The commonwealth., 1903-12-03
l. 0. c. Ia MAR.
AS SEEN IN TEE NATIONAL
CAPITOL,
Some Gooi Anecdotes.

Lucian..L. knight In Sunny South.
LONE OF the most unique figures in
the life of the national capitol for
nearly forty years was Z. Q. g. Lamar,
of Mississippi, and Washington is still
fragrant with the recollections of the
great southerner.
Usually he wore his hair long and it
fell in rich clusters bklow the top OF bis
collar and sometimes coyered both
sides of his face.
Without intending to appear odd
there was something in his personality
which always arrested the attention
even OF the most careless observer and
no one who glanced at him once could
kesp from doing 50 twice.
Though his head was large it rested
upon his broad shoulders and was not
out of proportion with the rest of his
body.
Ordinarily his manners were reserv-
ed and self-contained and he impressed
one as being wrapped in deep thought.
Nothing of the strenuous lie which he
led was even in the remotest degree
suggested when bis features were in
repose, but when his interest was once
aroused the dreamer was straightway
lost il the man of action.
With the fiery temper of the Hugue-
not, he combined the gentleness OF
woman and the courage of a lion.
What is known as Southern chivalry
has meyer been more strikingly exem-
plilied in any one than Lamar. To
qnote the language OF another "In
the silken glove Of courtesy he carried
the iron grip of honor"
While he could arraign Hoar and
Blaine and Conkllng, he could also
euIogize Sumner, and whether engaged
in the one task or in the other he was
always the courteous gentleman of the
old school and whatever he said, wheth-
er IN praise or in censure, was doubly
effective because OF the way which he
had of saying things.
Some interesting anecdotes are told
OF Lamar's life in Washington:
On being called into the cabinet OF
President C!eyeland he found it neces-
sary to secure permanent quarters in
the national capital and supposing his
salary OF $4,000 to be ample for all pur-
poses he called upon Mrs. Dahlgren
widow of the late Admiral Dahlgren,
who..had just completed an elegant
house, which she was ready to let.
Being ushered into the parlor he
soon made his business known. The
lady replied the houss was for rent and
the sum which she expected it to
bring was 81 500 per annum.
MIR. Lamar sat perfectly still for sew
eral moments with his eyes bent upon
the carpet apparently absorbed in pro-
found meditation.
"You are not i'll, NJ. LAMAR" final
ly inquired the lady with some uneasi-
ness. "No madam" replied thu secre-
tary, "I wes only wondering what l
should do with the rest of my salary"
Mr.. Lamar was once the Victim OF
quite an amusing case of mistaken
identity. Boarding one of the street
cars in Washington he took his seat be-
side an Incorporate fellow who was
abont to be elected because he had no
money to pay his fare. Quick In his
sympathles he was touched with what
he considered the pathos of tho situ-
alton and reaching down in his pocket
he pulled out a nickel which he
gave the conductor. Tbe drunken
man gazed stupidity at his benefactor
for something like five minutes and
then, as if suddenly recognizing an
old acquaintance, he said:
"How dye do, General Butler? l
thought I knowed yer. Wuzn't we
both OF New Orleans?",
With these words he put forth his
hand which Mr.. Lamar took. But thu
whole car was now laughing at the
joke. Turning to some one who sat
near him, Mr.. Lamar said !:
"You don't think be takes me for
Ben Butler, do you?"
But he was not left in the dark long
Again the fellow spoke out, after scam
ming his features somewhat more mi
putely. "Got yer eye fixed since We was
at New Orleans, hain't yer?'
Perhaps there were very few people
who knew that this dreamy man of ge-
MUS was an expert swordsman.
Soon after the death Of Mr.. Lamar q
gentleman whose name was withheld
from the public at the time narrated
this incident to one of the newspaper
correspondents.