The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-17
GOSSIP TN WASHINGTON.
Chit-Chst Of the Week In the Federal
Capital.
INTERESTING SENATORIAL INCIDENT.
BIaipo's Sickness and His Presidential Hopes
Bogus g-Unhealthiuiness
ofthe Treasury.
Especial Correspondence.

tarrns with most Of our Leaning bOaVcshe"
ever since anti-bellum times related TO IhE
TrsEs correspondent very interest
ing incident involving men OF prominence
before thewar One Of the gentlemen men,
toned is still living, and it is no doubt but
inst consideration towards him and his family
10 suppress his name. The story when pears
its moral impTessively, may as Wen DO
told in the REALTORS language at the time
the question under immediate discussion
WAS as 10 the best manner of treating con-
frmod drunkards with the view OF reforming
them: whether kind and gentle means or
harsh and vigorous treatment would acmeVe
the most. The gentleman quoted, whose
father was a United states senator. salu'
While ] am not willing 20 approve the su@-
Qestior of harsh treatment aS means OF re-
forming drunkards will tell You OF case IN
which that plan was q success.
While Senator Powell Of kentucky, was IN
the Senate he was a close warm and devoted
friend of a senator from "A state which was
one of the original thirteen. This latter sena-
tor was gentleman by birth and educauoh
He was a gifted man; scholarly. able ana
eloquent. but unfortunately he was drunk
ard lie would appear on the
floor Of the Senate in a state of what
is properly termed beastly iptOSlcatlon. Sena-
tor Powell admired this friend because 81 his
genius and his many good qualities. hewaS
big-hearted. In fact. It seemed thar ne hau OuI
one failng of any consequence. ana that Was
his love of drink Senator Powell laDored IL
jefaticably to reform him. but his Efforts
were unavaiing Indeed, this uni0runale
senator continued on the down grace. Inc
formations of Washington NE were
tao much for him. lie could not
resist them, and finally It was an
everyday spectacle 10 see him drunk IN the
Senate chamber When he was at his worst
a subject came before the Senate IN winch
Our unfortunate senator was deeply inter
ested. as il was OF importance 10 his State ana
his constituents It was being debated by the
weak friend IN partially soD1r
condition, urged him to speak on
the pending question. He agreed to do
80. and under the close surveillance OF Powell,
who kept by him day and night; the Drink
ing senator sObered up, prepared himself ana
on the day il was known he would speak Inc
Senate galleries were crowded. IL was the
universal expectation that the senator
would appear in a drunken comb.
ton and make a sorry spectacle, OF
himself Instead Of that he appeared IN
a new suit made for the occasion. he wore
the old-fashioned shad-cut coat win 2llsniI
brass buttons. lie was clearly shaved ana
looked splendid. lie delivered one
of the ablest and most eloquent speeches
eyer heard in the Senate He was listened 10
throughout with profound attention, ana
when he finished he was surrounded by sen,
Ators and warmly congratulated Political
opponents were prompt 10 extend cOngfato-
lations, as there was q general feeling OF
qualification at the brilliant achievement
of the senator For a few minutes the pro-
ceedngs of the Senate were practically sus-
pended, as all attention was centeled upon
this senator. When released from the thTODg
that had surrounded him the senator looked
round for Powell his best friend, he having
observed with surprise and PAIN that the Ken
tuckian had not approached him. lie lmme-
,iatey set out 90 discover Powell, aud found
him in a retired corner of the Democratic
cloak room. Powell was standing III an alb
stractod manner and 1t was not until he was
called by name that be recagepized bis taepd~-
.''iyfiffft n the World is the matter, Powelll
manfred the senator, who had Just finished
his speech "Al the senators. men of both
parties have congratulated me and nave
kindly told me that have splendidly acqut-
ted myself, and yet YOU, my best trend me
man Ia whom | am chiefly indebted for this
triumph, avoid me as if / had disgraced my
Very cooly and deliberately Powell replied
AZ anticipated Your triumph and have come
prepared - ...;. ,.o, ho,o
come prepared?" was the inquiry.
Powell drew from his rear pocket n loaded
revolver and rendering it 10 his friend an
swered. This is what | mean. You have
now demonstrated 10 your State. your family
and the country that you are superior
man. and now with the honors fresh
upon you l want you to take TINS re-
v0lyer and blow your brains out. Not
here not here / will accompany You to
some ouet spot and | will see that your
wishes are all carried ont. If you continue to
live YOU Will continue TO be a public disgrace,
10 humiliate your family and your friends ana
to be a perpetual reproach to yourself, and
at last YOU will fill the grave OF dlsslaced
dTunkard.n
Al first the senator thus addressed thought
his friend was Joking, and IN n severe and dig
nifed manner remarked that he did not relish
such Jokes. -
Before God was never more IN earnest. As
a friend of yours / want you now, to-day, to
end your life. Better the grave of suicide
than of drunk0rd."
The senator thus so severely reprOved
turned from his friend without another word.
He left the cOak-rOOm and the Senator cham
ber Immediately afterwards he resigned his
seat in the Senate and was succeeded by his
brother. He returned to his State and en-
gagged laboriOusy IN the practice OF law. lie
has never touched IL drop Of intoxicating
LIQUOR from that day and now holds the high
est and most honorable judicial position in
his State.
Such WAS the conclusion of the story and
ii was all true. Many will no doubt, from the
facts related. identify the senator referred to-
for hundreds know that he has never in
dulged in drink since voluntarily leaving the
Senate, and that he Is now and has been for
years chief justice of ms State.
SECRETARY BLAINE's ILLNESS
Will Secretary Blaine's illness tend to check
the presidential boom IN ms favor which has
been 50 enthusiastically advanced by Repub-
licans of all sections is question now
seriously agitatlng political circles If the
attack was simply the result Of Over-wOTk
and Indigestion, as has been so persstently
assisted by the Secretary's doctors and family,
Il would not attract serious consldera-
ton. But IL is no secret that
the New York illness was the last
Of series of similar attacks. TUE
IIMEs dispatches Of a few days ago gave de-
tailed account of tho sudden prostratlon OF
the Secretary several months ago. That ac-
count came nom an authentic source and Its
correctness has since been vouched for by
Mr. Blaine's physician in this city. There Is
more than suspicion that Mr. Blaine is sub
ject 20 attacks OF this character, and that they
are almost inevitably brought on by undue
excitement 1t is known that in order to
preserve his health he Is compelled
h. observe most careful regimen of diet. 1t
Ii evident that the immediate friends Of
the Secretary are feeling apprehensive as 10
the blasting effect upon his presidential pros
poets OF an assumption by the public that he
Is broken in health. 10 IS quite likely that
the Secretary shares in this apprehension.
All information given out from his slck-room
Is Of a recovering nature, and declares that tho
attack WAS of "A trivial character AdVicps