Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-07

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ANu 'Ao'e "no eneou'e 'nem eAhioi' An III"
P.o'e"eh. OF Htner recognition OF tine great
advance which has been made in the cause Of
temperance and its practice. The more tenn
perste tone and m.nn.r of dah.t. me, IN .o,n.
=. -..-:I-., .., =,
n".' W ~,.,iou.ea 70 euf'a'men' Oh "e
Social haDits wn,ch. IN the days Gons by, were
unrestrained.
Then the sale of iiouors I'm the Capitol vaa
,nd;sor;..d IN. - Ia s.. 49,. -.
49,, y
yeAfs in s, ano owes i~ eA's'encs 70 sne non.
henry wilson, VINO Tor some years Iaborsd at
the law abolishing the sale Of all LIQUORS and
RELOCATING the thirsty millions who visited the
Capitol to the cooling beverage of milk, unless
indeed, they have the open sesame, which
would give them, in tea cup, a little "cold
tea" As remember that past. when drink
ing was INDUCED In more freely than now
there was but little exhibition OF its effects on
the floor of either house of Congress. The ex-
exceptions were rare, and are so well remem-
Dered that 1 need not recall them. Then
piled with wine. brandy, &C., was conspicuous
in almost every house, and visitors were re-
freshed ere their visit was ended. Many of
those grave and reverent senors who graced
the Senate chamber required the stimulant in
their long and able speeches.
DANIEL. wxnsrrp,s o1x
A foru., rn.rh.- % Co,,v-... Geo.. ~
oA OonBress Afo" Oon-
nec'cu' reis'eo 70 me very amusing incident
he witnessed on his first visit to Congress in
1850. He had position in the lobby, Just over
the seat of Mr.. Webster. who was TO make his
great speech ON the compromise question, and
before he began his speech page put upon his
desk pitcher and tumbler, from which he re-
1reshed himself several times in the course Of
the lengthy speech he made, and at its con-
elusion Mr.. Isaac I. Walker. democratic Sem
~ - IN IN Nv" VI NepIasAa ~, arose 10 reply,
Over AMI norr;no e n,'. I've. 50 ne seaenea
supposed. drank il and in a moment ,ucb a
spluttering and gasping as followed disclosed
the fact that the Massachusetts, Senator had
been inspired in his great effort by Byrons
source Of iuspiration-gin. The shouts of
laughter which followed. in which Mr.. Webster
joined most heartily. and the confusion and loss
of breath entailed on Mr.. Walker caused him to
yield the floor to some one else.
Mr.. Slas Wright was another of those states
men who needed a stimulant and found it be-
fore beginning an important speech in the
cloak room. where supply could always be
sSeh Exhibition Sy
tho close Of the last Congress on the floor Of
the Senate The habit was convivial, not disgust
ing. az more recent times have Witnessed
The drinking was, think, heavier than now,
but it was not indulged in openly. The dinners
were in some Cases the medium of heavy drink
ing. but debauch was rare. In those early
days the members aud Senators herded
together in the various boarding houses with
which Washington abounded. They formed
'messes of wings in one house and democrats
In another and they but seldom mixed, for at
these ''messes' political action was discussed in
the most unreserved manner. Mr.. Webster,
Col. Benton and q few others then kept house
and had their families resident here, but in the
MAJORITY OF instances these bachelor house.
W fhA 0AANaA
A " .ne en"hse ior ,ne oe'er
oue' .liinA W 'ne very general napit OF Se1i-
ators and representatives bringing their fami-
lies with them. They add thus very charm
Ing element TO the social life of Washington.
In the past the close OF session Of Congress
was generally merry one. The long hours of
an aii-night session were cheered by the rosy"
as Dick Swiveller called it, AMI the tedium Of
debate Was relieved by the excellent lunches
prepared In many or the committee rooms
That this privilege was sometimes abused do
not doubt, but tins sale of wines and liquors
was allowed until April II, 1866. when the Hon.
h6 d Se sas Of s sepaHas P anS
other liquors in the Capitol build
ing and grounds" Mr.. Reverdy johnson
inquired II 1t included liquors found in COM
mlttee rooms. Mr.. wilson, who was very radi-
ca, said he would like to prevent its being
brought into the building. but saw no power
extending that far. 1t was on this occasion
Senator AlcDougall delivered one of those
speeches SO replete with classical illusions as
always secured him an attentive Senate. He
made speech Of some length, from which l
exhume some extracts. for it is buried in that
mausoieum of eloquence. the Congressional
Globe 1t was the talk Of the time like another
speech he made on the reconstruction bills.
which attracted general attention.
SENATOR n'pouanI,s prrA ron ~rx,
He mid. bsd o,o.s,o,, $50 -
0eS"'''h soh'e years SINCE
from the state which has the honor to be the
pn @ oi 'he present president OF tins
poo!; wine was discussing with him lot
oi we ,apscaiiiahs invited me 10 JOIN them
NJ tne par. l Declined out OF respect to the
reverend gentleman IN whose presence l then
was. AS soon az the occasion had passed
remarked 10 the reverend doctor: DO not un-
oerstahd that declined TO go and join those
young men az the bar because l have any OBJ
lection to that thing, for it is my habit to
drink always In the front and not behind the
door. He looked at me with a certain degree
OF interrogation. then asked him:
Doctor, what was the first mira
Gle worked by orr Divine MasterI''
HE hesitated and j said to him: WAS
It not at Cana in Galilee where he converted
the water into wine at n marriage feast?' He
assented. l then asked him: After the ark
had hoated on the tempestuous seas for forty
days and nights and az it descended upon the
dry land. what was the first thing done by