The morning call., 1891-09-13
MEN WE MEET
ABOUT TOWN.
Short Stories Gathered From the
Hotel Corridors.
Congressman Aliens Mode Of Persuasion.
How 1t Is Done in France-His Argu-
ments Prevailed at Once.

Zone of the most amusing incidents that
ever came within my personal observation
during my Congressional experience" said
Senator Stewart at the Palace last night,
was a little tilt that occurred between ex-
Speaker Reed and Allen of Mississippi.
AS the former passed the latter's desk he
noticed a huge knife with furious-looking
blade some ten or twelve inches in length.
Reed paused and eyed it for moment. and,
turning to Alien, said: What Is that
thing?'
"Ob, it is what we call an easy persuader
down in Mississippi replied Allen, as he
ran his finger along the edge of the glitter
ing blade.
"'Aa easy persuader, Ell? Well, what do
you mean by thatP
Simply what l say When we have an
election in the South | take one of these
persuaders, and when l see negro who
looks as if he wanted to vote just run the
blade of this knife along the side of mis- nose
and suggest that it would be good idea Tor
him to vote for SO-and-so. He is instantly
and easily persuaded, and hence the name
| have given to the knife.
Reed smiled, and passed thoughtfully to
his seat"
How 1t Is Done in France.
81 went to hear Bernhardt last night"
said prominent globe-trotter yesterday,
land / heard that which recalled more
memories of France and Paris than Sarah's
musical tongue as the soft words glded
over it in remarkable rhythm. Others
heard it, too, and before the cur tain had
risen on the third act they were, to use an
expressive vulgarisin. all onto it,
Immediately before the curtain raised
there was a fearful pounding. either on the
floor or wall, in the direction of the orches:.
ira. Those are the tactics OF the romans
in the French theater. Let me tell you OF
them. The romans assemble at the promi-
nent theater, 100 to $50 strong, and are dis
tributed to the best advantage. They re-
ceive no wages, indeed, they pay nominal
entrance fee. or sous for the best places;
but that don't matter. as they see the show
as well as those who pay 5-franc piece,
and there are many idlers IN the boulevards
and rues ready to snap at such chance.
when the curtain is about to rise they
stamp, call, whistle and clap, as II IN great
ilnpatience to see the play; The curtain
rises, actors make their hits, which are
followed by cries of 'Chaud! chaudv from
a hundred or so of voices, while the romans
seek in every manner to make the audience
applaud. American travellers visiting French
theaters are struck by the enthusiasm
shown by the audience for the players and
vanite, tout est vanite."
His Arguments Prevailed.
Morris M. Estee sat at the Palace Hotel
last night, and ran over his recollections of
prominent men in the past political history
of California.
"When Jim Farley" said he, " first ran
| for Congress in this State, there was de-
| termined effort on the part of certain
element to defeat MIN. Up at the town of
| Volcano a formidable opposition existed,
and the word was passed along the line that
every man in that section intended to knife
| Farley at the polls. This reached the
| latter's friends, and one of them undertook
| the task of strengthening matters out. He
| buckled on two big revolvers. mounted a
horse, and rode over to Volcano without
| loss of time Arriving there he went into
| the principal bar-room and found crowd
| congIegated.
| walking up to them, he said: i hear
|. you fellows have got it in for old Jim Far
| ley. ] don't know whether 1T is so or not,
! but that is what hear. Now all I've got to