The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-08-09


as his patron saint. Fred was born il
Switzerland, but in the seven years o
his residence in America all traces O
his mother tongue have been obliter
ated from his English speech. He i.
we'll aware that it would take an amend
ment of the constitution to make him
eligible to the Presidency, but he very
contentedly asserts that there is moth
ing to hinder him from becoming a Sen
ator, and so far as his observation goes
a Senator is more to be envied than @
President, for all Senator has to do is
to "spat his hands and the pages do
all the work for him" Fred answers to
the name OF Swipes and says he is sure
it will never offend his dignity, not
even when he becomes a Senator, to be
known by that pseudonym.
In the bestowal of nicknames the
pages seem to delight in contrariety.
For example, Mckee Cochrane, who is
of an extreme blonde type, is called
Ethiope, and Albert Mackey, whose ex-
| ceeding generosity has made him the
| favorite of the group, is called Shylock.
| Events in the careers of the boys also de-
| termine their nicknames as in the case
of Logan Harris, n handsome little fell
low with bright, twinkling eyes, who is
| called Pie because when he was being
initiated to the secrets of page etiquette
he was informed, and he believed, that
it was his conventional duty to buy
round of pie at the Senate restaurant
for all of the other pages. He bought,
along with this experience, the name
" mr. Mt NJ
he quits the atmosphere of the Senate.
To interview a Senator who has
nothing to say has been adjudged by
newspaper men pretty difficult thing
to do. But compared with interviewing
fourteen Senate pages who have every
thing to say and are eager to say it all
at once it is as easy as rolling off the
traditional log. ! met the boys alto
gether few moments before the Sem
ate was called to order. When they
learned that j wanted their opinions
concerning Senators they began to push
and crowd and chatter all at once. The
atmosphere was full of opinions. Had
been fourteen stenographers with a
full complement of ears could not have
heard and preserved all that they told
and faster than all the rest and each
tuggcd at some portion of my apparel
to attract my attention to what he had
to say. The frankness of these boys,
their willingness to declare an honest
eagerness to talk for publication" set
the unaffected little fellows far above
some men of note whom have known
men who, while manifestly no less
eager, surround themselves with sham
barriers and sit behind them sorely dis
appointed If the interviewer does not
see the sham and knock the barriers
down-pantalooned Poloniuses who can
not play upon the pipe, yet seek to play
upon the journalist.
Out of the clamor ! managed to snatch
a few facts-hrst, the gen eral fact that
good feeling prevails be tween the Sen
ators and their pages, and then some
specifications as to individuals. Sena-
tor Stanford was unanimo usly declared
to be an able statesman and great man
because each year he gives them all an
entertainment at his house, where he
distributes presents, and then because
he gives bright crisp S5 bill to each
page every year. But as the chatter !
went on this was found to be a compli-
mentary ballot. Senators Manderson,
Vance, Reagan, German and Davis
seemed really to be the m ost general
favorites of the boys, and Senators
Ransom, Dixon, Moody. Butler and
Manderson were declared to be the |
handsomest men in the Senate. They |
give also 10 Senator Butler the credit of |
being the most polite and elegant gen.
tleman in the chamber. Senator Cor
man is liked because he once was page
himself and has not forgotten it.
'He Is always good natured," said one
of the little fellows, land often tells us
stories about what he used to do when
he was page. guess he was ripper
too" This last remark was intended
to be sort of cap for climax of com
pliment
Senator Vest is not generally favor
ite with the boys. Indeed, the young
sters passed unmistakable censure upon
the very vigorous language he some
times uses toward them, and they as
sert openly that they would rather be
doing something else when he snaps
his fingers for a page. One Of tho boys,
however, thinks Senator Vest Is pret-
ty good sort OF man. Mckee Coch-
rane was ono day rushing at breakneck
speed to do the bidding of some other
Senator, when, darting out Of the cham
Der, he pumped squarely into Senator
Vest and knocked breath enough out of
lim to make raw material for half doz-
IN Fourth Of July orations. The Sena-
,Or saved lust enough to supply the sur ! .
ambience with a deep blue
int and an odor of sulphur. TIE boy.
Who though, his hour had come 'for
urcly" thi, time. skunk back under :
,aptain Bassctt's protecting arm and
rcmblingly awaited TO hear his doom
Instead OF declaring war,