The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-12-02
A Washington Letter
o. H. Olson.

| WASHINGTON, d c. Nov. goth, 1909.
Congress has not been especially press.
| ed for time the past week. In fact, il
seems to be something of a problem with
members and senators as to how they may
employ their surplus time pending the APP
pointment of the various committees, and
the opening of the regular session 1t is
not expected that anything of Importance
will be done at this extraordinary session,
save the disposition of the Cuban Recipro-
city Treaty. Speaker Cannon and the
minority leader John Sharp Williams, are
quite active and are not finding life en-
tirely harmonious at this time. The wish.
es and ambitions of congressman frequent
ly conflict with respect to their favorile
committed places and it becomes the
delicate duty of the party leaders, and par
ticularly Of the speakers to adjust these
difficulties, and to smooth out the ruffled
spirits of the disappointed ones. A few
parliamentary skirmishes have been en-
acted, and some attempts made to dispar-
age the attitude of the administration on
certain questions. The recent Panama
revolution has fomented certain perturbed
conditions and serves as a pretext for par
tisan maneuvers. Williams and Grosve-
mir have contributed notable speeches al
ready. and the Mark Twain of Congress,
who halls from the state that gave to his
country the original Mark Twain Champ
Clark has also had his little fling. He
never fails to inject liberal quantity of
rarely fails to make some cursory remarks
relative to the shortcomings of his ira
ditional enemy, the Republican party.
;,l, 80, ~,
increased confidence of the voting public
but when one bears in mind the fact chat
the speaker is more famous for his humor
than for his achievements, the point falls
fat
That veteran actor. and Dean of the
American stage. Joseph Jefferson, is per-
forming a the New National Theatre here
this week. His chief role is that of Kip
Van Wrinkle, and the humor, pathos ane
spontaniety with which he embodies this
popular and joNial vagabond of Irving $
story renders Jefferson theatrical idol
Forty FIVE years ago Represented in Wash
ington his first characterization of Rip Van
Wrinkle, and on Monday night in a curtain
speech after the performance, he called
attention to this fact and suggested that
perhaps in the audience might be found
grand children OF people who were enter
tanned by his first presentationof the play,
The pla as staged by Jefferson is Dion
Boucicaults version, which differs Sigh :
ly from that Of Washington Irving. hose
who heard Jefferson when he was young
er may have heard more forceable actor
than the Jefferson of toda , but in the sub
tie art CT suggestion and consumate histri-
onic talent, ii is doubtful whether he ever
excelled the performance of the past week.
The character of Rip as conceived by Jeff
erson calls for no great emotional strain or
demon stration, but demands remarkable
knowledge Of human nature, and mas
terry of the art of character poltraiture
the wonderful possibilities of the art are
splendidly exemplihed by this veteran Of
the foot lights.
Judge Conner and Mrs Conner spent
Saturday and Sunday at Brodentown,
where their son. Raymond, attends co..
lege Tsey are again established in the
Hamilton which has been their home
since coming to Washington.
The oriental habit of fattery evails
| here to a greater extent than at any other
place which have visited The fawning
CRATER who clings to the garments of leg
islators and heads of departments is but a
single specie of this var able order AS an
illustration of the lmo5t universal nature
Of this moral ma ady, [ ,nighi site the case
of the land lady who " shed to rent to me
one at her rooms. In response to my
query she assured me that she had rooms
that were marvels Of convenience, neat.
ness and attractiyeness. She stated en-
phatically that the one was fifteen dollar
room, but seeing that vas a fine ;;entle-
| man I might have it at twelve dollars |
| told her | was charmed with the room,
and that had friend who also wished to
rent room. This opened new vista to
her. She Immediately became if possible
more obsequious. and on my suggesting a
figure for both rooms, she acquesce,l with
seeming reluctance. and made the con-
cession on the condition that my friend
was as fine gentleman as yourself and
then not discernir any hint Of approval
IN my facial expression, she bolstered up
her mistake by adding with an air OF os-
tentations and judicious discrimination
rs you seem to be. Not only is there
mistaken idea of gallantry which prompts
the Washlngtonian to lavish the most alb
surd and homogeneous hattery.upon certain
peoP''u, but what is more dispicable and
culpable, if less p:tiable, is the acton Of
the man with sinister and selfish designs,
who seeks by sycophoncy and cringing
obseqniousness to gain certain objects
and advantages for himself,