The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1891-04-16

WALTER WELLMAN HAS SEARCHED
THE RECORDS FOR REPARTEE.
The Line Dividing the Sublime from the
Ridiculous Is Often Perilously Narrow.
Jokes Have often Turned Away the
Wrath of Statesmen.
[specinl Correspondence.l

Especial CORES spondence.l
WASHINGTON, Feb, 12.--In the house
a few days ago we had a fine example Of
the narrowness Of the border line which
sometimes exists between the sublime
and the ridiculous Mr.. Lewis, of Mis-
sissippi, in replying to structures of Mr.
Kelley, of Kansas, on the former state
said some people were continually going
up and down the land disturbing the
peaceful and calm and industrious with
false cries of 'Murder murder! mur-
der!" A. this moment, when the feel.
ings Of the spectators had been worked
to high pitch by the dramatic manner
of the speaker, old Gen. Spinola sung
out, Call the policer' In twinkling
tragedy was changed to comedy, AMI
everybody roared.
Two or three weeks ago, during de-
cisive roll call on the election bill--a
critical historic moment, when senators
and spectators were in a state of sup
pressed xcitement-Senator Dixon, in
asking transfer of his pair from SEN
ator Ransom to Senator Hampton, de-
murely remarked that after this ex.
change of courtesies between the sen
ator from North Carolina and the
senator from South Carolina he could
vote-an allusion to good old Joke
which filled the senate chamber with
merriment.
Instances of sudden change from the
sublime to the ridiculous are by no
means rare in congress. Congressman
Bellord Of Colorado, few years ago
was excoriating a fellow member with
all his powers Of eloquence. "rhere he
SITS" exclaimed Beford, shaking his
finger at the object of his wrath, 'mute,
silent and dumb!"
EYES," shouted wag, land he is not
saying word"
This was even neater than Gen. Spi.
nola's call for the police. Gen. Spnola.
by the way. is full of sharp repartee.
He is noted for his old fashioned high
collar which tickles the lower lobes Of
his ears. One day "a rash young member
made some sneering allusion to Spinola's
collar, whereupon the old man retorted:
1T would require collar fifty times
higher than mine to hide the ears of the
gentleman"
Another member, on another occasion,
attempted to make a pun a6 Mr.. Spinola's
expense. The old warrior having replied
rather hotly to some remark, the pun
ster said:
"Oh, well, you needn't get your choler
up"
Quick as fash came Spinolas retort:
81 always have my collar up; and ad-
wise the gentleman to take care that the
other end Of the garment to which his
collar is fastened is kept down"
One Of the sharpest bits of repartee we
have had in congress in many day was
that Of young Senator Wolcott to Sena-
tor Power, Wolcott had just voted
against his party, and Power was taking
him to task. Its great mistake, VOL
colt" said he, "a great mistake You
have ruined your reputation" You go
make one retorted Wolcott.
Not long ago there was Il little tilt be-
tween Reed and Springer which brought
forth neat repartee The speaker said
something which Springer said he had
failed to hear
81 think you can hear well enough to
catch my idea," said Reed.
81 can't catch the speakers idea" re-
sponded Springer, without hearing
what he says, and frequently | can't
catch it when | do hear what he SAYS"
When congressman become bitterly
personal they talk about each others
record" A "record" is a terrible mat
ter to debater. 1t touches his integ.
rity and consistency, and often proyokes
ierce answer. Sam Cox used to tell
story about two statesmen from the
Egypt district Of Illinois who went at
each other iii this fashion: you cannot
lssail my record said one loftily.
No; do not care to go into small mat
,ers,' was the retort. That is where
you and differ. do go into small mat
,ers, for | shall answer you" ''Then
discuss yourself and magnify little
ihings"
A convenient form Of repartee or sar-
,asln is reference to the predecessor Of |
mes antagonist. During the debate on
he rules i'll the last session one of the
democratic members spoke Of Speaker
tesd as the man who ratified around in
he seat formerly occupied by John G..
jarilsie, which WAS not happy, inasmuch
S Reed Is physically three times as big
3 Carlisle, and their corporeal dispro-
was at once i'll every ones
mind, notwithstanding the members OBJ
ious intention to compare the men in
Much better was Ingalls, subtle, deli
ate sarcasm u few years ago in the
anne line. He was castigating Mr.. H0ar
n polite, parliamentary manner for
hat senator's alleged devotion to Massa-
husetts cant. Senator Dawes came
nto the chamber just in time 70 hear a.
ew words, and, rising, asked if the
Words were intended for him.
Il refer now said ingalls,, ''to the
of Charles Sumner and not to
he successor of Daniel Webster"
This delicately cruel way of holding
ne two senator's from Massachusetts up
} comparison with Sumner and Web
,er brought a grin to the face of every
ne IN the chamber, Senator's Hoar and
'awes alone excepted.
More vicious was John Randolph's
Sc OF the same method many years
90. Randolph and Nathaniel Macon
ere fast friends. When Macon went
At OF tue senate aud James lredell
hila the latter tried to curry
vor with the great, the terrible John
andolph. But Randolph would nave