The sun., 1903-12-27
THE SENATB'S SNUFFBOXES
STILL KEPT FILLED, THOUGH
NO SNUFF TAKERS ARE LEFT.
Capt. Bassert's Gold Box and tho Part "
Played in tho Hayes-Tilden CONTEST
--Thurman's Bandanna-SenAtor Tur'
uer About the Last OF the SnuY Takers.

PAye0 IN tno haye%auueh S".
-Thurman's Bandanna-senator Tur'
ner About the Last OF the snufT Takers.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 26,-While the art ana
practice Of snuff taking are obsolete IN the
United States Senate. the tradition Is still
cherished and the official snuhboxes are
maintained and kept carefully filled with
fresh material for producing sneezes
These boxes are two In number, little
lacquer affairs about inches long, IA
inches wide and an inch deep, and are
fastened by screws to the top OF the pro-
jectinR ledge, one on each side OF the
Vice Presidents dais.
The snuif is purchased by the sergeant at
arms of the Senate in four or eight-pornd
jars, at a cost Of Is cents a pound, and 1t
takes an average of about five pounds
year to replenish the boxes twice week
during the sessions. The work Of refilling
the boxes was for years one OF the duties
ceremoniously performed by the late Capt,
Bassett, the venerable assistant door
keeper OF the Senate, an inveterate user
of the powdered weed but since his
death, five years ago. the task has fallen to
the lot OF one Of the pages, who. naturally.
does not bestow upon it the loving care OF
his aged predecessor.
Capt. Bassett had when he died COM
pleted nearly sixty years OF continuous
service in the Senate and was almost the
sole relic Of the days when the Use OF snun
was general in that body. For many years
before his death his dignifed. almost cere-
monio,ls, manner of indulging In the habit
excited the wonder and awe of the modern
page. g. una verv nroud Of q cold snufrbo.
presented to him by the Senators upon the
fortieth anniversary of his entry into their
service, and he kept it filed with choice
brand of the powder. He carried II in
tail pocket of the frock coat in which he
always appeared, and the force of his habit
of reaching for it once caused laugh at
his expense.
1t was during the troublous times at
tending the Hayes-Tiden contest, and it
was thought best that Capt. Bassett, as the
custodian of one Of the boxes containing
armed He was accordingly provided with
a revolver, which he carried In the pocket
of the other coattail.
As the procession was about to start on
the march from the Senate to the House,
Capt Bassett was asked if he had his re-
aYes, he replied, -here it is and, diving
into the wrong pocket, produced not the
revolver, but his cherished gold snuffbo1.
There had been threats of attao king the
procession on the way to the House. and the
members of the party were in rather
sober frame of mind. but the tension was
relaxed for the moment by the laughter
which was caused by the mistake.
Perhaps the most noted of those in the
Senate who we're addicted to snuff within
the memories of the older employees was
the late Allen &. Thurman of Ohio. MIR.
Thurman was frequent visitor to the
official snuffbox on the Democratic side.
After helping himself to liberal pinch,
he would return to his desk and bring forth
his huge red bandanna, which afterward
became we'll known political emblem In
his campaign for the Vice-Presidency
Then, after sneezing several times he would
blow a tremendous blast.
Vice-President Wilson, who died in his
room at the Capitol was another noted
patron of the Senate snufbox, and 80 was
Senator Fdmunds of Vermont In later
days Senator Carter of Montana and Senator
Turner of Washington were the sole rep
resent atives Of the old regime of habtual
snuffusers.
Mr. Turner, who went out of Office at
the end of the Fifty-seventh Congress.
was extremely particular that the snuff
fresh and il perchance the page forgot
TO fill them within the four day limit he was
quietly reminded of his fault and fresh
supply was at once brought
Since Mr.. Turner's exit the Senate has
been without a devotee of snuf. Except
when some Senator is suffering from cold
in the head or the pages wish to initiate
recent accession to their number by forcibly
administering snuff to him, there are no
demands on the lacquer boxes provided by
that ipdulgent body.