Middletown transcript., 1899-04-08
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TIBBS WAS ELECTED.
THE FLIGHT OF ORATORY THAT WON
HIM A PAGESHIP.

Jimmie Was Not BashfuI, and His
Early Call ON Senator EIdridge
Gave Tint Gentleman an Inspira-
ton In Words That Carried the Day.
Below is printed the noted speech of
Senator Eldridge of Shelby in nominat-
ing Jimmie Tibbs, the Nashville news
boy, to be page of the senate. Senator
Eldridge had made the newsboy's cause
his own, though the little fellow came
to him unknown, with no stronger sup
plicancy than the boys frail yet ener-
getic appearance. Senator Eldridge had
notified the senate that the man who
voted against Tibbs voted against the
senator from Shelby, and the sweetness
of revenge would come when the oppos-
ing voter wanted the senator's support
on local bill The speech was as fol-
lows
''Mr. Speaker, l nominate for page
Jim Tibbs of Davidson county. There
can be no ulterior motive ascribed to
this nomination, no railroad passes, no
champagne suppers, no political pulls
| come from the muddy Mississippi
river and Mr.. Tibbs from the misty
mountain tops of middle Tennessee
Mr.. Tibbs has seen ten summers but
many. many winters have shed their
snow on his sunny head His freckled,
anxious face is standing there gazing
at me now. He is looking up now, but |
for nearly all his life he has looked down
as he has shined the big feet of small |
men. |
"Mr. Speaker, Mr. Tibbs is not here
as supplicant for pity or sympathy |
Mr.. Tibbs is man and the head of a |
family. Mr.. Tibbs has met the dizzy,
sinsick world and won out He has not |
become as dizzy or as sick as you and l. |
and, therefore, l will not refer to the
humble home of Mr.. Tibhs or the old
mother who, no doubt. is on her knees
praying to Almighty God for Mr.. Tibbs
Twill not refer to the paralyzed brother
who, like myself. knows that Mr. Tibbs
cannot fail But somehow l feel cold
when I think of that snowstorm out
yonder and how it must rattle the cur
tainless windows of Mr. Tibbs' resi-
dence And, Mr.. Speaker, l somehow
do wish that the mother of Mr.. Tibbs
would kindly mention this great senate
in that prayer, for, if she did, I believe
it would suit its constituents better, and
we would come nearer coming back next
time.
"Mr Tibbs, like myself, has been
blown into this senate by the sublimity
of luck. Destiny chooses her disciples
with unerring aim, and those who op-
pose Mr.. Tibbs are fighting God will
ell you why think this am stop
ping at the Tulane hotel, by the faith
# the host thereof Ny wife and baby
ire with me there Yesterday morning
had been up very early discussing the 1
question of new constitution for my
elf and my state. Is
eat 6 in the morning Sarah was soft I
humming to the teething baby, rock f
ng him back to rest, to sleep and to t
which is the only rest. t
The old refrain rose and fell as the nod T
ing Of a flower:
"Jesus can make dying bed
Feel soft as downy pillows are,
While on his breast lean my head
And softly breathe my life out there. &
''Knockl knockl Come in, angrily h
aid, expecting a be1lboy. H.
"Mr. Tibbs appeared. He came to ~
he bed and said: Senator, I am named d
ibbs, and want to be page Of the SEN
te. I want you to make the rest Of 81
1em vote for me, please sir r
"'Mr. Tibbs, replied, does it not u
;cur to you that you are crowding me IL
'mewhats Don't you think for the
ind of day and the time of day that =,
Dur visit is not the proper thing9' v
"'Well, it is good daylight, he said, III
md have been up some time "
" Eyes, sir, all men should be ready
r business by this time, was my re-
inder, but why do you come to me
I'd how did you find mef'
"I saw you in the Climax saloon
sterday, and Mr.. Maddin, the bar
eper, said you were SENATOR came
9 unhesitating answer.
81 quickly glanced at my wife, the
cking had stopped, and the baby,
airing strange voice, had ceased his
mplaint and was sitting up, looking
re jack rabbit in bed of lilies, all
es and ears. do
81 said, Mr.. Tibbs, I must ask you h th
excuse me, will call on you later siz
/" Yes, sir, will see you, he replied,
d went away.
Sarah turned her head and said,
ill, am for Tibbs
''Mr. Speaker, I arose and raised the 70
rtain of the window. The east seemed dis
,ked with swarm of golden bees; in
J sun, that had been away, was CAT
ocking at the front door of this plan kn'
Sir, who can tell of the systems and bel
les he had smiled upon, of his un- con
akable glory and sublimity2 The Cul
at of this sun will fade by and by. upe
one time it was born, at one time it sys
st surely die, but, sir, the fire had of
q in the eyes of Jimmie Tibbs will sire
die. It is older than the sun. It has and
ID floods of storm and wrath that Tbe
lid quench that SUM- One is of to- crr
, but the faith, the courage and the dro,
9 of Tibbs make us dream again of son
Immortality of the soul {"
ibbs was elected. Amer g,