Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-02-28
AMERICAN WIT.
Some Examples from Debates in Com
gress and on the stump.
(rrom the New York SUM

Corom the New York SUM
William Shakespeare who codined our
English speaking, conversational laws,
made his admirably wise fool Touchstonc
divide the more or less pleasant custom
Of giving ones adversary the lie into
seven classes. ranging from the retort
courteous to the lie direct. The field of
politics is more prolific in famous in
stances of rctort than any other
An illustration OF the nimbe and caus-
tic wit of Alexander II. Stevens. Of
Georgia. in sena torial debate occurred
on the floor of the Senate in n heated ar
gIment with Robert Toomba. also of
Georgia. stephens, although possessed of
one of the most powerful brains of his
time, was lame and had a wi5ened little
I body. Toombs was one OF the largest
men in the Senate, and was Of n blustor-
ing, spluttering type. lie had argued
with Stephens until he was hoarsc. and
| became 50 exasperatcd that he threatened
| to fight. However. consideration of the
size of his opponent deferred him, and,
| turning, he said: II won't fight you. but
| ! could swallow YOU whole" Stephens
quickly retorted IF YOU did you would
have more brains in your stomach than
you ever had in your head"
Gen. Charles II. Grosvenor is the hero
of hundred wordy battles in the House.
| He has luxurious white beard and
| a caustic tongue. one day William -.
! Nandivcr. now insurance commissioner Of
| Missour!. launched into furious attack
! upon "the gentleman from Ohio" and
! Champ Clark inroccutl" inquired. (which
gentleman from Ohio?" The Missouri1n
| shook his hHser at Gen. Grosveror and
| replied: II moan the gentleman from
! Ohio who looks like Santa Claus and
| talks like S1tau." GrosVcnOr, white with
! rage shouted back: "But my picture has
never served as warming or poison pots
! IN ph9 rmacies' Vaudivcr had such
! thin face and honv frame that he had
| been u,oknamcl skull and Crossbones. +"
The late Senator INGALLS,. Of Kansas
was attacking Gen. Mcclellan and Cen.
/ Hancock, two federal generals Of the
civil war, who were afterward demo-
cratic candidates for the presidency. Sen.
ator Blackburn. of Kentucky. arose and
! Interrupted: "Whcn Gen. George T. Nc
Clollan was leading the armies of his
country. and when Gen. Winfetf Scott
Hancock lay wounded by the enemy's
bullets under the fiag Of his country. tho
ser ator from Kansas, IN the capacity Of
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