Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-12-15

, - one thing in our favor-rhe persim-
mon has more taste than the pumpkin"
Tie laugh was on the speaker, and
he acknowledged 1t by cordially grasp
Ing the hands Of the LilIiputians and
! Joining - tt rnerrinent
= -.
The speech w4ieh opened Mr.. Reeds
way to fame was short. 1t was deliv.
cred not long after lie began his career
In congress. He hadA not up to that
time taken much partsin debate, but
one day while he was making a some
what labored argumentsan older nem-
Der tried to break him up by putting a
question to him suddenly and demand.
ing an immediate answer. Reed gave
the answer readily. Then he paused,
turned toward the speakers desk and
drawled out:
"And now, having embalmed that fly
In the liquid amber of my remarks, l
will 60 on again."
The house roared. The galleries took
1t up. The newspaper correspondents
sent 1t flying all over the country, and
to his own surprise more than any
one else's Reed found himself man of
note from that hour.
If ex-Speaker Reeds epigrams and
| scattered witricisms thrown off In the
rough and tumble debates in the house
or at dinners or in chats at the club
could lie compiled, they would make
! 4 unique and valuable collection. He
{ has coined many phrases which will
| live forever in our political nomencla-
ture, and here are two of the best
known of them:
"A statesman is Il politician who is
! dead" ..
/ "The senate is place that good rep
resentativcs go to when they die"
! One of Reeds replies to the late Rep
! resentative Springer of Illinois, who
received n.auy a sharp thrust from
I him. is also celebrated. Springer had
retorted to Reed on one occasion that
he would rather be right than be
! president"
"You nct4 rot be alarmed" respond
ed Reed coolly; you will never be
! either"
| Congressman Sherman of New York
(, relates this s%,ry of ex-Speaker Reed,
which has to do with a visit made by
Mr. Reed to Lake Champaign, New
York Mr. Reed, Mr.. Sherman and
Congressman Foote were being shown
around by native who had the story
of that region at his tongues end and
who, much to the amusement of his
listeners, was throwing in lot of his
torical fiction as establishment to his
tale. The native seemed to take a par
ticular interest in "stuf1ing'' Mr.. Reed,
whose identity was unknown to him.
In spirit of fun Mr.. Sherman intro
duced the ex-speaker.
'This gentleman" he said to the ma
tive, sis Speaker Reed the speaker of
the American congress.
"Do tell" said the native without
any great degree of establishment.
give heard somewhat of you" he
continued, addressing the ex-speaker.
'"They do say as how you be the great
est speaker what they have ever had.
They do say that you can speak for
fifteen hours on stretch" =.
"This is too much" said Mr.. Reed.
"He takes me for United States SEN
ator."
The following story is told of Thomas
e. Reeds aptness, for it will be gener-
ally conceded that few men have equal
led him in his quickness at repartee.
Mr.. Reed was conducting some of the
Canadian members Of the joint high
arbitration commission through the
capitol at Washington one winter.
They were greatly impressed with the
importance of their cicerone and the
ease with which all places few open
at his appearance. But they finally ar
rived at a door which failed to swing
aside at the speakers "open sesame"
"Your authority does not seem to be
10 absolute here" remarked Sir Will
frid Laurier to the car.
ooh, it isn't hair trigger, but 1t will
be all right in minute" responded Mr..
Reed. At that very moment the door
was opened by unseen bands, which
persuaded his followers that he had
spirits also at his command.