The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-08
PRIVATE
JOHN ALLEN
THE FAMOUS WIT AND STORY
TELLER ABOUT TO RETIRE.
Amos Cummings Recalls Speeches in
the House Which Gave the Missis-
sipian Wide Reputation for
Quaint Humor-Never Made but
One Faux Pas and That Was When
He Foolishly Attempted to Enter
tain His Colleagues with Song.

sreciai to tho Scranton Tribune
Washington. Dec. a.-Thc great fly
wheel of legislation Is in swift revo-
luton. 1t Is apparent that the house
means business. 1t Is working under
full head OF steam. a score of
statesmen are watching the gauge ana
all are awaiting results. Those who
have been returned to their seats are
jubilant while those who have been
discharged are by no means disconso-
late. They are not on the black list,
and await the struggle two years
hence with entire confidence. Some
there are, however. who have dis
charged themselves. 'rhe glamor of
public life has worn away. and private
interests are no longer to be swamped
in the service of the nation. Among
these Is John NJ. Allen, of Mississippi.
With this session he passes from con-
gresional life. Failing thrice In reach
ing the senatorial rung of the lad
der, he has returned to terra tirma
with stout heart and at least an
average conscience. OF the ninaty-odd
members who are to disappear. he will
he the most missed. No member Of the
house is more universally known.
With a rare fund of humor and an
unassuming way of distributing it, he
has long been prime favorite. He
enlivened weary discussion, he light
ened the burden of work in committee,
and he always brought sunshine into
the cloakroom.
At the close of this term Private
John Allen will have served sixteen
years in the house of representatives
Allen not only tells Il story admirably.
but he leads up to it in the quaint
way so characteristic of Mark Twain.
He weaves it into the woof of his
speech so deity that it becomes a part
of the speech itself. 1t is always pe-
cuiarly adapted to tile point at issue.
and invariably serves as q clincher to
an argument constructed as oddly and
ingeniouSly as a Chinese image. 1t is
not only an illustration. but one that
WHITES his logic and intensifics the in
terest of his hearers. Aside from this.
Aliens speeches are a; times studded
with trite aphoriSmS and punge mt say
ings all original and Irresistible. His
voice and his manner also add to the
ZeSt of his words. The voice is musi-
cal even in its hOarseneSs. and the
manner seems to be helpless and en-
tirely distinct from the man. When he
has anything to say he usually stations
himself on the step at the head of the
main aisle and awaits recognition.
When accorded, he appears surprised
and totally unprepared. He acts as
though 1t had come much sooner than
he had any right to reasonably expect.
He twangs his words and talks as slow,
If not slower than Mark Twain. Oc-
casOnally he seems to be at a loss for
Il word and turns his eyes toward the
glass ceiling as though utterly baffed.
His listeners have an intuitivc impulse
to suggest a word or do something TO
help him out
John apparently wallows 'helplessly in
the slough of his orthography. Sudden
ly, however, he makes Il supreme eff
fort. lands on his feet in great shape,
and utters d sentence so excessively
droll and grotesque, that the hall rings
with laughter and applause. His wit is
never on tap. but comes apparently of
it's own accord and despite his efforts
to prevent it. 1t is unStudied, if not
accidental. Hardly is II uttered before
John seems to be wrestling with the
sentence that is to follow it. BY this
Half the members throw themselves
back in their chairs in paroXysm OF
laughter, while others clap their hands
in ecstasy. In good trim. Allen never
becomes tiresome. He never made but
pne faux pas in the house. 1t was at Il
night session. He tried to illustrate a
story by singing, and made a dead FAIL
ure. He lacks musical talent, and he
Ia f1,n .nt of har
1t Is said that he cannot tell the star
Spangled Banner from the Dead
March," in Saul. 1t is question
whether the humor of Aliens speeches
does not impair their efficiency. Aside
from their pquancy, the line of argu
ment is unusually strong, and would
attract attention anywhere. Sunset Cox
learned late in life that his wit was
detrimental to his public career, and
possibly the Mississippi statesman is
learning a similar lesson. Undoubtedly
the most effective speech ever made by
him was that opposing the claim of
Josiah Patterson to the seat held by f.
w. Carmack. of Memphis, in the Fifty
fifth congress: yet It contained more
stories than was told by him in the en-
tire session of the FOrty-ninth con-
gress Patterson, to the surprise OF
every member of the house. was sent
back to Memphis. bitterly disappointed.
1t must be remembered, however, that
Carmack himself was potent factor in
achieving this result His plea was ex-
ceptionally brilliant and expressive, re-
plete in invective and sarcasm. 1t has
already virtually placed him in the
United States senate.
John Allen first took his seat In the
house in December 1885. John G. Car
Isle was speaker, The only other
representatives of that congress in the