The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-09
CONGRESSIONAL STORIES
TEE RARE YARNS HEARD AROUND
TIE CLOAK ROOM FIRE.

ries by Various Congressmen-How
Tom Ochiltrse Sold His Ranch-The
Man Who Bribed Robert Elsmer
a Passage at Arms with Dramatic
Climax.
From The Nelc York Sun.
! WASHINGTON, Feb. There are times
in the House when debats becomes weari-
some. There is a sameness in the argu-
ments, and monOtony IL the quoted sta
tisucs that dulls the ear. Even the brig I
est representative becomes fatigued and
seeks relief in the cloak rooms. There are
two of these, one in the rear of the repub-
lican seats and the other behind the chairs
occupied by the democrats. These rooms
are long and narrow, and plainly fur
nished. They contain marble wash-stauds
and silver-plated ice coolers. At the
end of each room there is sort of clothes
horse surmountei with pins, upon VIII oh
the members hang their hats, coats, and
umbrellas. Three are three sofas in each
room. The apartments are plainly car
peted, ana bright with electric lights, for
| there are no windows to admit daylight.
| In corner of each room there is a small
fireplace. Cane-bottomed chairs are there
ana TWO or three lfas near by.
1t is at these fire ides that the story
tellers gather. Fothing refreshes a man
wearied with de- ate more than to hear a
good story. The liste ers ruff fragrant
| cigars and laugh immediately. The hum
of business in the chamber of the House can
be heard, and at times the droning accents
of the clerk as he reals some sub ,titute or
| amendment to u, nding pr position. The
listener feels like one who dozes in a warm
| 10 fha 20
ring with ut.
The other afternoon, during the debate on
the Oklahoma bill, which had become tire
some, | sat down In the Democratic cloak
room. The live Goals in the little CRATE, de-
spite the brightness IF the electric lights,
cast cheerful gov upon the polished
| hearth. A group of souther ers were there
telling stories. Among them was repub j.
can who had wandered over from his own
side of the House and had been drawn to
the Fl -eside by some occult magnetism.
The stories we're all good. They were po-
| litlcal, personal, and moral. One was told
by the Hon. William L. Wilson of West
Virginia. 1t was concerning his experience
at democratic meeting in Baltimore Mr..
Wilson and Clifton r. Breckenridge, son of
John c. Breckidridge, once Vice President
of the United States, are of less tina me-
dum stature. Wilson is little thinner than
| Mr.. Breckin idge, but at a DIS ance they
look somewhat alike. In the late Cleve-
| land campaign the Crescent Club of Balil-
more held public Getting every Friday
night Mr. Brecknridge made an address
at one OF tn SO Friday night meetings, and
Mr. Wilson followed MIN week later. One
OF Wilson's pers nal friends sto d near the
door while the West Virginian was speak
ing. Two well-dressed young me stepped
inside. and began to listen to him. They
egarde1 him with open astoaishment
Finally, one said to the o5ner:
"WhY, it's the same little cuss who
was talking a week ago. He hasn't got
through yet. Let's go out and get a
drink"
Mr.. Wilson had hardly concluded his tale
before another congressman related a good
story which William c. p. Breckenridge,
cousin of Clifton R., tells at his own ex-
pense. Last year eckinridge was invited
TO address an educational convention at
Girard, Pa. OF course he did his best, and
his listeners were delighted. Tne next
morning, when he went to the depot to take
the train, half the town acco npanied him.
Leading citizens complimented him upon
his grafton. Que said he should never be
contented till ne heard Mr.. Breckinridge
speak on political Issues. He EXPIRE sed a
hope that at some future day lie would re-
visit the town and favor them with polit-
ical S! eech. The sllver-haired congressman
| thanked him. AMI cas- lally remarked that
he was not particularly we'll up on educa-
tional matters, and thought he could make
a much better speech on political subj
At this an Irlshman, who stood n ar by,
broke in on the convers tiol, saying:
"Wel. l heard yez yesterday, Msther
Breckenridge, and, upon me sJwl, think
you can"
One good story leads to another. On one
occasion Thomas P. Ochiltree and Senator
Wolc TT were in the same hotel. Ochiltree
had been fervently descantiug upon the at
fractions Of Texas. The senator was much
interested. Turning to Col. Ochiltree, he
| said:
~ believe that the Ochiltrees are of one
the oldest families in Texas"
YES sir" said tle colonel with much
pride, they are. My great-grandfathe
was killed in tie massacre at Coli ID. He
pre-emptei the ancestral ranch w on Texas
| was a fief Of Mexico. He took part in tine
long struggle for Texan indepe idelce, ami
his name sta Ids high on the scroll # fame
I though a great deal of the ra lch, but my
service in the confederacy left me penniles
at the end of the war, ami was compelled
to sell it. 1t was hitter pill to swallow,
but ancestral pride has to give away under
| the str, IS of pecuniary clrcuusta ceS."
Ibid you sell the rancnp the senator
asked
Yes, sir" the colonel replied, 81 sold it,
and worse Than all [ was compelled to sell
it to a damned Englishma1, sir"
'How much did you get for it? the SEN
ator inquired.
Seventeen thousand dollars, SIR" an
swered the colonel
Did you get the moneys"
Eyes, SIR" was the Ieply; seventeen
thousand dollars in gold, slr-gold aid
Bank Of England ties, SIR"
She senator rubbed his chin and looked
at the colonel for a minute or more, and
then slowly askei:
'Did the Englishman find the ranch2"
y
There was a long outburst Of laughter at
the conclusion of the story Then there
was a run upon the southern fund of hu nor
Gaorgians lad "reminiscences of their native
sta e to retail, aid Alabama Arkansas
came il neck aud neck. 4 Kentucky
member, no wever told one Illustrative of
the fervent p ETY. and lack Of intelligence of
the old-time southern negro. He SAID that
one afternoon an old darkey near Hickman
was at work on bac 20 plantation. He
be onge to the Baptist church, and had
been member in good standing for many
a year. He always led the singing and
had charge Of g hat when contributions
were carried to the al ar On this day,
while hoeing the tobacco plants, a balloon
appeared in the sky. The Old negro re-
garded it with great establishment. As it