Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-01-22
GIFTS AS SPEAKERS.
Some Of the Peculiar Voices Heard on
Floor Of Senate.
Senators Sherman and Morgan Believe in
Afternoon Naps-Another Remedy.


a rule, the house Of representatives at
tracts more attention from strangers in
the city than the senate. but this white;
the rule Is reversed. The house for tia
nest party IS rather dull and perfunctory.
1t is the senate that has the lively debates
ana the most interesting figures. In the
senate we have such attractive stars as Cor
man, Hill. Allison, Teller and Wolcott.
Perhaps it will be a good many days be
fore the senate has suck a lively time as il
enjoyed last Monday, when German and
Hill had their great battle on the floor, in
which Allison and others took some part.
Senator German is a most effective
speaker, considering that he is not an ora
tor at all He has only one quality Of trua
oratory. and that is earnestness. Yet even
this one striking quality is tinged q triGi
with doubt. Mr.. German is SO sly, SO
crafty and keen, that like all men Of this
stamp it IL difficult for him to gain credit
for sincerity. Even at the moments when
be is pouring out his heart great many
listeners look to see him wink the other
eye and virtually admit that he is playing
part. But the senator from Maryland
appeared to be thoroughly in earnest last
Monday, ard he made one of the greatest
vi M NLdp u pItJ
voice is so shrill and thin!
Hill AS an Orator.
Senator Hill is developing into quite an
orator too. If he has few more brushea
with income taxes and Germans, he will
blossom out as a successor Of Clay, Web
ster or Hayne. Up to this time no ono
ever accused Mr.. Hill Of being an orator.
All his great speeches have been carefully
written ont in advance and read from
manuscript. But now he occasionally
trusts himself away from paper, and like
most men Of brains and courage does bet
ter when he lenves his manuscript at homo
or has not had time TO prepare it. In his
little bout with German, for instance, he
spoke with great emphasis and force. His
gestures were happy. He walked to and
fro and seemed thoroughly at case. With
out any of the natural gifts of oratory, he
is developing into very pleasing as he
has always been an interesting speaker.
Senator HIPS voice Is a good deal bet
ter than Germans. Germans is great
deal better than Turpie's. Turpie's in
turn, is infinitely better than Quays. Tho
wonder is that man with voice like
that of Mr.. Quay should ever think OF
making n speech to an audience of more
than two or three men ut table or in a
very small room. 1t Is an effort for Mr..
Quay to tone up his thin and wavcring ~
tic noto 80 that the presiding officer of the
senate can boar him, though the seat of
tho senator from Pennsylvania is but 90
feet away. The voice of Mr.. Quay reminds
most listeners of that of a boy who is just
becoming Il man, with lingering reluc-
tanco to make change. Mr.. Quay is very
popular among tho Republican senators,
but he has voice that hurts itself every
time it tackles the senate chamber Mr..
Turpio has no difficulty in making him
self heard. His voice is thin, too, but
stridont. 1t rasps and cuts and sings
Mr.. Turpio reminds some people of
Thomas cat out on u back fence. His voice
IL about as unpleasant voice to listen to
as could be imagined, but Mr.. Turpio
makes some great speeches, notable for
their legal learning and their strong COM
mand of the English language.
a Popular Article.
On the floor of the senate tho other day
/ saw n laughable incident Mr. Butler
of South Carolina pulled out of his peck
OF Il small piece of very black chewing to-
bacco helped himself to a section and was
about to put the morsel back in his peck
ct when he saw Senator Gallery beckon-
ing to him. Understanding what this
meant, Mr.. Butler gave tho piece of tobac
co u toss and soon Mr.. Caifcry was biting
off chew for himself. AS he was about
to return the pieco to its owner Mr.. George
of Mississippi concluded he would like to
have u taste, and so it was tossed TO him.
In this way the tobacco was kept flying
from ono to another till seven or eight
senators had taken each chew from it,
and when it was finally returned to Mr.
Butler no held it up to the light, mcasur.
cd it with his eye and put a look OF as
sumed disgust upon his face which caused
every one present to have good laugh.
Tobacco is a very popular article on the
floor of the senate.
Senator Sherman says he believes his
habit of taking a nap every afternoon has
done much TO prolong his health and Wig
or. Every afternoon, no matter how press
ing his business or how interesting the
proceedings of tho senate, the tall senator
from Ohio hies himself to coy nook in
tho cloakroom or to his committee room
and lies down for half hours sleep and
afternoon nap as a sure recipe for lcng
life.
A Nap and % Nip.
Senator Morgan of Alabama, who Ia
also u pretty old man and an exceedingly
vigorous one mentally and physically, is
likewise believer in the afternoon nap
But he takes his on the floor of the senate
Whilo sitting at his desk, say about 3 or 1
O'Clock in the afternoon, Mr.. Morgan puts
his elbows ON the desk before him, spreads
his finger over his eyes and underneath his
chin and takes little doze of about ter
minutes as regularly as the afternoons
come. Ten minutes. he says, is as good
for him as an hour. In ten minutes he is
new man, ready to take the floor and
make a speech half day in length.
A senator whom know has one pecul-
lar habit About l o'clock in the after
noon he goes down stairs to the restaurant,
buys quart bottle of champagne, drinks
a glass of it aud then has the bottle put
away on ice for him. Half an hour or SC
later be goes down for second glass, and
SO on until the bottle is emptied. Every
day OF his life this eccentric senator drinks
quart of champagne, and ho always APP
pears as fresh as daisy. 1t wouldn't DO
fair to give his name.
ROBERT GRAVES.