The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-24

his time. but they have never borne his
trade mark. and ne is the unsupported au-
thor of nine-tenths of the clever practical
jokes. He suggests TO Others and has no
pride of authorship. He has a thoughtful,
almost distracted manner in conversation,
and speaks in a low tone His CONVERSE
is full of bright ideas quaint insinuations
and paradoxies. To the casual observer he
is big, plain, shaggy man. From under
his shaggy brow his keen eyes catch every
thing. He is student of men. and none
or their foibles escape him. The stories
he tells relate to these foibles. In the
oeeiil.siy most unconscious way ne is a
caricaturist of men. He applies the Y ray
and gets picture of what is hidden. and
then gives the subject a glimpse of the pic
ture at an unexpected moment. He is
quiet cunning and good-natured
senator Vest of Missouri. is sharp, caus-
tic. critical, epigrammatic. eloquent. and
ofte e1r humorous mo so He is good story teller
He is characteristic ..abitue of the cloak
room. He would rather regarded as di-
rect than as polished or amiable and there
Is certain brusqueneSS about his humor
and repartee. He is good talker on most
room.
There has been no striking development
OF purely funny man in this Congress.
Even John Allen, who has been making
unsuccessful effort TO reach senatorial Dig
There are some of talent, in a humorous
way. but there has not been much demand
Tor wares OF that sort.
and bright, jovial fellow. He is lively,
sprightly conversationalist, of q give-and-
take, hit-or-niss sort. seeing always the
laugh from sheer good nature. In the cloak
room, or as an after-dinner speaker. with
cut being funny man, he creates applause
and merriment. He has a sunny face, a
pleasing manner and quick wit.
Senator Proctor is the sort of man who is
called good company. He is an entertain
Ir1cr fol ME <~cl
half jest, There is a quaint. old.fashioned
humor about him that gives spice to his
conversation. Whether he talks of his ex-
among men, his conversation is replete
with the lights and shades of gravity and
humor, directness of narrative and the pic
all gravity nor all humor, but finds and
brings to light every shade of sentiment
there may be in mis- subject: In the narra-
ton of his experience in fishing or in shoot
ing big game he appears at once as a
sportsman and a poet.
While Senator Villas has some reputation
as an orator and as an after-dnner speak
er, he appears at his best as travelling
companion, or in any position where ne is
thrown into direct conversation on ever
changing subjects during several hours. He
is net story teller, wit. nor humorist.
but he has a clear way of looking over
multitude of things that make up the ex-
periences and excite the emotions that
life, and has an entertaining way of dis
cussing each that passes in review. The
simpler phases of life seem to have a great
attraction to him and his descriptive
powers are strong in dealing with them.
He has the happy faculty of varying con-
yersation so that it cannot drag, however
prolonged. -.
Representative Cannon is a much better
talker when ne has his feet upon his conn
mittee table and his chair tilted back to4
wards the fire shan he is either on the floor
of the House or when making a speech
after dinner. He also knows how to be
facetious enough to please, but there Is
uuaintness and rough-cast expressiveness
about his conversation, when completely at
his ease that gives 1t charm.