The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-26
Anecdotes of Notable Men

III AIEGluOLGS VI
Especial Correspondence OF me llihes-
Dispntch)
WASHINGTON, D. c., May 26.-Ihe
\ Atheninns crowded the theatre OF Bac-
chus to hear play of AristophaneS.
wherein the spite and fun OF the Gay
were concentrated: the Romans gathefeu
ut the Baths of cas- cana u "a VII -.
the gossip and hunor of the city. w hat
theatre and bath We're to Athens ana
Rome. the Journal Is to the American.
In our five thousand American 1ournhls'
sending out billion of copies per an
nun. the American finds mirror OF his
own nature. rejecting his opinions ana
feelings. md those distorted and gro
tcsuue Images and scenes which are the
life of American humor. All Of our prom
inent men-John P. Hale. ever on smile
with his wagsery; Sunset Cox, the
| statesman of infinite Jest: Proctor knott.
! with his elaborate Duluthiana: General
| Nye. with his full excheuuer of anecdote:
Thomas Corwin. With his inimitahle droi-
lery: General Houston. with his eccen-
| tricty; John Van Buren,, with his play
full sarcasm; Daniel S. Dickinson, with
his trenchant. Scriptural. practical. ron
ical hits: John Allen. Champ Clark ana
others-all had the charm winch ore"
the crowd and held men while they
talked.
The masses leap to hear man OF
humor like Ben Butler. even when his
| speeches were full charged with diabol-
ism, or to hear minister like Beecher,
whose congregations broke out with
laughter and applause, and even TAI
mage, who. from the pulpit, provoked
the Inevitable laugh. American humor
does not reside altogether in books. It
is to be found in our newspapers, with
their spicy dialogues. practical jokes.
Mrs Pnrtingtonisms. Josh Billingses.
Bret Hartes, Artemus Wards. Hans
Breitmann's Anglo-Germon verses, Doe
sticks, Max Adeers-which beget an APP
probation OF the illimitably broad hyper
bole which marks our ephemeral news
paper fun. In fact, our newspaper para
graphs brlstle with a humor peculiar to
) the American press.
Joyous mirth
Engages our raised souls: pat repartees.
Or witty Joke our airy senses moves
To pleasant laughter"
Champ Clark on the Democratic side,
and General Grosvenor on the Republi-
can-both had been ridcung and de-
nouncing the civil service system. Each
had delivered vigorous speech. bright
Z with anecdote and illustration against
the Injustice and absurdity of that law.
After an array of reasons against the
law, Champ Clark said he would read
for the instruction OF the House num-
Der of the questions asked at a recent
civil service examination. zone of these
questions. Mr.. Speaker, propounded to n
constituent of mine who was passing the
ordeal. and the answer given by him are
as follows:
4 Queston-"How many British soldiers
came to America during the Revolution
airy War;"
Answer-'Dunno-but id sight
more'n went back"
Shortly after Clevelands marriage. 1t
happened that the first millner's bill.
which vas OF formidable proportions, par
ticularly the items referring to the Ens-
ter bonnet and gown was sent in for
payment to the great vetoer. After ghz-
Ing upon It for a moment, In mingled
amazcment and horror. he called out In
thunder tones to Colonel Lamont. his
private secretary: Dan. where Is my
weto?" sire" replied the Colonel with
the air of courtier. 1.-THE madam has
IT,
"Ar this man has been standing on ono
log In our service for ten months" said
Benton, every gentleman who has got
two legs ought to stand UP for this man.
The pension was passed.
What would you do, madam. II you
were gentleman" Sir, what would you
do II you were one?'
"yliany is afoot," said Governor
Madary, a rival editor. HAS the edito
, lost his horse?' responded George d
: Prentice.
. A female suffrage orator In Connection
! was tauntingly asked, "JVould you make
= !, a. man Of your Wife," He replied, II hope
| IJl q of
Senator McCreery, of Kentucky. WHIT
was unctuous with humor. once related
that a lawyer in his State while ad
g hitting the foreknowledge OF God as
S general proposition, did not believe tina
l. he could tell In advance how Count,
q Court OF Kentucky would decide case
% Sunset Cox once had occasion, in
= deliberative body. to make application
Josh Billlngs' illustration that ono We
low Jacket that felt we'll could break /,
n camp meeting. and the effect was anna
Ing, Billings himself afterwards sal
MY name will go down to fucher histr
coupled with the yellow Jacket We VI
= be twins In posterity,"
y LET the Senate clear the galleries."
you Will be fortunte" said Il
witty Wigfall. ''if the galleries (
not clear tho Senate" This W;
a In the days when Benjamin's music
voice allured Fascinating women to t
Senate.
"He was a pow'ful preacher He h
pounded three pulpits to pieces and dar
aged tho life out OF five Bibles" III
was ono OF Wigfall's points to show I
hot secession debate. Ben Butler apol
at gized for a long speech by the remark
ed Charles H. when dying. He know that
was an unconscionabe long time dyr
H. and apoloEzed therefor to his friends,
en- Alex, Stevens. OF Georgia, once REFER
"a TO a plain Georgia lawyer, who hegi
speaking after the decision. The iud
told him that he did not allow argyll
after the case was decided, The law
said: II amt argun' the case, a
only cussin' the decision"
re-.
mr. launching, win the late Senator Nj;
~ shall, OF Mississippi during the win
"a before his death the conversation tui
ia. ed upon the great lawyers Of MississIp