Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-02-05

congress, and voted according 10 our
individual opinions.
Oftcnumcs senators would come In
and insist upon our proceeding, not
withstanding their presence. They
would applaud US as We made telling
points Mr. johnson of Louisiana, q
Wing senator, asked one of our num-
bcr IN the presence of several Demo
Gratis " he was q Wing or G Democrat
1nd the young fellow stoutly main
tanned that he was % Wits though II
was then Democratic senate, and
Mr.. Johnson lhughngly told him 80 be
careful or he would lose his place. but
In those dnys the young boys were pro-
tccted 10y the mwrittcn higher law OF
the senate which discarded purity pro-
scripton
At the first session Of my service the
pny Of n page was $3.50 per day during
the session, but the senate voted MS
what was called q compensation of 5000
ON its adjournment TO support us during
the recess. At the close Of the next
sion our pay was increased 10 s.
Rluning OF TINT long session. and which,
with the compensation and final months
pay gave each Of us twenty $50
gold pieces IN one payment, which
the careful secretary. MIR. As.
bury Dickina had sowcd up Ia our vest
pockets and sent MS in the senate mail
wagon rejoicing TO our respective
homes.
Other sources Of revenue open to us
were obtaining for the printers sub
sclipiiOns To the speeches made by
different senator's the more celebrated
ones being the most lucrative because
more largely subscribed for; liberal
commission WAS also allowed us for the
collection If the senator's printing
bills
We also received 81 aud So from out
side parties desiring the autographs of
senators In their albums. but some were
uNrrH 10 giving them. notably Mr.. Clay
aud Mr. Calhoun, and 10 took tact and
q little diplomacy to succeed in getting
them. When Jenny Lind, the great
swedish Nightiug1le,' was In this
country iu 1856 she gave two concerts
~ Washington and We pages obtained
for her IN two albums the autographs OF
the entire senate. She sent compliupnt-
AIRY tickets To all the pages, six In mum
her ANA You may be sure that every
man was NC his post aud being com
iouably seated We were fully as graft
He'd as the older diguiurips and bril-
liant audience who had paid their 50
and ~ 20 near the celebrated contatrice.
But though Mr. Clay did not particu-
larry like to give his autograph to
stfungers he was always ngreenbly So
ciW with the little pages" and chattcd
Wh ihcm fumiliurly when meeting
them m the cloak room or In the senate
chambers He would urge us to con-
slant efforts and lofty aims, and ! think
~" aroused IN some of MS the earnest
desire that We might some day attain
the great rcnOwu that encirclrd the
uuWr of the "Mill Boy of the Slasher."
, lie had wonderful knowledge Of
human nature An unucdOtp is told of
him that shows it. When what was
known as the compensation bill" passed
congress fixing the salary of its mem.
hers nt $1,000 a year instead OF u per
dicm pay. IL cnused a storm of indig-
n9nt protest throughout the country.
Mr. Clay had voted for the bin and he
found a violent opposition 10 It IN his
own district which threatened to retire
MN 10 private life Believing the cur
rent too strong 10 stem he met his con-
Stltuents iu mass meeting and with adj
Hlrahlr tact alluyed tho storm Instead
ot defending his vote for the odious
Fellow kcntuckans. II you had
tayoute rifle land what Kentucky
audience would not listen nj the mon.
ton of q rillc-'thut had never missed
IRE, and one day that trusty old rifle
should accidentally MISS It's mark would
you cast II away
No no. was the unanimous re-
Would you not try II again.
los! Yes shouted the multitude.
GIh"n, fellow citizens. am that trus.
" ola rifle that never missed fire aud |
me again"
The effect, delivered us il was in his
iwpressivcly eloquent style. was elrc.
lrir' and Henry Clay was returned TO
congress by an Increased majority. And
what higher tribute to his great ability
could be- paid than hn received In his
of virginia. Mr. Clov having frnJ
first Randolph raised his pistol and
lircd ~ the air, AT the same time OK.
~ cannot rob my country Of
so valuable q life,"