The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-03-17


"'Why don't you put this boy on as
you agreed
"'My dear Mr., Toombs, cannot do
it. l have made some other promises
that must first fulfill
1.-The thunder you must' said MI.
Toomhs, very emphatically. You'll
either put this boy in or I'll put you
out.'
you may imagine that from that
day l was page in the Capitol, until
got so big that / had no business
there"
Getting the autographs of mem
bers." continued Robson, was quite
source OF income For this service we
received ten dollars, but this money
was not easily earned. 1t was very
difficult to get some of the members TO
sign, while others were delighted to
write their names. Andrew johnson
was one who was very fond of giving
his autograph, and it was with some
difficulty that he could write It, He was
just then coming into significant public
life and his education had not been
cleaned in schoolhouse. In signing
his name he would put his tongue to
one side of his mouth and sway his
body with every movement of his PEN
| 1t was, therefore, great FUN Tor the
BOYS to get Mr.. Johnson to sign his
name, and they were constantly play
ing pranks on him. The members were
as bad as the boys, and they would put
the pages up to go to him for his sigma
ture for the purpose Of watching him
write it.
Henry Clay" continued Mr.. Robson,
gave me an opportunity to make
| twenty-five dollars. His compromise
1 bill was pending in the senate, and 1t
was taken up unexpectedly, when
many of those opposed to it were alb
sent. among them Mr.. Douglas. There
was great CONSERVATION among those
opposed to it. The pages from both
houses were sent in every direction
looking for Mr. Douglas, while some
| senator was put up to talk against
/ time. None of the messengers We're
able to find him. / came in in the
midst of the excitement, and asked
what was the commotion. Every one
said:
| " we want to find Mr.. Douglas.
Just then Mr.. jeremiah Clemens OF
Alabama came up, and said: I'll give
| twenty FIVE dollars to any one who will
! find Mr. Douglas
/ II at once inquired of the boys where
! they had been, and suggested half a
dozen places where he might be found
1 for the pages knew very well most of
the haunts of the congressman. We
have been to all Of them said the boys
| in concert I hit upon place after a
moments study where thought he
might be. The boys seemed to have
| covered all the other territory.
rushed out Of the door, grabbed my hat
| and darted for the house. The pages in
those days had horses to ride in going
| on errands. They We're rather queer
horses. but, nevertheless, they We're
better than none. Mr.. Horner, the
doorkeeper, had to give us an order for
one. He kept them ready written, and
they read, no matter what the boys
name, Give Jack a horse I got one,
/ quickly ran and mounted one OF the
nags, and at the top of his speed
dashed up the avenue. ! drew up to
| the place, about half mile distant,
rang the door bell, and asked If Mr..
| Douglas was in. He is said the SER
want. Tell him Mr.. Clay's compromise
bill is about to pass, and he Is wanted
immediately In minute heard Mr..
! Douglas voice saying:
| Great heavens! is that so?"
"The servant came back and told me
| to leave the horse at the door, and I
started back toward the Capitol. Be
fore had gone great distance | was
passed by Mr.. Dauglas on the horse
making for the Capitol as fast as the
animal could go. / thought then and
think now it was one of the funniest
sights ever saw--this large man with
an immense body and little short legs
riding down the avenue astride the
horse, and the awkwardness with
which he sat his mount did not improve
his appearance. J got the twenty-five
dollars, however for my part in bring
ing Mr.. Douglas to the great debate.
las / look back to these times, now
fifty years behind me, it seems as
though everything was then conducted
with great laXity. The sergeant-at-
arms used to pay the members in gold.
and the congressman would send the
boys after it with the greatest freedom.
Sometimes the amount would be small
and sometimes far larger than should
ever have been trusted to such young
hands. One day was sent to Rigg' S
bank, where the deposits were kept,
with an order for two thousand dollars.
1t was handed to me in two cotton
bags, very loosely tied at the ends. Af-
ter mounted my horse found it diff
ificult to carry. So at the first cigar
shop ] came to I stopped, dismounted,
went in, and got piece of Irvine and
tied the two bags together. I then
mounted and went galloping down the