The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-05-03
LICKED THE BULLY
How a Soldier Won Promotion
by Unique Methods.
THE DEMOCRATIC INGLE-sIDE
An Hour In a Corner With Congressman
Cunmings-Incidents Of an UneX-
pected Midnight Row.

WASHINGTON, April 3O.-[Speclal CORE
spondence of The HERALD. lit was sew
eral months ago. We were sitting by cosy
fire in the cloak room on the Democratic
side OF the House of Representatives, when
ex Governor Andrew @. Curtin, of Penn
sylvania, entered. His hair is as white as
the plumage OF snowy heron, but he re-
tains much Of the fire of youth. He is as
straight as an arrow, and his eyes sparkle
like the eyes of a canary. And there is full
as much music in him. His mind is as clear
as an Italian sky, his memory of past events
Is marvellous, and his power of description
perfect. a colored boy took his coat, hat
and umbrella, and he joined the story-tell-
ing group at the bright freside. 1t was
favorite nook with him, while a member of
the House. He preferred it to the room of
| the committee on foreign affairs, of which
he was chairman. He was hardly seated
before General Forney, of Alabama, passed
him favorite Intimidad. After lighting
it, he crossed his legs, blew wreaths of
smoke into the air and listened to past rem
inscences.
In the hall outside the droning reading of
the clerk of the House was heard, inter
rupted at times by the sharp rap of the
| Speakers gavel. Through the open door
| glimpse of the side gallery was had. Sew
eral ladies were leaning forward, evidently
regarding the little circle at the ingle-side
with curious interest Their attention was
momentarily distracted by sharp spat be-
tween General Spinola and Louis E. Nc
Comas over district bill, but it again be-
came concentrated upon the group in the
cloak room. Governor Curtin was telling
war story. The handsome old fellow was
all aglow. His face pictured the emotions
of his soul-and his gestures were alive
with descriptive power. Framed by the
doorway, with the fire as background, and
such men as Crisp, of Georgia, and Flower,
of New York, in the circle of listeners, he
must have made more than interesting
picture as seen from the galleries.
There was some humor in the governor
story, but it was almost lost in its strain of
sentiment The incident occurred in the
second or third year OF the war The gov
ernor had left Harrisburg, and come to
Washington on business. a great battle
had been fought. The number of killed and
wounded had amounted into the thousands.
Governor Curtin had been in consultation
with the President and members of his
cabinet. He had returned to the capitol,
where there was night session of Con
gress, when an old lady dressed in deep
mourning acc0sted him. She was evidently
very poor and nearly distracted. She wore
old-fashioned black mits, and her habili-
ments of woe were worn and rusty. Her
face was wan and Wrinkled, and her fingers
were toughened with work and gnarled
with rheumatism. She had not heard from
her boy since the great battle, and she had
come to Washington in search of informa-
ton. lie had enlisted in a regiment raised
in the mountains OF Pennsylvania, and haG
been at the front for more than year.
'Oh, governor" she cried, as tears
streamed down her faded cheeks, my boy
never failed to write before. He always
sent me letter after battle. l have no
heard from hun now in more than a fort
night. He is the only boy left me, and
e can never live without him. Oh, | fear h;
t is dead or sorely wounded. If | could only
get through the lines to nurse him or brins
his body back home! Please, governor, tr,
to get me a pass, and God will bless you
n My heart will break without my boy.n
The governor said that he heard the mum
Der Of the regiment with a shudder. hat
been in the very heart of the fight, and hat
been cut to pieces. His heart went out t
;, the old mother. If her boy was alive h
= was determined that she should see him, o
g if dead that she should have his body. Upo
"a QuSSIlOuluS H6T uc IOuuu GAhG SuS WAS W
terly destitute. She had not even none
enough to pay for nights lodging. H
assured her that he woulddo what he coul
for her. He would see either the Presiden
d or secretary cf war in the morning and &c
her pass through our lines. Then he too
her by the arm and escorted her down stairs
Passing out under the arch of the Senat
wing of the capitol he hailed cab. Ga
lantly assisting the Old lady into it he pal
the cabman his fee and told him to drive hi
charge to hotel where the governor wa
m well known, and where he had sent many
destitute friend. AS the cab ratified ava
the governor turned to re-enter the capito
when he met John Sherman, Ben Wad
and Galusha A. Grow, then Speaker of tn
House. The Senate had adjourned, an
Z, they were on their way home. 1t was
clear night. The great temple of nations
legislation shone in the moonlight like
palace Of alabaster. The city lay belo-
them dotted with gas lights. The music
drum was heard away off on the right
railroad train had arrived with a new reg
ment, and the troops were seeking quarter
at the Soldiers Rest.