Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-11

Ladies and gentlemen, once more we en-
ter the big tent; once more we stand be-
fore the seats of the mighty. How different
Is the scene today. How the aspect or
things has changed.
AT the time of our last visit. ladies and
gentlemen, an ail-important measure. the
railway rate bill, was under consideration,
and a quorum of seven members thronged
the floor space OF the House Of Represent
atives and listened with carefully concealed
interest while another member removed
from his system large hunk of refrigerat-
ed eioquence. What a shift of the scene
has been made.
Now there is not a vacant seat anywhere
In sight: not member is doing the con-
gressionai IoIl; not parsonage is passing
the time with quip and jest. Note the pure
and lofty patriotism reflected on these in
tellectual faces; note the clarified unself-
ishuess visible on every hand. Sullenly
glow the banked fires of eloquence; the sub
Unity of fixed purpose is In every eye
Ladies' and gentlemen. we have arrived
just in time. The gentlemen of the House
of Representatives are about to vote tnem-
selves some extra mileage.
Glance to the right, ladies and gentlemen
glance to the right Note the parsonage
about to enliven the assemblage with few
living pictures-the parsonage with the
That ladies and gentlemen. is the Hon.
Bourke Cochran of New York, siren of the
stump and sweet singer of the House or
Representatives.
Look some more, ladies and gentlemen
1t doesn't cost eent-every move pic
ture, every pose a 5oyNand having seen
the Honorable Bourke you have not lived
In vain. The Honorable BouFke thinks so,
and we will agree with him. 1t doesn't IN
terfere with the performance. and we have
convinced the gentleman of our wisdom
How odd! How strange! The Honorable
Bourkes is sitting with the democratic
brethren. II seems to me that when we
were here last week he was reposing on the
other side. Remember his seat, ladies and
gentlemen. for the next time we visit these
sacred precincts We may find that the Hon.
orable Bourke has moved He has moved
befofe and he may do ii again. Sometimes
he moves by day and sometimes by night.
The time is nothing. the occasion is every
thing. He il a migratory somebody, is the
Honorable Bourke.
Bourke Loved Donkey.
Ladies and gentlemen. the parsonage
from New York is human being. There
are many things about him that are quite
human. For instance, he loves animals.
Once upon a time, years and years ago, he
was passionateiy fond of donkey. He
was wont to gaze upon the animal with
kindling eye, to pat 1t on the rump ana
DOW 10 It's uTtit MS Negligent egeStaSo
tinkled against the pave He curried its
hide with an eloquent comb and biaZosed
it's tricks and triumphs from the vantage
of a countless hundred stumps But on an
evil day, ladies and gentlemen the donkey
kicked the Honorable Bourke in the stats.
Farewell, Bourke the groom! Bourke the
donkey-mani
But ladies and gentlemen, the Honorable
Eourke loves animals, and he turned to the
elephant for soiace. He whitened it's hide
with an eloquent wash and praised its
weight and soidity from the vantage of a
countless hundred stumps. And, while
others sweated that the elephant might eat,
the Honorable Bourke sat in the shade.
toying with the negligent eyeglass and
feeding the animal sweetmeats from the tip
of his honeyed tongue But sad to relate,