The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1898-04-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Statesmen Who Ride Bicycles-How the
President Made Boy Happy.
Mrs. Semple's Pension.
ISpecial Correspondence.l

Especial Correspondence
The season for bringing out congress
sional bicycles is at hand. Representa-
tive Moody, the most athletic man on
the Bay State delegation, has his wheel
out and every fair day rolls leisurely
, down the avenue. Mr.. Moody takes"
the hills, although he assembled to the
capitol rather slowly for few days.
Representative Alexander of New York
whirls around to the departments on
his congressional errands mounted on
his bicycle. He turns the corners Of
streets with a rush and in his busy
course sometimes runs in danger Of be-
ing grabbed up by the bicycle cops.
Representative Shafroth of Colorado
is one of the new riders. He was
charmed with the idea of riding, and
when last in Chicago he looked around
and found bargain in wheels that he
Immediately took up with. It was pur-
chased only for learning to ride, how.
ever, and was not entirely good look
ing bicycle In fact, it looked SO old
and decrepit that Mr.. Shafroth thought
it entirely safe to leave it at the capitol
without being locked. The other day
somebody rode away with it, and MI
Shafroth is left without bicycle.
Politics Makes Strange Bedfellows.
Politics, it is said, makes strange bed
fellows Bicycling makes stranger COM
panions. Every afternoon trio of SEN
ators leave the capitol together on their
wheels There is Chandler, partisan Re-
publican, sarcastic, peppery, always
running prod into the southern Demo.
crat in the matter Of honest elections.
Then there is Bacon Of Georgia, tall,
digniied, careful as to dress and speech
and ready to do or die for the cause Of
free silver. And last comes Tillman,
wearing farmer clothes, broad brim.
med hat, rough and ready in all his
words and actions.
Off the three 60 together. Chandler
pedals with nervous energy. adjusting
his eyeglasses as he goes along; Bacon
working with grave deliberation, and
the one eyed Tillman running his wheel
in total disregard of all established rules
and even falling off occasionally when
he guides his machine into the rut Of
the car track. Great debates these three
senators have as they glide along Some.
times the sarcastic Chandler gets too
spicy and the outspoken Tillman gets
too obstreperous. Then the peace loving
Bacon silently steers his wheel between
his two colleagues, and upon his broad
shoulders the oversharp comments
harmlessly fall.
Senators as Jokers.
On recent afternoon Mr.. Carter Of
Montana rose to make a briet statement.
when Senator Turpie moved that the
senate go into executive session. As this
motion had precedence, Senator Carter
appealed to his colleague to withdraw
it until he had made his statement, but
Mr.. Turpie declined, and the doors were
closed. Some routine business was trans.
acted, during which time Mr.. Turpie
became engaged in conversation with
colleague. Noticing his abstraction,
Senator Carter moved that the senate
adjourn. The motion was carried, and
nobody knows yet what business Mr..
Turpie intended to bring up.
The President Makes a Boy Happy.
An l1-year-old lad while studying
bis history lesson recently learned that
the coming Saturday would be Presi-
dent McKinley's birthday and thought
Il would be nice thing to send the
chief magistrate birthday card. The
one be secured and mailed contained the
good advice: "In whatever
tation you are, God has called you to
i'll the place. and you should do your
luty."
Saturdays mail brought the boy .
White House letter addressed to Mr..
-. 1t was from Secretary Porter,
Who said he had been directed by the
resident to acknowledge the receipt of
he birthday token and to convey the
residents thanks for the remembrance.
he youth was delighted with the at.
ention, but was disappointed that the
resident should think he was man,
nd was anxious to rectify the mistake.
The president was to leave for Phila-
elphia at 10 O'Clock Monday morning,
ut Notwithstanding the pressure Of
fficial and private matters the youth
vas admitted to the presidents room
'hen he presented himself about 8
clock that day.
AS long as he lives he will never for.
ct that audience The president thanked
i'm for his thoughtfulness and present.
1 him with the rose which he wore in
is buttonhole. 1t was a happy boy who
eturned home and told of his success.
Miss Lille Kendall, of German own,