The morning call., 1894-07-07
TOM REEDS FEAR.
Loses His Nerve and Becomes Limp
Under Certain Circumstances.

Few who know him would pretend TO doubt
the courage Of tom" Reed under any circum-
stances. The man who calmly faces the wrath
of the whole Democratic party, and who smiles
at the picture of Kilgore kicking down the
doors OF lie House. must needs be possessed OF
at least few grains of "sapd."
Incredible as II seems, however, there are
times when the big man from y aine is a
coward, and confesses there are two persons
on earth of whom he Is absolutely afraid-his
wife and his only child. Yet Mrs. Reed Is a
little woman, pretty and amiabie, and Miss
Reed, who adores her father, Is sweet-faced.
brown-eyed, slender girl, stlll IN her teens 1t
is not In private HE that MT. Re quails be-
fore bis nearest and dearest ones, but in pub
lie, when making speech. that he hates, above
all things. 10 see his vile and daughter looking
down upon him from the galleries.
The seats may be packed with all sorts of
people, as they always ale when he speaks,
and If there were bombs in all their pockets
Tom" Reed would go on serenely, without
fear or favor. But when Mrs. or Miss Reed
meeky declare their intention of being two
OF the spectators he gets weaK in the knees.
he Gear" the "Aut0crat," the "Usurper,"
the "Tyrant" b cks down DglorouSly, and
begs his wife and daughter TO spare him and
stay 2t home. He does not care copper for
the public, but he fears these gentle foes of his
own household, and II Is d great relief when he
can persuade or brlbe them TO stay al home
This he often dOes-sO far a lie knows.
The DAY he made his speech closing the de-
bae on the tariif, Mrs Reed and her daughter
but firmly in the morning that they would 90
up 10 the House. AT first Mt. Reed was dlplO-
matte. He offered no objection, but In persua-
siYe tones pictured the discOmfOrts they would
be subjected to from crowded galleries and bad
ali. Ihe private gallery, he urged. would be as
packed as the rest and as for the deba e. the
tariff had already been talked 10 death and
had not shred of interest left
To all this and much more OF like tenor they
replied that they enjoyed crowd now and
then; that they had no fear of bad air and il
The tariff had been talked 10 death there was
nothing they would ike so much as 10 witness
the funeral. Then Mr.. Reed threw diplomacy
to the winds and fell upon his knees, so to
speak. begging them TO spare him the ordeal of
their presence at his speech-making.
"NoW, girlS.' he said, appeangly "you know
l can't do anything If you TWO are up there
looking al me. Kitty. II L make failure you
and your mother will be responsible. / really
think you might stay away and persuade her
TO, when you know just how | feel. can't
help IL. l don't care continental for the rest
of the world, but DO not want you two IN the
gallery"
What could they do? Well, they did what
they had done before-apT arently Welded 10
his entreaties and let hin start for the Capltol
a happier but not wiser man. When he was
safely out OF sight tney put on their bonnets,
quietly lett the Shoreham and boarding a
the halls to that gallery Reserved for Mem.
bers' Families" and went direct TO the public
seats. where, by patience and good manage
ment they got in, In spite of the crowd. There
they sat, looking down on the uususpecting
ex.Speaker, who, inspired by their supposed
absence, made one of the greatest speeches of
his life.-Kate Fields Washington