The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-14
TIPPING IN CONGRESS.
Courtesies Observed by Members and
Senators in Days Gone By.
E,ro,n The TVaVb,n,fo., De-,

~NN~ ~NN~~0 ODSCA NO& Ol -aC64OCE6 6l0
Senators in Days Gone By.
From the Washington POST
Persons write and talk curiously about
"hppling" In aud out Of congress, and not
always either from personal observation or
accurate knowledge OF any kind. OCCUR
rences just prior 70 the recent adjournment
gave an impetus to the subject without
throwing much light on it. There
have always bean so-callsd Zip
piers" and ''tippling" in con
| gress, as there have been men Of other
habits and vices. Probably there always
will be 90 long as men are human. IL
probably would be the proper thing to in
| quire into what really constitutes tip
ping" But that would be an endless,
perhaps fruitless discussion. one thing d
! certain, there was no such provision made
by the two branches OF congress for
"hppling" in the good old timea as there
| now IL. Perhaps the reason Is the country
was never before so large. What was done
in that line then was without disguise.
CLAY AND CALHOUN TIPPLING.
Somewhere late in the '4os or early In
the SOS, which Is far enough TO 60 back
even II one could 60 further or there was
utility in a more remote inquiry, remem
Der to have seen MIR. Clay and Mr.. Calhoun
styled, in the old Senate chamber, now the
the United States supreme court room.
IL was behind the Vice Presidents
ohair-a small space, where was table only
large enough for a tray, on which were
placed pitcher Of water, a single black
bottle containing good article Of whisky,
bowl OF sugar, a spoon or two, few
glasses, plate of crackers and another of
cheese. This LAY out" would suffice for a
day, perhaps longer. There were days, ID is
probable, when it would need replenishing,
but "tiDpHng" by senators In those days in
comparison with the "oold tean and other
appointments at the present time can be
inferred.
MR.. CLAY POURED FIRST.
On the occasion Of which speak the two
distinguished senators met aftet a debate
which l we'll remember, their manners and
bearing being of the highest type Of gentle
men of those times. The meeting was
doubtless by a common impulse, though
little after the fashion of Edmunds and
Thurman in more recent days. Mr.. CAL
houn, who always drank sparingly,
bade Mr.. Clay TO pour first"
aud well remember the de-
corousness and natural politeness with
which it was done, Mr.. Clay's way Of ao-
knowledginR the courtesy, the manner Of
his waiting for the great South Carollnian
described then How that before drinking
the great Kentuckian said with the greatest
good hnmor, referring TO the debate
from which the two had but just before en-
gagged:
"Wen, Mr.. Senator, will admit that you
have had the better of me to-day; but IN
be your match Tomorrow" But then they
emptied their glasses end walked away to-
gether in familiar conversation. That was
a fair sample OF ''tippling" at the capitol In
those days.
NO BAR AT THAT TIME.
There was no bar no attendants TO serve
waiting multitude Of persons. A single
servant or messenger" did it all; and so
quietly, with such gentility that l could
not at the time help being interested, aud
have ever since wished that the custom
might have been keep up. But times have
changed. Men have changed and customs
with them.
One not go 80 very far back to relate That
senators, and what senator's, made them al
most daily calls at "Hancock's" on the
ayenue-the very same place as IL now Is,
except as it has degenerated with changes,
the third generation Of the family hav-
ing succeeded to what Is left in
that quarter and che requirements Of GUS
toners, which are as different now as pos
sible from what they then were Suoh
cocktails as were brswsd at HApcock's In
those days are mob more heard Of than were
the renowned men who with striking rsRu-
larity called for them there. At times
might have been beheld there Mr.. Clay,
Senator John N. Bernais, Willie P. Man
gum, John NJ Clayton. and afterward Sam
Houston, bis very able colleague, Sem
Rtor Rusk, besider such men as Humphrey,
Marshal. Conrad of Louisiana and at times
hosts of others like them, all "tipplers" 10 q
sense, but not IN the offensive sense.
SOME HEAVY DRINKERS.
Among them were those who at times
were heavy drinkers" but not by any
means were they drunkards. Mr. Webster on
occasions, drank heavily. IL is related that
just before entering the Senate to pronounce
his great speech In reply to HAine he rein
forced himself by taking nearly q full glass
OF brandy, which was his favorite "tipple''
whenever he needed something to assist his
staying powers. Il was no unusual thing
for public men then to take their drains
with regularity. There were those who
imbibed more frequently than was useful,
and ii was this that led Co the famous
Congressional Temperance Society,"" with
Senator Wilson, who, 1t was said never
drank, as the active head.
just before, during and Immediately sue
ceedlng-a period OF ten years, say-it ia
the recollection Of men now on the stage,
there was considerable drinking in CON
gress. with noteworthy cases Of habitual
intoxication. But it is probable that fair
review of history will lead TO the conclusion
that the American congress, taking che
years together, has not been open 70 the
charge of Intoxicating habits. Men COM
ing here have brought with them the cus-
toms Of the section they came from, which,
perhaps, at times included the extremes
nothing more. Loss could hardly be ex>
peoted.
AN OLD TINE INCIDENT RECALLED.
An incident that came out Of the investi.
CATION during the last week of the recent
session recalls one of the times of Jonn M.
Bolts. He was good, steady drinker, but
hardly ever to excess~-a fair-type of class
of first rate men of his time He was a
speaker on a some what momentous occa-