The National tribune., 1899-09-07

Chas. T. O'FerreI from Virginia.
1t mattered little how much these states
men hammered each other III the halls of
Congress, or how much they differed on
policies and measures, their differences
were left outside; in this home each was
to the other the prince of good fellows.
Mr.. Reed always brought his wife and
daughter with him to Washington. Mrs.
Reed is quiet, dignified woman, who cares
but little for the rush of the social round as
it is played here in Washington, but was
always punctilious in all the duties per-
tanning to official functions; and Mr.. Reed
was always at home with his family unless
matters of business nature demanded his
time. Both of them had something OF a
domestic turn of mind.
We have vivid recollections Of a colored
domestic that they transported to Maine
and back again several times, with the full
assurance that little Kittie was duly cared
for and faithfully watched over, especially
In their absence. She was high priestess
with the other nurses, and yet there was a
silent glorification when Kittie's nurse
came to grief.
A state dinner was being given at the
White; House, and Mrs. Reed was among
the guests, leaving little Kittie with the
nurse. Some hours after their departure
from home-hours after Kittie would ordi-
narily be asleep-the housekeeper, in pass
ing through the hall, saw such brilliant
light in the Reed apartment that she thought
the rooms were on fire. She gave the
alarm and rushed to the door, and bursting
it open a strange vision was before her. My
lady of color had proceeded to illuminate;
every light in every chandelier and all the
side brackets in every room were ablaze
with light. Kittie was propped up with
pillows in her crib, the only spectator of the
performances of this star of the vaudeville,
while the nurse bedecked in one of Mrs
Reeds party dresses, was giving cake
walk for the benefit of the wee spectator.
At the breakfast table one morning Mr.
Reed seemed TO be perpleXed over the CON
tents of his mail. He finally looked uI
with that peculiar twinkle of the eye which
is known so well, and said: 81 have Il com
missions this morning from my constitu
ents, and barely one really pertains tG
legitimate business. These range from q
demand for plowshares and pruning hooks
30 a raid on an intelligence Office and ship
ping a servant girl TO Maine.
q shall have TO put aside my official gart
and assume that of High Chancellor o
Errands," said Mr.. Reed, and walked out Of
the dining room with tired air before tht
days work was begun.
It is well known that Mr. Reed did no
approve of the ways and means employed
by President Hayes in the bestowment O
his gifts in Mr.. Reeds District, and he die
not hesitate to give utterance in words of NJ
uncertain sound to what he thought abou
it, and occasionally when the affairs O
state were off his mind, and he would linge
in the parlors with other members of tn
household, to the surprise of some and tn
amusement Of others they would hear from
his lips his anathemas Of a man who woul,
promise one thing today and do anothe
tomorrow.
Somehow President Hayes was no
happy in settling several of the knott
questions of the emoluments of Office il
Maine. neither in the Senatorial nor Cor
gressional Districts.
We have vivid recollections of livel
feud in which Senator Blaine clinched wit
President Hayes. A man was made Co
lector of some port whose paper did not bea
the stamp imperial of the Senator fror
Maine.
Invitations had been issued for stat
dinner at the White House, which is unde
stood to be equal to a command. Ere the da
arrived the news of the appointment of tn
Collector had been made public, and tn
little feud took on broader proportions,
which Mrs. Blaine took an active par
She went so far as TO decline to go to tt
state dinner; but even the wife Of tt
"Plumed Knight" had to conform to custom
and see that her seat was not vacant. ST.
was present at the dinner, but did not din
She turned her glasses over, placing or
above another, and sat there like sphin
with folded arms, and neither broke brea
nor dipped salt during the meal.
When this labored function was over 81
donned her wraps and with stately a
walked out of the house, feeling undoub
edly that she was revenged for the Pres
dents audacious act toward her husband.
But what Of Mrs. Hayes, the hostess