Milford chronicle., 1906-04-27
UNCLE REUBEN'S LETTER.
Washington, D. c.

washington, u. I.
| C0pWUrigM 1906, 6y William r. ireland.
Dear Friends:-Pve been tryin' to git
Congress to quit an go home so kin git
in my spring crops, but they keep talkin'
an talkin' an won't listen to nothin'.
They git appropriation bill up in the
House to supply money fer carryin' on
department NV the government, an fel-
lers will take this session to talk about
everything under the sun 'cepting what
the House has before 'em. A Congress
man gifts good many campaign speeches
in this away that he can use in his dees-
trict.
Is'pose you have heered that the Pres
ident appinted Barnes postmaster in
Washington. AS soon as he gifts his GER
tiicate an takes his seat as postmaster
I'm goin' to make another effort to see
Teddy. After Mrs. Morris got dragged
out by one foot fer talkin' up sassy, I've
been sort Nv skeered to visit the White
House. Barnes was the generalissimo
that directed the military movements on
that occasion. Yer uncle haint been no
furder than the front gate sence.
Washington is a great place fer secret
societies, an they is a good eel NV secret
work done here-but the lodges don't do
it all. The Senate does a little secret
work. Butever' body is a Mason, Knight,
Maccabee, Bumblebee, Red Man, GAR.
S.A.R., er D. A. R., an comm down
Pennsylvaney avenue the motions NV
citizens g.vin' you the different highballs
and grand hailin' signs, would at first
fash convince a feller that they had the
st. Vitus dance, er iist got out Nv St.
Elizabeth's. Yer uncle has only got into
two uv these societies yit, but no tellin'
what he will come to afore Congress gifts
away from here. When recognize one
Nv my comrades er brothers er neighbors
by the usual sign Nv the order, l fall on
his neck an mebby borry two dollars.
but l find a good many other fellers
workin' the same side Nv the street.
Speakin' NV the d. A. R's.-Daughters
NY the American Revolution-thev come
here ever year an have congress NV
their own, they're things done while
they is at it. Unle Joe Cannon wouldn't
have much hair left on his head if he
undertook to be skeaker Nv the D. A. r.
congress. They do certainly bear down
hard on the talk. But they have a lovely
time, don't you know. They do eniov Il
so much, and it don't become a crnstv
old bear like yer uncle to butt in with
discouragements.
They have a very deliberate way Nv
doin' things in the capitol buildin'; an
thus the strain on the employees is re-
lleved so they kin stand it. The char
man nv eommitty wanted the clock in
his room fixed, so he sent fer a man to
do the joo. a man come around in two
days, looked long an hard at the clock.
but made no move to take it down TO the
repair shop. When asked why he didn't
he said he wvzn't the clock clerk. that
he iist come up to locate tile clock. In
another day er two another man come
around an took the clock down and left
1t agin on a desk. In about a week an
other feller come an took the clock away.
Three long DAYS follered, an a man come
an brought the clock hack, but didn't
place it on the wall. This wuz the work
Nv a different department. In another
week a feller come an put the clock on
the shelf, but it wuzn't goin', an the
chairman wanted him to wind it up, SO
he could tell what time it wuz, but no,
the official clock winder wonld be around
IN a few days an attend TO that
Thus you see that the workin's NV the
is deliberate but methodical.
Yours sincerly,
Reuben Hardscrabble.