The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-01-23
Setting up aJobOn Tom" Reed

Setting up job on Tom" Reed
Tom Reed IL growing fat This new
state of things began with the opening
Of the present session He is said to
have tipped the scales five pounds more
on Saturday night than ne did on the
( Monday before. And, according TO a
merry tale which went the rounds Of
the clubs and hotels yesterday, its no
wonder
Ii seems that heretofore a coseFie of
four choice spirits-Reed, Burrows,
Payne and D1,liyer-were wont To
lunch together daily during the wear
aud tear Of Congress. The meal was
simple, and was taken more for the
purpose of aliaying than stopping the
| appetite. Twenty-Five cents head
would have been fair average in those
days. y 50-cent luncheon would have
been dubbed extravagant.
But with the reassemblingO of Congress
things changed. In the first place,
Dolliver dropped out of the coterie,
and Dalzell joined IT, Possibly strict
regard for truth would have it that
/ Dalzell Joined il and DOllivcr dropped
| out. That was one Of the things
/ changed. The other wds the character
of the luncheon. Dalzeil did the order
/ ing for the first day. With exquisite
taste and a splendid purse to crafty it,
I ne filed one of Tom Murrey's order
slips with blue points, terrapin, and
things to match, and with abundance
OF champagne, naturally, to wash it all
down. Reed didn't see the order, and,
till the waiter appeared, had his mouth
made up for something like bowl Of
! simple bread and milk. But when his
eyes fell upon the repast, he quickly
fixed his mouth pie-the ex-speaker is
nothing if not adaptable-and enjoyed
il all right heartily.
The next day Burrows played host,
and, though he did, surpassed Dai-
zelrs spread. This went with the
former luncheon, and 80 too, did the
midday banquet, which, on the next
day was served by Payne. Following
the custom Of many years, the day after
would have been Reeds treat. But
he stopped to parley with the House
paymaster before descending to Muir
reyville, and when he arrived he found
that Dalzell had already ordered feast
which surpassed them all. The same
thing happened on Friday, when Bur
rows played the host Determined to
do mis- share of buying, though the
price was considerably above his usual
limit, the man from Maine took time |
by the forelock on Saturday and reach
ed the table with the rest.
"Now, gentlemen" he said, ''what |
will you have. | am host to-day
and he began to write terrapin, cham
pagne, etc, on the slip.
II want pork and beans to-day"
Dalzell replied.
Reed looked surprised.
Just the thing" Burrows exclaimed. !
''The same for me.r
Reed looked more surprised.
II was just about to order pork and
beans for myself" quoth Payne.
No one cracked a smile, and Reeds |
surprise burst into u smile of wondrOus |
beauty. The orders were not only a |
compliment to his New England |
nativity, but they meant a saving of |
at least 50 for the eX-speaker, though |
rich in brains, is not in pocket, and |
well, 50 i So. so pork and beans, |
with just water on the side, il was.
Had the menu of the previous five days
been repeated, Reeds increase in
weight might have grown by night six
pounds. Those who told the story
Yesterday have agreed To be present to-
day To see if the program of last week
IS TO be continued. If 50, their sus-
piCiOns will be confirmed. Bat Reed, |
the whoIe-souled, unsaspecting, but
growing Reed, had no suspicious. The
program might be repeated week after
week He would simply keep on
growing and loving his three boon hosts
the more. lie would even think that
the recent political cyclone, called by
courtesy an election, had aught to do
with this change in things. 1t would
never occur 10 him that each of the
three gentlemen, sanguine in the be
lief that ne, Reed, will be the next
speaker. wants 10 be made chairman of
the ways and means committee. Ifhis
suspicious are not aroused, however, he
Will have TO get measured for new
clothes for, as was said at the beginning,
ne IS growing fat U'd.iiAJtOa Post.