Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-08-10
SNUFF TAKERS OF THE SENATE.

Senator's Still Indulging Are Pro-
vided with Official SnuRboxes.
There are two snuff takers in the
United States Senate, Mr.. Overman of
North Carolina and Mr.. Carter of Mon
tana. For the benefit of these two
men the Senate still maintains the
official snuff boxes, which are kept
carefully with fresh material for pro-
ducing sneezes, the Boston Transcript
says. These boxes are little lacquered
affairs about four inches long. two and
half inches wide and an inch deep,
and are fastened by screws to the top
of the projecting ledge, one on each
side of the Vice Presidents dais.
The snuff Is purchased by the ser
geant-at-arms in four eight-pound Jars,
at cost of 70 cents pound, and it
takes an average of about five pounds
year to replenish the boxes twice
week during the sessions. The work
of refilling the boxes was for years one
of the duties tremendously performed
by the late Capt. Bassett, the venerable
assistant doorkeeper of the Senate and
inveterate user of the powdered weed;
but since his death, five years ago, the
task has FALLEN to the lot of one of
the pages, who, naturally, does not be-
stow upon it the loving care of his
aged predecessor.
Capt Bassett when he died had COM
pleted nearly sixty years of continuous
in he
the sole relic of the days when the use
of snuff was general in that body. For
many years before his death his dig
nihed, almost ceremonious, manner of
indulging in the habit excited the
wonder and awe of the modern page
He was very proud of gold snuff
box presented to him by the senator's
upon the fortieth anniversary Of his
entry into their service, and he kept
1t filed with a choice brand of the
powder He carried 1t In tail pocket
OF the frock coat in which he always
appeared, and the force of his habit
of reaching for it caused a laugh at
his expense.
1t was during the troublous times
attending the Hayes-Tilden contest,
and it was thought best that Capt.
Bassett, as custodian OF one of the
boxes containing the disputed electoral
votes, should be armed He was &C
cordingly provided with a revolver,
which he carried in the pocket of the
empty coattail.
AS the procession was about to start
On the march from the Senate to the
House Capt. Bassett was asked If he
had his revolver with him.
Eyes" he replied, here 1t is" ard.
diving into the wrong pocket. he pro-
duced not the revolver, but his cher
ished gold snuffbox
There had been threats of attacking
the procession on the way to the
House, and the members of the party
were In rather sober frame of mind.
but the tension was relaxed for the
moment by the laughter which was
caused by the mistake.
Perhaps the most noted of the SEN
ators who were addicted to SNUFF with
in the memories of the old employees
was the late Allen G. Thurman Of
Ohio. Mr.. Thurman was frequent
visitor of the official snuffbox on tho
Democratic side. After helping him
self to liberal pinch he would re-
turn to his desk and bring forth his
huge red banGanna, which afterward
became well known political emblem
In his campaign for the Vice Presi-
dency. Then, after sneezing several
times, he would blow a tremendous
blast. Vice President Wilson, who
died in his room at the capitol. was
another noted patron Of the Senate
snuffbox, and so was Senator Edmunds
of Vermont. In later days Senator
Carter Of Montana and Senator Turn
er of Washington were the sole rep
resentatives of the old regime of habit
ual snuff users.