The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09

Washington, November S.-(Special)-A good story was told of Tom Reed and John Allen the other day. It has not been heralded, but possibly 1t deserves to be, and, faith, III brent it." John made Tupelo conspicuous, and thousands of Yankees loved Tupelo for the sake of Johr. Allen. For drollery it Is doubtful if Alien ever had his match in the American Congress- Reed was wit, the brightest in our politics since John Randolph of Roanoke. Proctor Knott was the humor- ist, who stood by himself and unapproach- able; but Allen was the consummate wag, perennially provocative of mirth and good fellowship.
 It was the custom of Reed, as it was of the late Justice Harlan, to walk to the capitol. Ordinarily the "big un" wanted no company and would have none. He went at a rapid pace-at least seven miles an hour-and the mind of Tom Reed communed with Tom Reed on that jour ney. It was 8 surly day, indeed, that he did not make the trip afoot. rerus- ing to have the company of his pest friends, and abstaining from recognition of any acquaintance on the way. lndeed' the imagination of the man was bigger ihan the man himself.
 But on this particular day Reed was full of fellowship, and in company with several of his intimates. At Seventh and the avenue they overlook John Allen, or near that point, to the west Allen was gazing at the equestrian statue or Gen cral Hancock when Reed fell on him, and snIting his shoulder, drawled:
 Studying the significance of it, are you? I'll explain it. The head or the h, rsc is pointing west, but the hero IS Joking south. It is the same with Thom- as, Logan and nearly all the others. They have their eyes on you, and if you get up any more, treason or dosit behave yourselves modestly, we'll have to lick you into loyalty and the uni on again."
 "Al wrong, Reed, as usual.' retorted Private Allen. 'Ill tell you how it is. Tr,se fellows got so almighty tired show ing their backs to us when we were in fighting humor that in sheer mercy you had to turn 'em round to rest 'emP'
 It was the only time Reed was ever krown to be speechless from lack of ade- cuate and happy retort.
 Henry Clayton can tell tale of old Josiah Patterson of Memphis that Will make you split with laughter If you have sny sense of humor. 1t would be well for us all if every statesman had the neral coul age and mental intrepidity old Josiah had for when convinced of his error he turned from silver crank to gcldbue He made a speech for sound r7oney that ranks with that of John C.. Carlisle. of Carl SchurZ, of Ben Harrl- son. and with the zeal of convert he ger. trated the cotton states to convert the heathen The first man he met was ..ohn Allen, who literally laughed him otf the stump. Later he met fernando De- Soio Money and Governor Lowry. It is Gor btful if there is more prosperous anecdote in all the annals of American ,o',ncs than Clayton makes of that cpl sode.
 Subsequent to that transaction John Allen had had to do with your Uncle Josiah Patterson contested the election of Edward W. Carmack to seat in Con- gress from tho Memphis district. It was a trial before a court adverse to Car nacx and favorable to Patterson. Every booy supposed that the contest had won his case and that a roll call would seat him. When 1t came on to be tried Allen for Carmack made bully ragging speech so full of drollery that 1t might of itself