Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-21
STORIES OF STATESMEN
Gabe Bouck and the Detested Pension
Bill.
Senator Edmunds' Definition of the
Impossiblc-An Art
Note.

While Gabe Bouck was a member OF
Congress from the Oshkosh district in Wis
consin a pension bill was before the House
during one Of its sessions that caused him
considerable vexation of spirit and tribula-
ton. for. while his personal convictions
were directly opposed to 1t, his personal
interests were strong enough to whip him
into line, and when the bill came up for
final disposition Gabe voted with the ma
jority and the bill was passed. Gabe was
peculiar, both in dress and looks. His
coat was always a blue swallow tail, with
brass buttons, and his eyes focused at a
point about three inches from the center of
his nose. But that didn't prevent his car
rying very big heart, and he always had
scores of friends. One day when the
bill was up for consideration, the late Cen
eral Denver was upon the floor of the
House as an eX-member from Ohio, and
while passing around in the rear of the
seats on the republican side he met the
democratic Gabe, who was walking back
and forth gesdculatsng excitedly, and
bringing his clenched right fist down into
the hollow of his left hand to the accom-
paniment Of expletives that would hardly
look we'll in print.
what's the matter. Gabe; what's all
this excitement about?" questioned the
general, as Gabe let out an exceedingly
"Trouble?' snorted Gabe. excitedly:
enough! mat pension Dill Is up
and all these cowardly nincompoops are
going to vote for it. It's sure to pass.
sure to pass" and the irate statesman
cavorted around like n wild bull that had
Unexpectedly run afoul a red flag.
But why don't you get the floor and
speak against it-try to stop it?'' said the
general tryir to soothe the excited Con-
gresham.
it? Why, I'm one Of the cowardly nincom-
poops myselfr' And the bill passed.
And that calls to mind a story of Bouck
public life here. He was very popular
among society ladies. and his bright wit
ticisms made him a general favorite at re-
ceptions and banquets. One day while rid
ing toward the Capitol in an street car
he sat opposite several ladies near the GEN.
ter. One of the ladies noticed that Gabe
was smiling sweetly and INDUCING in sly
wink occasionally, SO she crowded up closer
to her neighbor and motion ed him to sit
beside her. AS Gabe seated himself in the
vacant place she said:
''Mr. Bouck, what's the use of sitting
over there smiling and winking at me when
you can sit close beside me end whisper"
Il beg your pardon, madam," said Gabe;
II was smiling and winking at that little
colored girl up in the further corner
The misfit eyes had caused her to mis-
calculate.
Senator Edmunds was once standing with
a visiting English statesman on the high
steps at the west front Of the Capitol, look
ing down Pennsylvania avenue toward the
Treasury Department. The stranger had
seen much to interest and amuse him in
Washington.
"You have a wonderful country and a
wonderful people here, Mr.. Senator. Moth
ing can be impossible with such go-ahead
inhabitants"
''Oh. yes." said the Senator; "some things
are impossible here 1t is impossible to
march brass band down that avenue and
have a crowd Of colored people go in the
opposite direction at the same time"
A Congressman from the far west, walk
ing along F street one day, saw in a show
window a little statuette in clay of a rag
ged, bare-footed urchin who had stubbed
his toe and had the injured foot up on his
knee caressing it. On the margin Of the
base were inscribed the words. by gosh"'
by Josh" unused the statesman, thought
fully. Il wonder what the sculptor's other
name is"