The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-01-25

Of Mr.. Mills because of his course. The
wonder is that the Democrats are not more
turbulent. Reeds course is simply brutal He
is not only tyrannical, bat he is insulting at the
same time. His treatment of such old mem
bers as Mills is enough to make any man mad
Reed is responsible for most of the disorder in
the House. No presiding officer can keep
order il he has not the respect of
sides. Reeds iibes and sneers, as
well as his extraordinary rulings have lost him
the respect not only of the Democrats but of
many Republicans. They have ceased to give
MIN credit for fairness and honesty of purpose.
Gen. Henderson, of Iowa, in deprecating the
attacks on Reed the other day, qualified his in
dorsement of the Speakers course in very
significant manner According to Reeds rul-
ings, there is no longer any reliance to be
placed on the rules of the House. They are
changed almost every day, to suit the exigen-
cies of the moment"
The Hon. Roger Q. Mills, like many other
noted statesmen who carry heavy public bur
dens on their broad shoulders. is a simple
hearted man who requires very little to amuse
him. Mr. Mills lives at a hotel, whose lobbies
every evening rendezvous for politicians
men about town, and the miscellaneous
crowd always to be found in public places
in Washington. These Hobbies, as in
most public places nowadays, contain full set
of the nickel-in-the-slot machines which are
placed about to catch the unwary spare change
of the idlers. Mr. Mills had a spare half hour
the other night after dinner, and amused him
self by taking complete course in the slot ma
chine. The first of these was a simple weighing
machine, into which he dropped a nickel, the
hand flew round and showed that Mr.. Mills was
good man Of 1872 pounds That's pretty
good" said Mr.. Mills, as he stepped off the
platform, "but think ought to be able to do
better" He then crossed the lobby to more
complicated weighing machine, which is made
up OF a glittering mass of fine steel springs
brass wheels and weights and delicate balances,
all lnclosed in handsome mahogany case with
plate-glass front and sides. This machine has
musical attachment and plays popular air
while the victim waits to ascertain how heavy
he is, AS Mr.. Mills stepped on the scales of
the platform the springs began to work, he
dropped in his nickel, and the musical attach
ment began to play something that sounded
very much like the old hymn, ''What WIN
the harvest Be?" As the musical pre-
lude concluded there was clicking sound,
some new machinery came into play, and
small square card was thrown out into little
nickel-plated receptacle. On this card was
reference; 195 pounds" SWeil," said Mr.. Mills Mills,
II seem to be gaining weight, If not strength
all the time. | think 1 Will now go test my
lungs, see what my pulling powers are and
Mills then passed into the adjoining lobby,
where there another machine, and tested
his lungs and pulling power. He found them
both entirely satisfactory. He then took his
height, which proved to be just feet H.
"Now," said MIR. Mills, 'I think Ill wind up
with little more music,' and he proceeded to
the Edison automatic phonograph, which stood
In another portion of the lobby and, having ad-
justed the ear pieces to his generous ears,
pulled out the bar that sets the music going and
waited. AS the music struck up gentle smile
stole over the countenance of the Texas states
man, and light of deep pleasure shone in his
blue eyes. Whatever the tune was that the
phonograph was playing it evidently gave Mr.
Mills great satisfaction. A newspaper man
who stood by and had watched the pro-
ceedings from the beginning placed his ear
close to the glass case Of the phonograph and
listened intently. In this way he was just able
to catch the faint sounds of the music and dis
Germ the tune. Then he understood why Mr.
Mills smiled SO pleasantly. His mind was evil
IDENTIFY dwelling on the Speakership contest, and
he regarded the air which the phonograph was
playing as ominous of the future The air was
''Near 1t, Very Near It."