The Lafayette gazette., 1899-08-05


defeated for the Senate. Allen is
NO doubt the greatest humorist in
Congress. His humor does not
sting like that Of Tom Reed, but
makes you ''laf and grow fat" as
Bill Nye would put it. Besides be-
ing q humorist. John Allen is an
able man and is worthy place in
the American Senate, but it seems
that those who delight in making
Others laugh are not looked upon
by the masses rs men who are ca
pable of handling intricate prob
lens of government 1t is said
when Tom Corwin, of Ohio, first
spoke in Congress, he made all the
United States laugh, but that speech
stamped him as a great humorist
and the country refused to accept
him in subsequent years as the great
statesman that he undoubtedly was.
John Aliens inimitable humor has
earned for him a reputation as a
humorist that extends far beyond
the oceans, but it has also curtailed
his influence at home. Like the
student who reads Browning in the
hope of finding some hidden poet
ical treasures, the masses believe
that only in the sedate and digni-
fed are concealed correct notions
of craftsmanship. t.Private" Allen
has joked TOO much with the good
people of Mississippi for his own
political welfare. They are willing
to be merry with him and to send
him to the lower house where his
frequent sallies Of wit have en-
livened the otherwise dull discus
sions on vexed questions of finances
and tariff, but when he asked them
to elect him to the Senate they
thought that was too serious a bust
ness for him to engage in. No
doubt ''Private" Aliens opponent
is aB able man, but he has another
recommendation which the Missis-
sippi papers tell US has cut quite a
figure in the election. .tAnse," as
The farmers love to call him, eats
greens with knife, and if there is
one thing which Mississippians ab-
hor it is the arbitrary law of etiquette
which restricts q mans individual
liberty 10 the extent of compelling
him 20 eat green's with a fork.
Coupling this with the fact that
Allen doesn't eat green's at all one
may we'll realize the untoward pre-
dicament in which the great hu-
morist found himself.
Joke aside, we are sorry that
John Allen has been defeated. He
is simply a victim of his own de-
lightful humor of which he has an
exhaus,ible fountain. The follow
Ing anecdote from the pen of
s'Savoyard," the Courier Journals !
at Washington, well |
the disinclination of men
10 entrust their serious affairs into
the hands of undignifed persons:
Dignity is a great thing. 1t has helped
many fool across the branch. heard an
necdore of Chief Justice Marshall, the
.reatest juEist the Anglo-Saxon race ever
the real father of the American
Constitution, that is worth repeating in this
When Marshall was quite a
'oung man practicing law in Richmond an
I'D +. F. v. went to the capital of the Old
to look after law suit that in
'olved about all his estate. He had a letter
rom friend~to Marshall and was advised
o secure his services regardless of the size
( the retainer. When he got to Richmond
maybe it was Williamsburg, but thar
oesn't nlatter-he ''put up' AT the tavern.
sext morning he saw young man walking
p the street eating cherries from his hat,
'hich he carried in his hand. The old
Gentleman asked who the young man was
nd remarked that he seemed to be a rather
areless in his habits. He was told
hat it was John Marshall. the rising young
lwyer. 4
Our old F. F. v. resolved then and there
1st Marshall could not have his brief, SO
e went and employed dignifed old chap {
ho looked like he knew more law than ,
latihew Hale ever heard of. Going into
&c courthouse some hours later, r. r. {
:. witnessed 4 trial in which his counsel was !.
pposed 10 Marshall, and he saw in in
ant that his 40 match for the {
Dung cherry eater. After the trial he
astened to employ Marshall ;sS associate
,unsel in the case. Dignity and poiiteness =
ave made the fortune of many a dull one.
If Cuba is and ought to be free
ny does Uncle Sam insist upon
aiming things down there.