Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-18
CAPITOL POTPOURRI.
Stories Told by Congressman Bryan
and Sec. Lamont.
Bad washington SsciaI Customs-Scandais
Tonsus-A Disausted western Woman.

III ilo tAltIi SptCS1 ~ AC" Gt<y osoc wa
gresham Bryan of Nebraska told story OF
the late presidential campaign which greatly
amused the house. Il was in the city OF
New York making some campaign address
esq said Mr.. Bryan, speaking in little
ward halls and sometimes from wagons
hauled up at street corners. In one of these
speeches | made an effort to impress my
hearers with the magnitude OF this country.
had perceived that they were character
istic New York audience, to whom the sun
rose in Brooklyn and set in Hobcken. They
had no idea Of there being anything in TINS
country except New York and It's tmmedi.
ate surroundings. The great Mississippi
valley and the boundless west beyond that
were terra incognita to them. probably
not one in hundred Of them had ever been
outside Manhattan island. But told them
a good deal about the part OF the country
whence hail, about the prairies, the graz
ing plains, the mountains, the mining
camps painted the glories OF America III
as glowing colors as | could, with an idea
of impressing them with the Importance OF
having legislation not for n section alone.
but for the whole country, and when had
finished this description thought to prove
what sort of an impression, and so sang
out:
MY friends, where is the center of popu-
lation in this country anyway
"'Bleecker street and Broadway was the
response in loud voice, and as soon as pos
sible | changed the subject. That is the
way with these New Workers. They can I
get away from Broadway. Their mental
vision in business, politics and everything
else is bounded by the East and North riv'
ers"
Secretary Lamont's Story.
Secretary Lamont tells neat story about
one of his little girls. The child has been
in the habit of amusing herself and both
erng the servants of the Lamont house
hold by whistlipg down the speaking tubes.
A few days ago she went out to drive with
some friends of the secretary's wife. one OF
whom was an elderly lady who is afflicted
with deafness and who carries an ear trum
pet with her wherever she goes. When the
little Lamont saw the trumpet at the ear
of her fellow passenger, she at once con
cluded it was a new sort of speaking tube
and proceeded to put her mouth to 1t anc
give vent to prolonged whistle, a method
of communication which the sequel proved
the owner of the trumpet did not at all
relish.
The Tongue of Scandal.
1t Is unfortunate, but true, that there are
many complaints of the bad manners OF
Washington society women. In this sea
son of great social activity the women OF
Washington are feeling their oats, rs the
expression is. They have so much to do, sc
many places to 90, find their names so OF
ten in the newspapers, that they NATURAL.
imagine themselves of n great deal more
Importance than they are. At least sonl'
Of them do, and the air is filed with tales
concerning their overbearing, insolent con,
duct, their lack of consideration for serv,
ants and even for the feelings of then
EQUALS. II is another sad fact, but still
fact, that the Capital City is reeking Will
scandal.
At the receptions which are now all the
rage large number of scandalous stories
are being circulated, more than half OF
them, no doubt, products of the magma
,ion. It. is very common thing to see
little group of danes off i'll Il corner OF the
drawing room eagerly listening to one who
has in some way become possessed OF thc
latest racy morsel The wife of a western
senator--a motherly. dear creature, who is
now having her first taste of Washington
society-says the quantity of scandal, tn,
amount of back biting and insinuatiob
which she has been compelled to hear dur
ing the last three weeks, have made her sick
mt heart She has been so disguised that
Washington society has no further charms
for her, and she has decided to remain at
home.
johnny Jones ard His Sister Sue.
Visitors to the state department in these
troublous times of Hawaiian and othe.
complications frequently have pointed oat
to them one of the most famous men OF that
great bureau He is not Secretary Gresh
ann, nor yet the secretary's remarkably
popular private secretary, but HUI
Smith. the song writer. Mr.. Smith has
long been u clerk in the state department
where he is an exceedingly useful man. lie
was thought so well of that the late secre
tary, General Foster, took Smith to pari-
with him to assist in the work of the Iehr
ing saa commission. Hubbard 4. Smith
is known to fame rs the author OF that
song which runs:
Johnny Jones and his sister Sue,
The little peach of emerald hue
II grew, il grew, ii grew, etc.
This song has been sung on every stage
a dozen foreign languages and for three
years was the most popular song in Amer
ica. But Listen to My Tale of Wee" did
not bring its author the royal compensa-
ton which the writer of After the Ball
received for his work. If common report
is correct. the composer of that catchy
piece enjoyed for u long time an income oil
81 900 n week from those few verses. Mr..
Smith sold the copyright of My Tale of
Vice. for sl5. and the publisher made many
thousands out of ii.
When Smith heard that a fortune could
have been made out of his song, whereas
Sl5 was all be received for it, ne wrote u Sc
auel song which had for its refrain some
thing almost rs good as the original, and
which emphasized the authors tale of woe
over the manner in which he had given
away his good thing Mr. Smith is the
author of many more popular songs, which
are sung by opera people and concert sing
ers. He enjoys comfortable revenue from
his work. but sticks to the state depart
ment and does not permit success to en-
large his head.