Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-01

''The way in which Senator Quay does the
HttIe-is fact. almost trivial-things indi-
Gates the shrewdness and uniqueness of his
personality" remarked a Senate employee
the other day.
For instance, any man that comes to
Washington to see Mr.. Quay. and whom
Mr.. Quay wants to see-and there are hum
dreds of them-will go directly to his room,
that of the committee on public buildings
and grounds, and never ask question of
any kind Not SO with the friends of other
Senators. for while they may have been told
Row to reach their different rooms, they
have. as rule. to make inquiry for their
location. was amused the other day, when
the callers on Mr.. Quay were unusually
large, to see how they went directly to his
room, Notwithstanding the circuitous route
necessary to get to it. When l asked one of
them how he knew where to find the room,
he showed me card. 1t told the story. 1t
contained very minute directions as to how
to reach the Senator and just what to do
x < x
Night Manager Young Of the Western
Union Company, whose fine physique and
hairless head have made him a conspicuous
figure for the last quarter of century in
the House press gallery. where he has
charge CT the telegraph office. is conceded
to be an able man in his particular line of
business, but no one would ever believe that
Ham,, as the newspaper men call him,
could distinguish man on telegraph wire
by a mere touch-so to speak-and that, too,
when less than a half dozen words were sent.
Mr. Young has charge of large force of
men, and when they desire to get off they
send him message to the Capitol call
him up on a wire and talk to him personally
and make their desire known.
One of his men called for him on the wire
the other day from up town and asked: Can
/ get off tonight"
Yes, you're excused" responded Mr.
Young.
The man walked down the avenue as far
as 14th street. when suddenly the fact dawn
ed on him that he had neglected to state
who he was, and he went back to set the
matter straight.
Again calling up the Capitol. he asked Mr.
Young: Say, how did you know who asked
to get OFF,?
oh" came the response, "it's B, isn't
it?'
Yes"
Il said you were excused"
Well said the man as he left the Of
flee, that beats all l ever heard of. / gave
10 name and spoke but five words and here
is man who tells me who 1 am
Oldtime operators considered this re-
markable in view of the fact that only five
words were said. Things of this sort have
been zone when longer conversation en-
sued or the character of the mans sending
was better gagged by long talk.
< = x
certain western Senator, whose services
began with this Congress. gave positive or
ders to one of the clerks taking his seat
in the Senate to have his desk supplied with
a new pen and fresh ink each morning.
Everything had been going smoothly until
recently. when the Senator had occasion to
leave the city for the first time since Con-
gress convened. The young man whose duty
1T was to change the pen and ink on the
Senator's desk thought it unnecessary to
look after this matter during the Senator's
absence, and neglected it. The Senator
walked into the Senate rather Unexpectedly
the other morning. and as he fell into the
big cushioned chair at his desk he looked the
picture of happiness and contentment He
has a habit of wetting new pen with his
lips thoroughly before dipping it in the ink
TO insure free flow, and as he proceeded to
get to work he picked up the pen on his desk
and from force of habit thrust 1t into his
mouth
1t had not been changed during his alb
sense and was badly corroded. In a mo-
ment penholder went flying through the
air to the rear of the Senate chamber and
accompanied by a great spluttering. Ex-
plantations were In order by the clerk, but
the Senator was none the less angry.
4 X
1 was talking to a friend of John Nor
gan. the Mormon. a few days ago, and he
told me a singular story concerning that
apostle of Joseph Smith. During the civil
war Morgan was a gallant Union soldier
and at the battle of Missionary Ridge he
was in some unaccountable way listed az
one of the killed In fact, remains sup
posed 10 be his were found and they are
now buried in the national cemetery at
Chattanoosa with his name on the head
stone. Some years later Mr. Morgan took
charge of the southern work of the Nor
mon Church. and while in CHATTANOOGA
learned that his grave was at the national
cemetery.
4 Il *
There was something familiar looking
about man 1 met on the street the other
night. and when he spoke to ask me for
aims 1 recognized his voice. / had not
seen him for five years, and could scarce
ly believe that the ragged mendicant was
the same man whom 1 had known. Five
years ago he was clerk in a store, and
motel for Righteousness of dress No one
supposed him 10 have an extraordinary in
tellect, but his habits were good and he
was exceedingly popular. He took a great
interest in local politics, and it seems it
was this that caused his present trouble
He came to Washington and secured a
minor clerkship, from which he was dis
missed about a year later Since he de-
voted his time to petty agencies until ne
could no longer pay his board bill and his
clothes were worn and shabby. Too proud
to go back where he had been successful
and unwilling to let his old friends know
his predcament, he held on until a few
nights ago his landlady refused to let him
remain, and for the first time in his life he
was beggar.
x
new scheme has been worked In Wash
ington that has caused me a large amount
of thinking to determine who the swindler
Is. young, modest-looking and pretty
girl has n book for sale. She does not talk
the lady of the house or the man of the Of
flee TO distraction. She produces the book
and tells the prospective customer that she
wants to leave it, and will call for 1. in a
day or two. The next day a young man.
rather trampish-looking. but with an air
OF having tried to clean himself ND de-
Gently, calls and asks if the book has been
examined, saying that the young lady
leaves the books and he does the soliciting
The book is given to him. and a DAY OF
two later the young lady who left it calls
When she learns that IL was given to the
man, she resorts to tears, says that he has
done il all along the street; that he must
have seen her leaving the books, and fol-
lowed before she had time to get back; that
she is very poor and cannot afford to lose
the book; that they had no right to give
II 10 any one but her, and other things
equally convincing, until the victim paws
for the book. Whether the two are operat-
ing together or 1t was simply a scheme on
the part of the trampish-lool man. /
do not know. but the plan seems to be so
n nrNn &c yl1oz, N1,t