The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1890-12-26

| Capt. ba6oeCC mas IN the llCClo room
which he calls his own, and where he
has locked up in an iron safe memoranda
concerning the identity Of the famous
old seats and desks, for the information
of those who come after him, a collec-
ton of old snuff urns and snuff boxes
out Of which hundreds Of statesmen.
famous in their day and generation, but
now almost forgotten. have taken the
titillating powder.
There, also, he has many relics Of his
senatorial career, such as piece Of the
cane with which Preston Brooks assault
ed Charles Sumner, inkstands which
have been thrown by angry statesmen
at the heads of other statesmen, PEN
holders and pens which have been used
in signing great bills, and fine lot Of
old fashioned quilts. It was in Capt.
Bassett's time that each house of con-
gress employed an official penmaker,
whose duty it was to mend the goose
quilts used by senators and representa-
tives. Many Of the legislators were ex-
ceedingly particular as to the "degree Of
hexibility and breadth of point" of their
quilts. While some would use nothing
but "broad nibs," others required the
finest of ''fine points" and the penmak-
ers had no easy task in trying to suit the
different writers. There were also, as
Capt. Bassett pointed out to me the
other day, official sealers, who were in
trusted with the sealing of letters and
packages with red wax. The station
cry" used in both houses included pen
knives, scissors, razors, pocketbooks,
kid gloves, bottled perfumery and bears
grease, besides numerous other little
articles which the officials would pur-
chase "by request" whenever they went
to New York to get their supplies.
To the present day all Of these articles,
the bears grease alone excepted, are
used by members of congress, and
charged to the government in their sta
tionery accounts, the only man now in
congress using bears grease on his hair
being the venerable Mr.. Vaux, of Penn
sylvania. Mr.. Vaux is also noted as be-
ing the only man in congress who ad-
heres to the old quill pen, which he cuts
for himself with neatness and skill. For
number Of sessions in the old days an
innocent beverage called swichell, COM
posed Of molasses, ginger and water"
was largely consumed by the representa-
tives, and it was popularity supposed that
among its innocent ingredients were
good French brandy and Jamaica rum. It
was always charged in the appropriation
for stationery under the head Of "sirup."
Nowadays the statesmen manage to
get their lemonade at the public expense,
the beverage being provided by the off,
GERS of the two houses, but they do not
dare indulge in intoxicating liquors pur-
chased out Of government funds. It is
not SO many years, however, since the
famous 'hole in the wall, small room
near the senate chamber, and much fire.
quented by the bibulous statesmen of
that day. was running full blast, we'll
supplied with all sorts of liquors, paid
for in the appropriation bills as
lunches" Capt. Bassett remembers
those old days, and likes to talk about
them in private conversation, but he
would not like to have some of the stories
which he tells Of putting intoxicated SEN
TORS to bed printed in the newspapers,
wen at this late day.
Thomas B. Reed will be lonesome in
he next congress in more senses than
ne. Not only will most of his lieuten-
nts of the present house be conspicuous
" their absence, but he will be the only
on the floor. In the present
ouse there were three ex-speakers-
randall, Carlisle and Banks. Randall
J dead, Carlisle has gone to the senate
nd Banks will retire from public life at
he end of his present term. Mr.. Reed
viii also be the only man in the next
ouse who has been talked of for the
residency. Carlisle has in quiet way
ong been a presidential quantity, but
e is gone. Randall was also a candi-
ate for the nomination of his party.
1cKinley might have been nominated
Or president two years ago but for his
lanly loyalty to John Sherman.
Nathaniel p. Banks, some people may
was nominated for the presi-
ency thirty four years ago. He was at
nat time speaker of the house. Native
-merican by election, Wing by ante
adents and a Republican by utilization.
he regular American convention met
Philadelphia in February, 1856, and
Willard Fillmore for presi
emit. Some of the northern delegates
olted the convention, and called another
invention to meet at New York in
une. After Il bitter contention between
lose who wanted to indorse Fremont,
le candidate Of the new Republican
arty, and those who wanted straight
1T ticket, the latter carried the day
i'd put up Banks as their candidate. As
, had been delegate to the conven-
on which nominated Fremont he
'omptly telegraphed his declination Of
le honor.
At the senate end of the Capitol we
I'd many presidential possibilities of
10 past, and no one is wise enough to
y how many of the future. The most
stinguished Of these, of course, is John
who has been a conspicuous
in four national conventions.
'nator Allison has also been a promi-
mt presidential aspirant for eight