The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-04
GGry OF " COLD TEA
rrv l1QUoR WAS PROHIBITED
m THE CAPITOL.

,eeo,stors-Stories of Statesmen
snu , yseded Inspiration in Their
Species
.,,trast between the present official
washington and that OF thirty or
lie ..rs ago is more marked than the
o'' changes were, great as they are.
memory recalls them, the different
As q the representative life comes
n., ma very wildly. The decided change
.,c:al habits of those solons who make
and those who execute them exhibit
'' convenient, or rather recognition of
-.aot sd vance which has been made in
.snse of temperance and its practice.
more temperate tone and manner of
'..,o may. in some manner, be attributed
.rrtailment of the social habits which,
s,vs gone by. were unrestrained.
Tbsn the sale of liquors in the capitol was
discussed. The age of cold tea began
"a YEARS later and owes its existence to
I. Hon. Henry Wilson, who for some
rs labored at the law abolishing the sale
III liquors and RELOCATING the thirsty
lions who visited the capitol to the cool
beverage of milk, unless. indeed, they
re the open sesame, which would give
s,m in a tea cup, little "cold tea" AS
nmember that past, when drinking was
Julged in more freely than now, there
= hut little exhibition of its effects on
floor of either house OF congress. The
~entions we're rare, and are so we'll re-
ALnk r r1aad r-anan fhnrn
IAN almost every body drank. A sideboard
nnLed with wine, brandy, etc., was con-
-rnous in almost every house. and visitors
ire refreshed ere their visit was ended.
|brv of those grave and reYerent senors
In graced the Senate chamber required
! stimulaut in their long and able speeches.
DANIEL wEBsTER's GIN.
L A former member of congress from Con-
|ycticut related to me verv amusing incl
|ant he witnessed on his first visit to con-
ress in 1850. He had a position in the
bbbv. just over the seat OF Mr.. Webster,
Tbo was to make his great speech on the
,Ompromise question, and before he began
bis speech a page put upon his desk a
ritcber and tumbler, from which he
refreshed himself several times in the
course of the lengthy speech he
made, and at its conclusion
Isaac T. Walker, democratic senator
from Iowa or Nebraska "a, arose to reply,
and IS bis seat was next Mr.. Webster he
reached over and, pouring out glass of
water, as he supposed. drank it, and in a
moment such spluttering and gasping as
followed disclosed the fact that the Massa-
chustts senator had been inspired in his
great effort by Byron's source of inspiration
gin The shouts of laughter which fol-
loved, in which Mr.. Webster joined most
heartily, and the confusion and loss of
breath entailed on Mr.. Walker caused him
10 Yield the floor to some one else.
Slas Wright was another of those
shasnen who needed a stimulant and
found it before beginning an important
speech in the cloak room, where a supply
clld always be obtained in those days. l
cnnOt recall any such unseemly exhibition
twas witnes led at the close of the last
C1gess on the floor of the senate. The
hht was convivial, not disgusting, as
more recent times have witnessed.
The drinking was, think, heavier than
low, but it was not INDUCED in openly.
The dinners were in some cases the medium
Of heavy drinking, but debauch was rare.
10 those early days the members and sena-
tors herded together in the various board
ng houses with which Washington
They formed Illnesses" of wings
70 one house and democrats in another, and
hey but seldom mixed, for at these
'messesn political action was discussed in
he most unreserved manner. Mr.. Webster,
COL Benton and few others then kept
house and had their families resident here,
but in the majority of instances these
tschelor households prevailed.
ONE CAUSE OF THE CHANGE.
Very much of the change for the better
Sdue, think. to the very general habit of
snators and representatives bringing their
hmilles with them. They add thus very
EARNING element to the soc al life of
Washington. In the past the close of the
pssion of congress was generally a merry
ne. The long hours of an all-night session
Esre cheered by the rosy" as Dick Swiv-
Her called it, and the tedium of debate
Fas relieved by the excellent lunches
repaired in many of the committee rooms.
nat this privilege was sometimes abused |
b not doubt, but the sale of wines and
quors was allowed until April IL, 1866.
Then the Hon. Henry Wilson offered a
solution prohibiting 1.-THE sale of spirituous
nd other liquors in the capitol building and
rounds" Reverdy johnson inquired if it
Guided liquors found in committee rooms.
IT. wilson, who was very radical, said
would like to prevent its being
rought into the building. but saw no
over extending that far. 1t was on this
ccaslon Senator McDougall delivered one
nose speeches so replete with classical allu-
ons as always secured him an attentive
enate. he made speech of some len 9Th.
ON which l exhume some extracts, for it
buried IN that mausoleum of eloquence
1e congressional Globe. 1t was the talk
the time, like another speech he made on
u the reconstruction bills, which attracted
eneral at ention.
ENAToR N'DoUGALL's PLEA FOR WINE.
he SAID: l had occasion some years since
, discourse with a reverend doctor of
lVinlty from the state which has the honor
. DC tne birthplace of the present president
| tnls body. While l was discussing with
lh lot Of vile rapscalllans invited me to
IN them at the bar. 1 declined out of
sspect to the reverend gentleman in
uoSe presence then was. AS soon as the
5caSlon had passed l remarked to the
7Verend doctor: "Do not understand that
=. uechned to go and join those young men
the bar because 7 have any OBJ
,cIlon to that thing, for it is my habit to
RINK always in the front, and not behind
le door," He looked at me with certain
egree OF interrogation. then asked him
DocVor, what was the first miracle worked
our Divine Masters" He hesitated, and
saio TO him: "Was it not at Cana in Cali.
%, "here he converted the water into wine
u = d marriage feastr He assented. I then
ssea him: AFTER the ark had tioated or
10 tempestuous seas for forty days and
isgS' and as it descended upon the dry
M what was the first thing done by
amer NoahF' He did not know that ex-
inc" Yes, be remembered that. I asked
IN -, 10 you remember any great poet
aat Illustrated the higher fields OF human