The Washington herald., 1909-01-06
WASHINGTON CHAT.
By THE SPECTATOR.

brilliant mamie has never posed for
such-but that he is a sensible one all
those who know him will proclaim. and
sensible people are, after all quite as
much. If not more use in the world than
brilliant ones. II seemed almost a pre-
tenti7n for Mr.. Allen 70 accept the rep
resentation OF the First Maine district
when it was made vacant by the retire
ment Of Mr.. Reed whose secretary and
hdus achates he had always been. but in
his quiet way he has accomplished quite
as much for his constituency as his not
able predecessor accomplished. The an
nouncement that he will retire al the ex-
piratiOn OF his presez: term is a con-
firmatiOn Of his wisdom. his good Yankee
sense Mr. Alien has had ali the hOHors
that his State can give him, and he has
borne them creditably and well, and lays
them down with much more grace than
DO most public servants II is said that
Mr.. Asher {. Hams viii succeed Sir.
Allen, but one never knows. The Maine
voter is an animal that does not take
kindly 10 hitching He Is sure 70 break
loose under dUress. and Mr.. Hams IS
only one Of a dozen who might succeed
10 the seat Of the immortal Reed, but
no matter who occupies his seat, 10 one
can Ill his place. in the public eye. He
was the most unique and most inspiring
man that ever sat in the lower House.
His bon-mots and the stories told Of him
will live forever.
Once Mr.. Reed, the late Senator Wal
coc, of Colorado. and Joseph CEOate.
former. Ambassador 10 the Court Of St
James, met. and Mr- Choate when asked
70 take a drink. said that he never drank
never smoked TO excess. and never gam
bled in his life.
WaIcott. who was a sinner in every one
OF these lines. looked pathetically al Reed
and said:
Il wished I could say that
Say Il" said Reed. 'Choate did "
John Allen. OF Mississippi, who served
for years in Congress. and who was re-
garded as the Wit Of the Houss was al
most as quick at repartee as was Sunset
Cox lie was constantly 5esieged by .Cyal
constituents visiting the Capital, VINO felt
that they owned him body and soul s1d
;ried his patience 20 the utmost Driven
20 desperation al one tine he switched
of a party OF these loyal supporters onto
Amos L. Allen. OF Alfred, Ne. Mr.. Allen,
from the Granite state. while not real
izing the joke that had been played 1pOn
him. rose 70 the occasion admirably and
entertained his Unsuspected visitors FOR
some time When they were well out Of
his committee room one Of them said.
John Allen is from Mississippi, that
know. but DID you ever hear q more Van
kee way Of speaking than Re has got2
Why Il didn't know he was a good old
'reb' I would take him for a blasted Yam
kee every time"
The announcement OF the engagement
OF Dr. Virginius Dabney 70 Miss New
lands. the niece OF the senior Senator
from Nevada Is quite unexpected DR..
Dabney has been such free lance for
so long that society was not prepared
for the news that be had pinned his faith
TO one woman. but the bethrOthal IS al
together acceptable 10 everybody Dr..
Dabney is one Of the shining lights
among the younger professional men in
Washington, clever, cultivated. and in
teresting. and his fancee Is one Of the
most captivating young women al the
Capital To use an expression Of a chUm
Of hers. when the announcement OF the
engagement was made. she is q deer
The Dabney family name. by the way, is
d AUbigne. and Nine de Mainten0n was
one Of its daughters. The Virginia Dab
neyS Of to-day are descendants ef that
noted French house which IN the early
days OF the colonies sent a cadet OF the
family TO administer certain estates IN
the Old Dominion. The name unfortunate
has been corrupted and the famous
French parronynic is now disguised un-
dsF the American Interpretation OF Dab
ney. bat Dr. Dabney has a brother. a
noted barytone in the operate world. who
lives in Paris and who has the courage
20 brave public opinion and writes him
self Aubigne.
II would be acceptable 10 society al tbs
Capital Il Francis Burke Of the Thirty
first district Of Pennsylvania. succeeds
Mr. Knox in the Senate as Mr. Burke
declares he viii do He Is a man Of great
wealth. widely Travelled. and enteTtains
constantly and lavishly- Last year b
leased Mrs Barney's home in Sheridan
circle. which is known as the Studio
House" and which she has caused TO bJ
announced she has beQueathed. follow
ing the example Of Mrs Jack Gardner
OF international fame. 10 the city. Il
must be confessed that the Studio
House" is rather a queer environment
for family Of QuakerS with lis wholly
artistic semi Bohemian style and alto
gether beautiful interior. but the Burkes
enjoyed IL. and gave il Up reluctantly or
Mrs. Barney's return home last fall. This
year Mr. Burke and his family are liv-
ing at the New Willard. but should the
unexpected happen and he fall heir &c
Mr. KnOx's tOga, he viii doubtless carry
out his intention Of buying q house here
Mr.. Burke is a comparatively young man
having only recently passed his fortieth
birthday, but since he began the practice
OF law in 1888 he has taken an active part
IN politics. and is now serving his second
l.