The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-01-07
KENT HOWARD
Washington, D. C.. Jan. l. 1900

Washington, D. C., Jan. 1. 1906:
 My Dear Wife--You used to insist that rwas about the smartest man in inc world, and agreed with you. Then after the deideaIization, if there is such a word. which usually follows the non eynoon, you changed your mino hl- tie. and did not agree with you. Wnon the citizenry of the Tenth Distrlot elected me as their Representative m Congress I was, in a measure, restored to my old standing in your judgment or great and wise men, and l agreed wltn van again. Supplementing the brier notes I have sent you from time to time since my arrival in Washington I now want to assure you that nave been disillusioned. I am convinced to- night that the only really wise thing T aver did in my fife was when l per shaded you to stay at home during the rresent session, leaving me to choose a house and select the circle Of &C., auaintances we were to condescend 10 admit to it. I am glad to have spared you the humiliation of the past tew weeks.
 do not propose to minimize the facts in the least degree, for when you come here next winter the whole miserable truth will be made plain to you, ana ! prefer that you should have hint or if now. and from me. You know my standing in Ho1lingsdale and the dis trict, and am reliably informed that every Representative from q rural dis- trict stands about as high at home as I do. Here he cuts about as much fig- ure and wields about as much infiu- erce as a prohibitionist would at Butte, Mont You remember how all the town folks were down to the train when l left, how the band played, and how Judge Rigby made the speech express" GaI In Representative, and predicting how l would right the wrongs of the nation, just as soon as could catch the Speak, CTS eye
 stron& in the District.
 Well, that feeling stuck with me for several hours. The trainmen pointed me out to the other passengers as "Our Congressman" and along the line through the district many of my friends came in and tendered me greetings. Af- ter we got east of the river l told sev- eral fellow passengers who l WAS, but somehow, 1t did not seem to impress them. Coming down through the West Virginia mountains I explained to a paaaenzer. with whom I had struck ur a conversation, that was congress man. He seemed to be impressed as he took fat purse from his coat DOCK. eff and placed 1t in his Inside vest racket and then shifted around so his pocket side was away from me. other little things that I will not stop to re, count began to convince me that l hao probably overrated the importance Of Congressman, but I overlooked them as well as could until we reached Wash
 You will remember dear, the letter wrote to the President, telling him
 was coming early to washington an( roInnteering my services in the way O eonsultation on any problems of stat that might be worrying him. I tool inc precaution of sending him tele fram after I left Cincinnati, telling thu train and time I would reach Washing ion. There was no indication at tn sanot that I was expected, and I car ried my own grips to the cab stand ant arSered the cabby to drive me to tn So-iiS sSton. incidentally remarking t Siua that | was Congressman Howard nta" IIn asTea me for tte fare in advance and when I inquired 'Is that custom srSsS' he replied with promptness am