Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-20

Greetings, ladies and gentlemen. once
more We enter the big tent. IT'S a warm
muggy day. Energy is at a premium. tx
ertion is bore. So let US lay aside the
hammer. Let US cover the anvil. The Tyre
nestles in our lap and the French horn
is ready to our hand. Let US make noise
like a press agent.
For long time, ladies and gentlemen. J
have been anxious to exploit a parsonage
of parts a modest, shrinking violet in the
congressional meadow, a performer, III a
small way, in the big show. But l cOulGn |
get around to it. ] hadn't the heart 10 DO
1t. For l admire modesty so much. An
absence of egotism makes me weep. A re-
firing disposition Is a grand thing.
But ladies and gentlemen. l feel that l
have duty to perform. The country de-
mards illumination. And tho | fear Hat
this tender flower may wither in he sun
light of publicity and the glare of FAM I'm
going to speak. Ladies and gentlemen the
Honorable Henry r. Rainey of Illinois,
Let me say, ladies and gentlemen, that
the Honorable Henry r. Rainey voIchcs for
everything l may say. When 1 went 20
him for Information ne turned me down
But twas done gently. Twas 81 easy
drop.
Let me-" said he. as he swabbed the
mesnderng tricklets from his brow. re
main obscure. Let me play my small, my
humble part, unobserved of men. DO not
write anything about me-
/ turned sadly away. Fully a yard had
proceeded down the corridor when ! felt
touch on my arm. Twas the Honorable
Henry.
Here" he whispered, as he pressed
large cracking hunk of manuscript in my
hand. rs modest little sketch of my
reer. IT probably isn't what you want.
1t probably won't be enough for you. I
doubt If II will make over four colu ms.
But you may add what you wish. You
have my permission"
X x
And, ladies and gentlemen, were 1t not for
an unfortunate occurrence 1 would lay that
sketch before you now. l would spread it
out for four fat columns or more. But, aIasl
But alacki 1t cannot be. For the other
morning as I sought the elusive collar but
ton the cook dumped down the hall
Look here, YOU. said she, there amt
no COAL
Then" l remarked. in my logical way,
''use wood"
81 can't" said the cook; there amt no
wood.
Then" sobbed. as piled into her arms
a large cracking hunk of manuscript use
this"
But, ladies and gentlemen, all is not lost.
After the unfortunate incident mentioned
sought the congressional directory of the
Fffty-ninth Congress and turned to page rs
Disappointment hit me between the eyes
For the sketch of the life of the Honorable
Henry was as the sketch of the life of any
other man.
This" l cried. is most strange" And.
seized by a sudden bunch, / sought the con-
gressional directory of the Fifty-eighth Com
gress and turned to page %. And joy sat
on my brow. For the sketch of the life
OF the Honorable Henry was not as the
sketch OF the life of any other man.
1t was this most modest sketch that the
Honorable Henry brought with him TO
Washington from his Illinois home Twas
this he had written the night the votes were
counted. Twas this that gave In shrinking
terms, in palsied sentences, in modest
phrases. the Honorable Henry's personal
opinion of the Honorable Henry And this
sketch appeared only once. Ii was In only
one issue. The Honorable Henry got wise
He rewrote Ii.
Henry T. Rainey. democrat" SAYS the
original sketch of the Honorable Henry,
was born at Carrollton, H. August 20,