The times., 1899-12-19
HEARD AT THE CAPITOL.

Odpltol yesterday on CTuJcheS. Il had
fall several weeks ago said he. and Will
not be able to walk with ease for four or
five weeks yet. I would not have been here
at this time were it not for the vote on the
financial bill taken today I represent about
10000 people. and. at the risk Of injury to
my sprained ankle, / made the trip here to
register their unanimous protest against the
passage OF this bill. which is a ruinous
measure We had severe drought in
Georgia this past summeT-the worst known
in the State, I am told, since the Indians
left our country, about sixty years ago. For
three months there was not a drop of rain
and the crops were all made without any
water, you might say. Where we used to
make twelve bags of cotton to the mule
about four only were made this summer
and so with all other products The whole
State suffered and many farmers were al
most ruined, but yet We managed to make
up partially on the advance in cotton, and
fortunately, all planters were able TO hold
their crops until the rise in price occurred.
We are the second State in cotton raising
in the Union, and our crop was about two
thirds less this year than last. terrible
reduction, when you come to think about
it."
An interesting observer of men and things
at the Capitol yesterday was Senior Fran
cisco Gonzales, a wealthy sugar grower of
Cuba. This is my first visit to America, -
said he, ''and I am delighted with the great
country to which we owe so much and
which made free Cuba possible. We fought
so long and so hard for liberty, and with
such little success. the people began to
despair of ever seeing the country freed
from Spain's rule; but when America
stepped in and lent her powerful aid toward
our cause, the situation changed, and we
knew the dawn of liberty was at hand.
How do the Cubans regard President
McKinley's message on the question of free
Cuba % was asked.
With few exceptions, the whole island is
delighted. and we are all convinced the
great Republic means TO withdraw in time
and allow Cuba to govern herself. This is
the only thing America can do to hold her
position stated before the war with Spain.
Now that the war clouds have lifted and
the dogs of war have been called off, Cuba
is beginning to rally from the fearful de-
preston that came very near putting an
end to the island. We are all locking for
ward to the future, and our vision is IN
dimmed. We are prosperous, and all in the
ern ourselves"
whats become OF Clara Morris don t
mean the actress, but the little old woman
who used to keep a stand up here, at
which she sold curiosities of all kinds?"
This question was put by a former Sena-
tor. who has not been to Washington for
many years.
why Senator she went out with the
others Under Mr.. Reeds exclusion act
you may remember this act, or rule. pro-
hibited anyone from keeping any kind of
a stand in the Capitol.
Did the restaurants go, too?'
mo, they remained. Mr.. Reed couldn t
drive them out
Il should think not, if the Kentucky
/ delegation still come here as they did in
my time You know / have not visited
the Capitol for years, and I expect a great
many changes have been made in my alb
sence. l am sorry though that Clara
Morris has gone She should have become
& fixture here Many a pretty little trihe
have l bought from her and every Christ
mas box sent home by me contained some
Of Der wares. Do you know, she always
made me think of the little old witches I
used to read about when a boy. When
ever | had occasion 70 pass her stand l
was reminded of Mother Goose, and
grew tc look on her as the good fairy OF
the Capitol. But 1 guess she. like the rest
of us, got too old, and had to go before the
advancing wave Of youth and the spirit
I Of progressive change"
a party of rural sightseers were yes
terday being shown over the Capitol by one
of the guides. When they came to the paint
ing representing the fall OF Chapultepec
the guide squared himself and began to
deliver a brilliant description of the paint
ing. and interjected a few bits OF history
as he proceeded. The visitors stood and
took it all in, with their mouths partly
open, and their eyes intent alternately
upon the picture and the guide. "Ah, my
| friends" said the latter see how the
battle rages-hOw the poor wearied sol
diers fall, never to rise again. What can
equal, in all the universe, the horrors Of
war? And there stands General Jackson,
OF whom General Lee remarked, in a voice
that could be heard above the din of bat
tie. Look at Jackson standing there like
stone wall. Here one of the men in
the party looked at the guide and, with
disgust plainly written on his face said:
Look here. young feller, I've lived at
Bull Run all my life, and my little grand
son can do better'n that. You jist give me
back my 80 cents. l always believed | wuZ
an old fool, and now l know it,"
AN incident happened in one of our
local courts some time ago, said a Repre-
sentative from the West yesterday, that
illustrates the individuality of trying to
be too smart at all times. You know il
every community there is the usual ire
pressible smart chap. who fears no rebuff
and knows no silencing-a fellow who
knows it all and a trifie more, and VINO
would make use of funeral to air his wit
Well in the town in question a precocious
individual known as Bill got into
trouble and was called to answer a certain
charge amounting TO misdemeauor He
retained me 10 defend him and ! managed
to do pretty well under the circumstances.
Still the fellow was convicted and the
judge told him to stand up and be SEN
fenced. There was a general smile around
the court room at this, as if the audience
expected Bill 10 get off a good one at the
courts expense. BIZ arose with a spright-
ly air, and looked at the judge, smilingly.
William Jones. his honor began in solemn
tones, you have been convicted of drunk
enness and profanity on the streets of the
city Have you anything to say why SEN
tence should not be passed upon yCu?'
Well ledge replied Jones, we wuZ all on
US a drinkin' a little. and 1 even noticed
a lawyer or two in the crowd. At this
there was an audible litter in the court
room I fine you, went on the judge,
'thirty-fye dollars Why certainly,
Judge. quickly said Jones. I've got it right
here in my jeans. and his hand went down
into his pocket The judge continued, and
two months in iail-have ycs got that in
your jeans, too? Bill Jones sat down.
amid general silence After his term of
incarceration was over, he was never
known to be too gay unless the time was
Opu0rtlua"