The morning times., 1896-09-13

masters comfort when at the "mess" room
Very little was expected OF them wheI
the Senators went out to their duties. They
frequently formed parties with other ser
wants OF their. Class, and In neighboring
quarters aped the manners OF their mastess.
playing cards, drinking and telling stories
lney only needed to keep somebody on
watch that the Senators should not return
unexpectedly and lack something. 5s-... =
Many stories are told OF the frolics, es
capades and serious political discussons
that went-on. in the street quarters OF
Senator Butler and his friends. They were
not always confined to the rooms, either.
Whether these are true or exaggerated.
the most critical and expert historian would
find II impossible at this time to determine.
sLIDELL RAISED THE BET.
On one occasion, 1T is told, the four men
emerged from their doorway near mid
night and went, talking earnestly, down the
street. When they reached Four and a-half
street they turned into Pennsylvania ave
nue..
moment later one OF their men fol
lowed them at careful distance. lie
stated they had been drinking and play
ing cards, and Mason had declared Sill
dell was too tipsy to walk. He had
been chatting slidcll about some pretty
girls they had called on and where good
wine was served. He said SIidell had more
than he could carry when he returned to
the rooms, and that he came near akins a
spectacle or himself ON the street. Slidcll
look 1t gOod-naturedly, but at last said:
You know very we'll l was as sober rs
you when we ca me hack"
Ma ybe so: you didn't need to be so very
sober Tor that" was the response, and Ma
son added quickly: I'm bet "A hundred dol
lars you can't walk a strip OF carpet across
this room now" '..r d. --- 9.
I'm take you," was the answer, as Sill
dell arose, unsteadily to his feet and stood
holding to his chair. He was plainly very
much under the influence OF the social en-
Joyment or the past few hours. 1t looked
doubtful If he could win the wager. Bat hc
thought he knew himself, and he added a
challenge or his own.
And III tell YOU, Mason, let's make it
really interesting. II you will put up .
thousand with Butler, IN 60 out and walk
the baiustradr OF the arch across the Tiber
Oh Pennsylvania avenue
WALKED THE BALUsTRADE.
Senator Mason could hardly get out OF
the bet, though he said afterward he WAS
really afraid that Slidcll would tumble
INTO the creek. But the money was put up
ana the party went out TO see the trial
1t was toward the close of the long ses-
SION in lS4s, and a pleasant spring even
ing. There was hardly any street lighting
even on pennsylvania avenue in those days,
but there was a nearly full moon in Il
cioudless soy Only the mists from the
creek dinmcd the view little. A hilr
dozen residents along the lower part CT
the Avenue We're still wake and could see
plainly what happened as the party np-
the bridge Tie colored man was
nearest and his story OF what occurred has
been told often among raildrcn and grand
He said as Senatof Slidell came to the
he Strengthened up a little, and
seemed to call all his energies To his COM
mand. At the rail hess,ook himself and
climbed up, Then he paused a moment.
stood erect with the bearing OF soldier,
and marched across the baiusrrade with the |
steady stride of dress parade.
When he reached thc'other end he turned |