The sun., 1902-12-14

for the play Of wit. sarcasm or humor
hat weled out of Mr.. Reeds great brain
as naturally a. water from q spring III Il
mountain-ide
His ability TO see at "A glance and describe
in a sentence the humorous side Of things.
or the weak point in members position
was unsurpassed. Al times he made com
ments seemingly 70 make the clerks laugh.
but really because he could scarcely help
expressing his clear perception Of humor-
Gus situation or a weak argument. His
Yankee drawl always emphasized the
humor Of his expressions
One morning after the reading of the
Journal a member from Kansas, a Populist,
arose TO correct the record. and. in "a hesi-
tatinR manner. said
Mr. Speaker. | want to call attention
TO an omission in my mind
The Speaker lin an undertone. THAT is
unnecessary; YOU are Pop.
On another occasion Judge Terry Of
Arkansas arose TO make a set speech, and
began by saying
MIR Speaker, | am "A Southern man and
a Democrat
The Speaker-That il combination of
unfortunate circumstances which "a man
ought to labor to conceal
One of the noted men Of the Fifty-fifth
Congress. who was givcn TO much oratory
and resplendent rain.nt was James Hamil-
ton Lewis Of Washington State, commonly
known IA Dude Lewis" The SUS once
described Mr. Lewis a. "a thing Of beauty
and a JOY forever" to which Mr. Lewis
took exception.
he cane into the House the next mornir <
and with his gloves in one hand and copy
of TIE SUN IN the other marched down the
cantre aisle and, stopping near the front,
said
Mr. Speaker, | arise to question of
personal privilege Then he read what
The SrS had said of him, "A thing Of beauty
AID a joy forever"
Yes said the Speaker, only IL ought to
have read-a jaw forever"
This retor'. although not intended 10
go in the Record. was SO generally heard a
10 provoke ripple of laughter ON all sides.
amid which Mr.. Lewis took his seat.
TO soCKLEss JERRY SIMPSON.
In the Fiity-ffth Congress, Mr.. Bailey
of Texas. now senator Bailey. was the
recognized ,ader on the Democratic side
Mr. Simpson of Kansas, once klown a.
NOchlt'Ss Jt'lIN 'Nllll~Dil " ~ az Nllil'~ 'ilN-
posed To question Mr.. Baley's leadership
On one occasion he was engaged in
Lively debate with the leader of the Demo-
cratic forces and said in reply 10 state
meut made by Mr.. Bailey:
Il don't understa and it that way to which
the somewhat angry retort came;
Then the gentleman from Kansas better
60 and inform himself"
Whereupon the Speaker dryly remarked,
-The gentleman from Texas ought not to
make so unreasonable a request
Again. Mr. Simpson. who had been a
Republican, Populist and Democrat in
turn. wa attempting to make a act political
speech out of order his remarks not
being sermane to the subject under con-
sideration. He was called TO order The
Speaker sust aimed the point of order and
remarked that the gentleman from Kansas
could proved in order
Mr. Simpson prooeeded. but soon got
back to IA. political speech. He was again
called to order, whereupon some member
moved that the gentleman from Kansas
be allowed TO proceed The House voted
down the motion. Then Mr.. Simpson said:
MIR. Speaker, the Chair has decided
that can proceed in order. The House
has decided that | cannot proceed at all
Now, what ] want TO know is. where am
att"
The Speaker have never been able
to find anybody who could tell that.
Mr.. Simpson saw the wit Of the reply
aimed at his ability to change quickly from
one party to another and took his seat
amid roar of la lighter,
AS A HUMoRIsT
Mr.. Reed was really a great humoli-t
though few persons knew il. When he
retired from Congress he was besieged by
| editors Of reviews, magazines and other
periodicals for articles. One agent of a
publisher spent several days with him
on the coast of Maine seeking to make ar
ran gemerts for n series of articles.
Finally one Sunday morning Mr.. Reed
| went to Portland and brought back to his
seaside cottage an old satChel full of manu-
| scripts That evening from sunset to
almost midnight the two sat in ts study
! while he delved into the rich depths of that
| bag.
One by one he read the productions OF
| his leisure hours. There was cat story
Of the finest kind Of humor. There was a
! fish story unlike anything else ever written
| and of "A quality of humor that was more
J than delightful.
! Thus it Went on, his deep voice rolling
out the laugh- until the sides Of his visitor
were sore. He showed in these sketches
| and stories humor Of th" very highest type
fine. wholesome fun permeated with
genuine philosophy and most logically
| Illogical.
Then he perpetrated his main joke by
putting back the manuscripts into the
satchel and securely fastening it's catches
Not for the world ~" he said when il waS
urged that he might name his own price
| for the stories Now, don't understand
me to imply that am humorst or that
could be "A humorist but ! simply cannot
afford TO bo regarded ~ humorist,"
| Then he went on To mention the good
men who had not gathered the right fruits of
! their ability because their more solid merits
were obscured by reputation for being
| funny.
But Mr. Reed could not hide his humor
| in his conversation. II was ever present
and il appeared even when the list of sub.
| jects upon which he was To write came ur
for discussion. Topics properly solemn
| and therefore safe, he requested