The Washington times., 1894-10-14
Women in Office:
Becky Sharp's Gossip

II were stenographer plenipotentiary,
typewriter extraordinary 10 II. r. H., OF
ngland. CT Col. Ochiltree, OF America, l
couldn't suffer more in the possession OF state
secrets than am suffering this very minute.
] can tell you precisely though ] wouldn
Tor the world-just what i is that has turned
down a certain Congressman, whose renoml-
nation We all expected. not so much because
it would have pleased Tom Reed as because it
couldn't fail to please every lady member OF
the House OF Representatives gallery. While
his failure to be renominated is generally
ascrioed to the fact that bis wife is a Catholic
and that the A. j. A. therefore Is arrayed
against him, the fact of the matter is no man
protesting allegianceto protective tariff can
drive about as / saw this Congressman
yesterday fondiDg French poodle
on his lap. without arousing indigna-
ton in every honest breast that beats
10 the tune OF america for Americans. "
Moreover. in direct opposition to the funda-
mental principle ot our free schools and
American system Of education-the American
language for the American people-this
French poodle which he Keeps and publicly
cuddles. obhges the Congressman, his family,
YES, every little innocent American child that
would speak 10 it, 10 speak French.
"Come here, doggie, / said TO the beast
one day. Won, said the Congressman,
involuntarily dropping his native tongue, the
instant conversation approached the animal
II he comprend pas uAmerieaine.
sSpreken see Dutch. 1 ventured, knowing
the strength of the German vote in his dis
trict and tancying theanimal might have been
trained for campaign purposes.
Non, replied the Congressman with great
eclat. 1t parle Francaise."
Then he added more OF Meisterschaft than
I am able TO translate and the dog was so
touched by its native tongue that there was
not dry eve in its body. was really moved
myself 10 offer it one OF Huyler's chocolates,
bur it persisted in crying until the kind Con-
gresham procured IL French bon bon.
am free TO say that this is not the first in
stance OF a violation Of the Monroe doctrine
IN his own family defeating a COngressman's s
renoIn nation. There was an Illinois Con-
gresham, and the very week before he was
defeated I sat in his library when his only
child, cunning tot Of four short summers,
ran into tie room followed by her nurse. l
thought az the first glance that the young
woman was nurse. But, alas. L soon
learned that she was a bonne.
'Bs IS 90 little heart. / exclaimed without
thinking as / opened my arms - the child.
But quite ignoring lne-not seeming. indeed.
to understand me. the dainty fairy few 10
her fathers side and babbled. Comment Yous
porteZ vouz ce saIr, mon pere.
WhereupOn this man-this Congressman,
forgetting his Chicago schooling. strOEed has
native habys head and murmured back. ''Je
mesuis bien, mon ami; yous yous pouez Dien,
aussi, jespere?"
''Oui. oui. monsieur" :" the baby lisped. Then
kissing her, he put her aside, and while he
idly thumhed a volume Of Fasguell which he
mad been reading. a. / entered, he explained
10 me that. out Of regard Tor the baby ana her
honne alone they had brought over from
bloomington, ILL.,, the entire family had fallen
INTO the common use Of French. excepting
the colored coachmen. who couldn't some
low get the real Partisan accent.
Leaving Congressional denominations and
the Americanism Of our people out Of the
question Tor Mr.. Bourcet 10 discuss at 5000
per discussion, 1 do think that here in Wash
Ington We might reasonably Introduce in our
public schools the study OF foreign languages.
including ali the live ones and the dead as
Jar as Chinese. You see. its impossible TO
tell at what moment We may fall in with dip
lomats OF Western Congressman who spend
their vacations abroad
The practical wisdom Of even further regu-
lating public instruction with at least remote
reference to the doings OF Western Congress