Friday
night meetings and Mr. Wilson followed him
q week later. One Of Wilson's personal
friends stood near the door while the West
Virginian was speaking. Two well dressed
young men stepped inside and began to listen
to him. They regarded him with open as
tonishment. Finally one said to the other.
why, it's the same little ccss who was
talking a week ago. He hasn't got through
yet. Let's get out"
Mr. Wilson had hardly concluded his tale
before another Congressman related a good
story which William C. P. Breckinridge, a
cousin of Clifton R., tells at his own expense
Last year Breckinriige was Invited to ad-
dress an educational convention at GiraTd,
Pa OF course he did his best, and mis- listen
eis were delighted. The next morning, when
he went to the depot to take the train, half
the town accompanied him. Leading citizens
complimented him upon bis grafton One
said that he should never be contented till ha
heard Mr.. Breckenridge speak on political is
sues. He expressed a hope that st some fu-
i L u tI,o
them with political speech. The silver
haired Congressman thanked him, and casu-
ally remarked that he was not particularly
well up on educational matters, and thought
he could make much better speech on polit-
ical subjects.
At this an Irishman. who stood near by,
broke in on the conversation, saying:
''Well, I heard yez yesterday, Misther
breckenridge, and upon me sowl think you
can"
One good story leads to another. One was
drawn out of an encounter between Thomas
P. Ochiltree and Senator Wolcott in a south
ern hotel Ochiltree had been fervently de-
scanting upon the attractions of Texas. The
senator was much interested. Turning to Col.
Ochiltree he said
Il believe that the Ochiltrees are one of
the oldest families in Texas"
Eyes, SIR" said the colonel, with much
pride, ''they are. Ny Mygreat-grandfather WAS
killed in the massacre at Goliad. He pre-
empted the ancestral ranch when Texas was
q fief of Mexico He took part in the long
struggle for Texan independence, and his
name stands high on the scroll of fame. l
thought great deal Of the ranch, but my
service in the Confederacy left me penniless
at the end of the war, and ! was compelled
to sell it. 1t was bitter pill to swallow, but
pride has to give way under the
stress of pecuniary circumstances.
'Did you sell the ranchl" the senator asked
eyes, SIR" tine colonel replied, Il sold it,
and worse than all, was compelled to sell it
to an Englishman, sir"
Glow much did you get for itg' the senator
Seventeen thousand dollars, sir" answered
,he colonel. G.
''Did you set the money!
eyes, sir" was the reply; seventeen thou
'and dollars in gold, sir-gold and Bank of
England notes, sir.p
The senator rubbed his chin and looked at
he colonel for a minute or more, and then
slowly asked:
''Did the Englishnan find the rancho