Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-04

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the Lenten
and all IS quiet in the big tent.
Sack cloth and ashes are on the premises;
the spirit of self-denial is In the air. Uncle
Joe Cannon has resolved not to smoke be-
tween 1 o'clock in the morning and day
break John Welsey Gaines has decided not
to talk all of the time. Everywhere is the
spirit of Remuneration made manifest.
The Lenten season, ladies and gentle
men, is the time for gracious deeds. Let
us get in line and do one. Let US lay aside
the hammer and tune up the harp. Let US
turn off the searchlight and ignite the
shrinking tallow dip. Let US dive into the
shadows of the House of Representatives
and tug forth a bIushing nonentity. Let US
flee the noisy world and dwell in peace on
the farm Let us do all these things just
once.
Ladies and gentlemen, glance to the left
and rear: scan the sea of congressional
countenances; note the parsonage off the
starboard quarter of that good old mer-
chantman the Serenity Payne-the person
age with the alarmed mustache, the excited
hair and the frightened expression. Gaze,
ladies and gentlemen, on the Honorable
Nathan Hale of Tennessee.
Swallow your disbelief, ladies and gentle
men. pocket your stares Of wonder. Fer
mistakes have been made; the HONORABLE
Nathan has a right on the floor; he is a
member of the House of Representatives.
/ wouldn't have believed it yesterday my
self ladies and gentlemen, but this morn
ing. in an idle moment, l rifed the leaves
of the Congressional Directory and the
book fell open at q magic page.
Ladies and gentlemen, let us pass over
my feelings at that proud moment. Co
Iumbus discovered his America; somebody
unknown TO fame first mixed highbail
but | had found Nathan Wesley Hale. And
in a little while | knew a whole lot about
him, for ink is cheap in Knoxville and the
Honorable Nathan never suffers from writ
er's cramp
Let US pause a moment. ladies and gem
tleman in order that the Lenten spirit may
soak in good and deep Let us think of
this gracious deed we would do. Didst ever
pluck the blushing violet from the obscurlty
of a sheltering nook? Didst ever trans
plant the rural ragweed from the tin-canned
waste of vacant lot? Didst ever lure the
golden dandelion into the steam-heated pre-
cincts of a crystal conservatory? The joy
OF these things is as nothing TO the exploit
tation of Hale.
Ladies and gentlemen. the Honorable
Nathan is a descendant of Oliver Cromwell.
His ancestors were round-heads. Mr.. Hale
Is a round-head. He IS also round-eyed, but
the latter Is due to wonder, not heredity.
Don't take my word for all these things,
ladies and gentlemen: look In the book.
You will find the Cromwell descent estab
lished without doubt or question MY ma
ternal ancestors. he writes with fluent pen,
date back to revolutionary times; to Gen.
Nathan Towson, who was quareermaster
general under Gen. Washington And read
ing further we find that wife of one of
the Towsons was the direct descendant of
the second cousin of an individual who once
shook hands with Oliver CromwelFs best
friend OF such are the fruits OF the gene
illogical tree
Ladies and gentlemen. am also able
to inform you. after my perusal of the
Honorable Nathan's modest little autobi-
ography, that the Hales have always been