The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-10-31
Va TrEsoAY. OCTOBER 81 1899.
FREDERICKSBURG VA. |
The Next Speaker.

Between congressional sessions
Gen. David b emner Henderson, now
virtually Speaker-elect OF the House
of Representatives, lives a. Dubuqn
Il, There the q neral. with Ms
Henderson and a your z unmarried
daughter. stsy at the city s chiet ho-
tel. | has been genuine Mecca for
pilgrims ever since the decision WAS
made in caucus last summer that the
General should have the important
place vscsted 10y the resignation OF
Thomas Brackett Reed
Gen Hendelson's reputation among
his neIghbors Is very ike his reputa
ton in the = use Of K preseutatyes
He is spoken Of as y well-nlgh tine
less worker, sy mptthetic and cordlsl
3 friend to friend and foe to foe
As Speaker Gen. II nderson will dis
plsy the same ope1 frsnkness and the
same never.falug bluff courtesy that
have always characterized him, hut
should it be called for he will be ike
a rock for s'eadfastness. While his
touch is likely never to be rough or
brutal. his hand wi oo hard Il
steel whenever occasion requires
GEN. HENDERSON As HE Is.
Gen. Henderson has two workrooms
in Dubuque. lis oili'e IS IN = big
building which IL almost wholly oc-
cupied by lawyers aud railroad cni'
clals and insurance men, on the main
street. His den - is IN the Hendor.
soa suite at the hotel. He generally
spends the day from 9 IN the morning
to , IN the afternoon at the Ciiice.
Unless a social engagement prevents,
be spends the evening in the den. Al
the Office be has his congressional
secretary to help him when working
in the den Mrs. Henderson, who is
devoted to her husband and has made
almost as close study of public Al
fairs as he, delights to assist him.
There the General does most OF his
newspaper reading, which must nee.
esssrily be extensive. Mrs. Hender'
sons help is invaluable. She selects
and clips sll sorts of articles which
she fsncies Will interest him. ltisln
the den that be generally writes such
Of his campaign speeches as are sent
out on paper IN advance, though lew
of bis addresses, and, in his own judg
ment, none Of his most effective ones,
nave ever been written al all. As q
rule, his preparation for speechmhk-
ing is confined to close reading and
hard thought. He does the reading
first, and when he has acquired the
information be desires be goes TO MS
Office, locks the door and sees no ona
until the speech has been completed
thought out. II ,ylDg fixed It's point
in his mind, be relies almost wholly
upon the impulse of the moment for
its form, his written references being
memoranda, so brief that they may
be j)tted down upon bit OF paper
little larger than mans hand.
He SINGS ~ HIS CAMPAIGN.
Gen. Henderson is almost an ideal
campaigner. There is no lack of 10
tellectuallty in what may be termed
his stump speeches, yet their most
noticeable characteristics are hearth
ness. obvious personal belief in what
be himself says aud enthusiasm. HIS
habit OF enlivening up the proceed
ings occasionally by asking the audi
ence to join him in singing the Star
Spangled Banner, Marching Through
Georgia or some other patriotic song
has long been famous. Ga such oc-
casions be leads the singing himself
in a strong and really musical voice,
while verybody j)ins in. Many a
time the Generals singing has been
highly effective in rousing the audi
ence, as well AS himself, and doubt
less he will continue to sing at his
campaign meetings as long ss he
makes campaign speeches. He is
now in the midst Of the campaign in
Iowa, where an important STATE cleo
ton is to occur in November.
Personally, Gen. Henderson is a
Jolly good fellow. He is taller and
heavier than the average. His
shoulders are broad, his chest is deep
and he will be an impressive figure
at the Speakers desk. He walks by
the aid Of cane with limp, due to
the loss of the left leg at the knee.
He was shot at the battle Of Corinth.
His hand is a big one, and his grasp
on greeting a friend is a real grip
HIS conversational voice is pleasant,
and his talk shows wide and varied
information. H is capital story
teller, and be holds pronounced views
on most topics, though he doesn't sd
vance them with the air of one WHO
can not change his opinion should
reason for a change be put forward
He does not like to talk about him
self. His memory of his mother Is
vivid, and his reverence for her is
pronounced. No one could be with
him half an hour without percelvlp
that he is positive character IN
every sense of the word.
FROM SCOTLAND TO IOWA.
Yet chance has played most i'm
portant part in the new Speaker
life. Had not Thomas Henderson
his father, been more trustful over
half century ago than most mer
are, David Bremner Henderson nigh
never have been an American citizen
at all. The course of his whole ca
reer, since early childhood, was
changed by one act of confde nee OF
the elder Henderson's part.
For generations the Henderson,
dwelt in Old Deer. a village attached
to the Earl of Buchan's, estate IL
Aberdeenshire, Scotland. AS tn
general is now, so was his father be
fore him, fond Of singing, and pos
sessed OF voice which made him
general favorite. The Old Esrl o
Buchan, a bachelor, who received
much company and lived high wa
one of those who took pleasure II
Hepderson's voice, aud often had hin
at the castle for the diversion OF bi