The Republican journal., 1900-05-31
THE HuMoR OF POLITICS.
Some Good stories Told of Public Men by
Hon. John j. Ingalls,.


Hon. John j. Ingalls,.
Some of the very best stories of poll
tics were contributed recently to the
Philadelphia Saturday Evening Post by
Ex-senator John }. Ingalls, First he
says:
Charles Sumner had no more sense
of humor than a hippopotamus, but
there was something excessively hu-
morous about his colossal self conscious
ness, of which it is no paradox to say
he was apparently unconscious.
His egotism was inordinatelv vast
though innocent in its simplicity. 1t
was far from conceit and led to no dis
paragement of his as Sociates Indeed
/ doubt if he ever instituted compari-
sons.
''Probably Grant. whom he hated and
abused, came the nearest to sizing him
up when he said: The reason Sumner
doesn't believe in the Bible is because
he didn't write it himself.
'lle had large intellectual powers. but
not so large as he imagined He had
no influence on legislation He was un-
able to endure opposition If he could
not have his own will he would do moth
ing. But this is not intended as an an
alyss OF his work OF his character I
started out to say that soon after |
entered the Senate we were riding up
the Avenue III street car, and by way
OF conversation he asked me about my
predecessor. Senator Pomerov. who had
met.with an accident politically. He
spoke of his early fidelity to the cause
of freedom and the unusual degree in
which he held the confidence of his
associates till the impeachment of An
crew johnson.
Indeed he continued with great
gravity, had ne died before that time
Kansas would have owed him a monu-
ment. and | should myself have pro
nounced his eulogy..
Toward the end of Conklings career
in the Senate he fell out with the news
papers. and sometimes. when he arose
to speak, every reporter in the press
gallery closing his notebook, the whole
crowd would rush noisily out into the
lobby leaving every seat without an oc-
cupant
He flushed at the insult. but speak
ing of journalism afterward, he was
moved to remark in his propitiatory way
that the only people in the world author
lied to use the first person. plural, we.
i'll speaking of themselves, were editors
and men with tapewormS"
-hIl'llS lllC tltSto du a IlllICl w Ddll-
iel Webster in New York was Dr. Ben
jamin Brandreth the inventor of cele-
brated pill known by his name Mr.
Evarts united these two great men in
volunteer toast to Daniel W Webster and
Benjamin Brandreth: the pillars of the
CONSTITUTIONS
Objections had been filed with the
Judiciary Committee to the confrma-
ton of nomination on account of the
dissoute habits of the appointee
When the case came up for considera-
ton the chairman called for the at1i-
davits The clerk produced a number
from the files Consulting his docket.
MI. EdmundS thought there We're more,
and others We're found. \ search dis
closed another batch that had been
overlooked.
The papers IN this case said Mr..
Eyarts. appear to be more dissipated.
if possible than the candidate.'
To Il lady who expressed surprise that
one Of such slender frame and fragile
physique could endure SO many feasts
with their varying viands and different
wines, he replied t'Jat it was not so much
the different wines that gave him trouble
as the Indifferent ones.
President Hayes was a total abstainer
at home. Scotfers said he only drank
the 20. =. brands" His State dinners,
otherwise very elegant and costly. We're
served without wines. The only con-
cfsslon to couyiylaIity was the Roman
punch. Favored with Jamaica rum.
EvaltS was accustomed to aIlude to this
course as the life-saying station"
Rising to address informally the guests
at a Thank s@iving dinner, he began:
~ on have been giving your attention
to a turkey stuffed with sage. You are
now about to consider a sage stuffed
with turkey