The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-01-24
sENAToRs, So BoxEs.
They Are Stu Kept ruled Though
No Snuftakers Are Left.


While the art and practice Of snuff
taking are obsolete IN the United States
senate, the tradition is stilI cherished.
and the official snuff boxes are main
tanned and Kept carefully filed with
fresh material foE producing sneezes,
says the New York sun.
These boxes are two IN number. lit
tie lacquer affairs about four inches
long. Two and one-half inches wide and
an inch deep. and are fastened by
screws TO the top OF the projecting
ledge. one on each side of the vice pres
ident's dais.
The snuff is purchased by the ser
geant-at-arfns Of the senate in four
and eight-pound jars. at cost Of %
cents a pound, and ( takes an average
Of about FIVE pounds a year to Teplenish
the boxes twice a week during the ses-
sions. The work of refilling The boxes
was for years one OF the duties cerenlo-
niOusiv performed by the late Captain
Bassett, the venerable assistant door
keeper OF the senate. an inveterate user
of the powdered weed; but since his
death, Eve years ago, the task mas
fallen 20 the lot of one Of the pages,
who naturally. does not bestow upon
1t the loving care of his aged prede-
cessor.
Captain Bassett had when he died
completed nearly sixty years of con-
tinuous. service in the senate, and was
almost the sole relic of the days when
the use of snuff was general 10 that
body. For many years before, his death
his digniied. almost cerenonlouS man
ner OF INDUCING in the habit excited
the wonder and awe OF the modern
page
He was very proud of q gold snuff
box presented TO him by the senators
upon the fortieth anniversary Of his
entry into their service, and he kept
it filled with choice brand OF the
powder. He carried it IN tail pocket
OF the frock coat in which he always
appeared, and the force OF his habit Of
reaching for it once caused a laugh
at his expense.
It was during the tFOublous times at
tending the Hayes ilden contest, and
IL was thought hest that Captain Bas-
set. as The custodian Of one of the
boxes containing the disputed electoral
votes, should be armed. lie was ac-
eordingiy provided with a revolver,
which he carried in tEes pocket Of the
other coattaiI
As the procession was about TO start
on the march from the senate to the
house Captain Bassett vas asked If ne
had his revolver with him
Yes he replied: Here il is, and,
diving into the wrong pocket, produced.
not the revolver. but his cherished gold
snuff box.
Tbere had been threats of attacking
the procession on the way 10 the house
and the members of the party were in
rather a 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 were addicted TO snuff
within the memories of the older en-
pIoves was the late Allen G. Thurman
of ohio. Mr.. Thurman was q frequent
visitor 10 the official snuff-box on the
Democratic side. After helping him
self to a liberal pinch he would return
to his desk and bring forth his huge
red bandanna. which afterwards be-
came a well 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 sBuffbox,
and so was Senator Edmunds of Yer
mont. In later days Senator Carter OF
Montana and Senator Turner of Wash
fnston were the sole representatives OF
the old regime of habitual snuffusers.
Mr.. Turner. who went out Of Office at
the end of the Fifty seventh congress.
was extremely particular that the snuif
in the senate's boxes should be per-
fectly fresh. and if perchance the page
forgot to fill them within the four-day
limit he was quietly reminded Of his
fault. and a fresh supply was at once
brought
since Mr.. Turner's exit the senate has
been without a devotee of snuff Ex-
cept when some senator is suffering
from q cold in the head or the pages
wish to initiate a recent accession
70 their numbers by forcibly admins
tering snuff to him there are no. de-
msnds on the lacquer boxes provided
by that indulgent body.