The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-02-19

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Her Calling OF Society Reporter.
WASHINGTON. Feb iS.-lSpecial. Dur
sng the grent debate on the currency qucs
tion In the house there were many things
said and done which did not find their
way into the daily papers. Occasionally
some member told funny story TO illus
trate his remarks, and the reporters OF the
press associations mover put stories In
their dispatches. Now and then somo OF
these notes had a pitiful ing with
the humor, and as an example ct the sad
and tho funny mingled let me quote from
The Congressional Record. Mr.. Strait OF
South Carolina gave a picture OF the pow
erty OF many Of the people of his section
Of tho country that was enough to draw
tears from the eyes of his listeners. Then
he concluded by saying:
Why. heard upon this floor sentiment that
seems TO be prevailing that the whole south Is
turning over to this gold standard system. We
have felt the effects OF IL for the last 30 years
Il has ground our people down almost to the
dust II has reduced the price or our products
until our people are almost in state OF star
walton; hut, thank God. In that country we
have we can live upon sweet potatoes and rice.
and SO forth, and become purified from the Of
fects Of gold. There was an old negro in my
neighborhood who came TO me and said: doc
tor, am glad to sec you. What is our friend,
Narse Grover, doing up thar? Why, think he
is going to accomplish more than all the
preachers OF the world for the last 5000 years.
Why, he Is purifying orr people. You know
that the love of money is the root OF all evil,
and. my God. he has placed it out Of our reach.
90 that have not seen a dollar of IL for six
months Thank God. there is no getting IL, and
think may be saved in the end"
No Principles.
Mr. Strait argued against the gold
standard. Mr.. Warner of New York, one
of President Cleveland s warm friends, fol-
lowed him With a. speech against the silver
standard. Mr.. Warner appealed to the
members of the house to lay aside their
party feelings and como out. for their prin-
ciples. ''It seems to me" He said, that
we can unite upen common ground. We
have been too long acting upon the theory
of Artemus Ward, who, as You remember,
was conducting an exhibition of wax fig
ures along In the border states at the time
of the opening Of the rebellion, and when
one committee of safety after another asked
him to which side he belonged and what
were his principles cried out In sheer de-
spair: Lord, gentlemen, how many times
have got To toll you that / amt got no
principles--I'm conducting show"
Mr. Swanson of Virginia created a great
deal of amusement In the house at the
close of his spc6ob with remarks which
are quoted as follows In that faithful
chronicler OF congressional sayings, the
official Record
Must BE q Golden Trumpet.
These gold people remind me very much OF
oouthcrner who was onco in Central park, New
York, when he heard the band play. When
there was q pause, he called out for "Dixie." F"
"Dixie" was promptly played for him. When
it was concluded, he enthusiastically shouted,
"Give me Dixie again" 1t was played for
him once more. When the band stopped. more
enthusiastic than ever, he shouted, "Give me
Dixie again" The leader OF the band turned
to him and said. "Old man, / reckon whom Ga
briel blows his trumpet you win call for
Dixie" eyes" replied the old man, "and
n he doesn Z play Dixie won't rise either. So
II Is with certain gentlemen here. ] never see
them rise to speak or vote unless in aid of the
gold standard Why, sir. believe that my
friend from New York in front Of me (Afr.
Hendrix), II the angel Gabriel on the day ot
judgment does not blow with a golden trum-
pet. will refuse 10 rise ON account OF "a want of
confidence in the call and trumpet"
Comptroller Eckels, the youthful official
of the treasury department, is still buying
cigars for those cruel friends of his who
1nsiet upon asking him questions about
his escape from flying cab and the
clutches Of his abductors at midnight.
Mr.. Eckels returned from Baltimore late
one night and entered cab at the station
70 be driven TO his home, "A mile and
half away. Shortly after the vehicle had
started on It's journey the cabman called
out to a chum of his, saying, "It's all
wight, Jim" When tho cab stopped and
tough looking customer mounted the
box by the side OF the driver, Mr.. Eckels
began to wonder whether IL was all right
or not. Then he looked out and saw that
ho was being driven into q strange part
Of the city. 1t did not take the youthful
comptroller long to decide upon what he
should do. Without asking any questions
he opened the door and jumped out OF
that cab as quick as a cat and though the
night was Geld, and he had ON his feet q
pair OF patent leather shoes, he ran like
scared deer to street car and made his
way home In that plcbeian fashion. 1t
turned out next morning that tho cabman
was all right. His friend on the box was
. companion who was going to ride home
Wltn MIN, anu tneIe never WAS tne hllkDt-
est notion Of doing harm to the comptrol-
Ter. II am satisfied of that now, said
Mr.. Eckels, "but when fellow is scared
he does what he thinks is the best thing"
A blessing In Disguise.
Mr.. Eckels, by the way, is living OK.
ample of the fact that the doctors do not
always know what they are talking about.
Fifteen years ago be was examined for
life insurance, and the report was unfa.
vorable. The doctors said he had heart
disease and was not likely to live very
long. Mr.. Eckels applied for 10 year
policy, and that was refused by the COM
pany. Then he asked for ten year poll
cy, and another examination was ordered.
The result OF 10 was even more unfavora.
BILE than the first, and this policy was de.
clinod by the company. Applications TO
other companies met the same fate, and
then Mr.. Eckels gave It up. Now bo is
glad he did. He has outlived oil the
terms for which he asked insurance and
says he thinks ho Is good for 70or 50 years
more.
How many persons Is It possible for the
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