The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-11-01
WASHINGTON "REMINISCENCES


Fernando Wood, ex-nayor of New
York City, and for many years one
OF the representatives in Congress, was,
Sn graC5eusne.ss Of manner, in cour-
robustness OF department, and in cos
tune a gentleman of the old school,
After the strictest of his sect, he
lived and died Democrat, but all the
dark5es employed about the Federal
Capitol loved him for his kindly spirit,
End for the size and frequency of his
Aiaa- Among his favorites was col
<ared barber who attended in the cloak
room Of the House of Representatives.
Learning that Johnson-for so was
he Tan1ed-had mother and sister in
slavery IN Maryland, and thae he was
sa,ing money tc purchase their free
dom. Mr. Wood passed the hat among
his associates, collected three hundred
dollars, added two hundred dollars
from his own pocket, and presented it
20 Johnson, who with his own savings
was then the possessor of eight hum
dred dollars which he deposited with
Riggs s. Company. Mr.. Wood next in
9erested himself to procure for Johnson
q lease Of the barber shop at Sara
toga hotel, from which it was estimat-
ed that four hundred dollars could be
derived during the season, thus making
up the snm Of twelve hundred dollars
necessary to purchase the woman and
ner daughter.
Before the season opened at Sara
x0ga, Fort Surnpter was fired upon, and
an extra session of Congress was cali
ed, and johnson relinquished his Sara
eogg lease, and was back in his place
at Washington ready to wait upon his
Congressional friends.
snThis is too bad," said Mr.. Wood,
as ehe settled himself in the BARRIERS
chair 1--WE win have to make up lit
tie n1ore money for you to buy your
mother and sister. Cannotiyou get the
master to take a little less than twelve
furdred dollars for them?''
ssS1h YES! Massa Wood" was the
cheerful reply. -FIe done offers to take
eight hundred dollars for them now.
ssWeIL ycu have got eight hundred
dollars, haven't you? You haven't
spent any OF that money have you?'
ssNo. indeed replied the colored man,
ait lis All safe in Massa Riggs bank.
gwen, why don't you buy your moth
err and sister with it?" cueried Mr..
Wood. The barber applied the lather
vigorously to the Congressman's chin,
and replied
<1Dar's no hurry Massa Wood, dar's
no hurry Niggers is going to De
mighty cheap befo' this wah is ovah.P
AAA
OF all latter day American statesmen,
none so occupied public attention in
his lifetime, or died so utterly when
he died, as James G. Blaine. He i'm
pressed his individuality strongly up
ON those about him, but it did not ex-
tend to those with whom he did not
come In personal contact. He had
<yuickness OF perception to a remark
able degree, but lacked breadth and
depsh and prescience. With every ap-
ueawance of unselfish devotion to pub
3ic interests he estimated and dealt
with measures and with men in their
bearing upon his own fortunes. rather
than the public welfare. He did not
Yower his helm when the fight was on,
Eue he did not hesitate to stooo to con-
<ruer and he was lukewarm friend
and a pfacable enemy. He was born
Diplomat He was powerful ana
dramatic and often eloquent in Speech
nut his addresses We're Tor MS lfiiile-
diafe audience, and he endorsed Sir
BOYLE Roach in saying: What has
uosferity done for u.s." His motto was
that OF Danton. -Laudace, faudace,
sauicurs Taudace." If he had lived
longer and had possessed more robust
health he might have reached the goai
of his ambitions, for he was surely a
great partisan leader, and neither MS
power nor his opportunities had passed
ffbeir zenith when he was called away
"A i
MIR. Blaine was a capital raconteur,
and never suppressed a good story be-
cause thsa joke was on himself. He
related on one occasion how an Old
farmer had indicated him at a town
meeting in Maine. \"The habit that