Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-04-12
LEGISLATIVE TESTERS
Some Famous Franks and Practical
Jokes That Have Been Perpetrated
in the Past - John n Fow
Was the Greatest Ever
BY GEORGE NOX MCCAIN

their dicnity, even though some critics de-
clare that the average of high mentality is
declining
Some rare practical jokes were played in
| the old days. The memory of them lasted
| for one or two sessions and then they we're
| forgotten.
The late John II. Fow of Philadelphia.
was the most invctcratc practical joker the
House If Representatives ever knew. No
opportunity to play II joke on friend was
permitted to escape him.
lie was un bon PLEASANT.
one Of the members from Lancaster
~ county in the session Of 1895 was noted
for his good nature, general obtuseness and
inability 10 hold spite.
These qualities marked him as rare game
for one Of John Fow's pranks
There was considerable talk during that
session OF the danger of carrying high cx-
plosiycs, particularly ntroglyccrn, on rail-
roads and in public cOnvcyances.
1t was this that gave FOw and his co con-
SpiratOrS an idea.
One day tho Lancaster county member
was given bill by fellow member with
the request tha. he present it, a reciprocal
courtesy that exists to this day.
1t was explained to him that there were
explosives much more dangerous than nitro
Gly"Crin that were being handled, un-
| marked, in the most reckless manner by
railroad and steamship companies
The bill proposed to put an end to this
by prohibiting the transport of this material
in the state unless distinctly marked MS such
| and also under guard.
''R" it cnartcd, etc. ran the bill in the
u~ual way, that on md after the passage
of this act it shall be unlawful for any
transportation company, etc, to handle,
either in its crystalline form or solution the
chemical induStrially known as sodium
chloride, etc.
Not NOR" than half dozen members were
in the secret. 1t went through unnoticed,
like hundreds of other bills and came up on
second reading.
Very few of the members bothered about
IT. 1hcN knew as much as the gentleman
from Lancaster about explosives
lie started to make an impassiOncd ad-
dress on the dangers of handling this chcml-
cal, "onc of the most powerful explosives
passed the word around First litter. then
laugh that became loud guraw swept the
House as the speaker proceeded
The bill prevented the transportation Of
common salt, chemically known as sodium
chloride.
TOIIN rows spirit Of dcviltry reached
y its climax when the old Commonwealth
Hotel was enjoying its greatest degree Of
prosperity under the late James Russ.
Above everything else Russ was particu-
lar as to the character and reputation of
his cuisine. lie pridcd himself upon the
excellence of the Commonwcalth's table
ON" night along toward morning there
adjoining the hotel The structure was
Quilted, and from dentists office on the
second floor there were dumped on the street
Il number of boxes containing all sorts and
sizes OF new artificial tcCth
They were part Of the dentists stock in
trade Of dental supplies
IN" ire created great excitement in the
hotel, although no damage was done
Early tn" following morning John Fow,
VIII" lived at the Commonwealth. had arisen
early. Spicd the new teeth among the debris.
lie pockctcd handful Of them and wan
dcrcd back to the dining room.
1t was the easiest thing in the world TO
approach an acquaintance at breakfast and
by distracting his attention or directing his
gH%" to another part OF the ROOM drop II
couple of the beautiful porcelain teeth into
his cup Of coffee, his cereal or his scram-
bCd eggs.
Imagination can conurc the rest of the
picture.
In about fifteen minutes "Iim' Russ was
almost in Mysteries. His guests who had
discovered in the contents of their cereal or
their omcl"t an inCiSOr or two were CCrs-
ing the cook, d"nouncing the proprietor or
Nowing never to cross the threshold of the
huStclry again.
1t WAS ouly few hours until tho facts
came to light. Fow had the whole I.cgls.
latur" laughing ut the indignant victims of
his prank.
TIIERE is one sitting of the House which.
given oyer to hoyish prnnks, fool stunts and
rough house hiIarity minus the masquerade.
1t is III" last night of the session.
! might also add in the Senate, too, al
though Of late Years III" smaller body has
been unable to forget its dignity long enough
10 indulge in anything lik" frcakiSh antics.
In the session Of 81 the Senate abandoned
itself on that night more freely TO u re-.
Str"tcd sort of capcriug than it has done
since.
There were group singing, choruscs. solos
and an occasional jig or breakdown toward
the smaller hours of the morning
N"arly cvcryboNH, senators, clerks and
,orr">pond"nts Lad n hot breath a Timber
tongu" and reservoir Of reasonable hiur-
ItI on tap.
Every last night in the House is frolic
S"datc and elderly gentlemen become boys
again and throw paper wuds, bills and cal
cndurs around till the air becomes filled with
Brubdingnagian suowilukcs.
The closing night Of 1919 witnessed
curious sight.
John i. Goldsmith, one of the members
from WcNtmOrclaud county, who was par-
trulurly well liliod wus buried under n
shower of calendars, bills and orders Of the
day that were torn from the files of the
members.
The great white mass hcapcd UP to his
knees, then to his waist. until finally, as
he sat at his desk Il" was covered til his
arms aud head nI"n" remained exposed.
M"antim" Sp"ak"r Spanglcr, hoarsC of
voice and tired OF arm, put through bills
in one, two, three order.
TOIIN +. SLATER, Of this city. who died
y last year, the largest man that ever sat
IN til" House, was another iuvctrratc prar-
teal joker. occasionally his victims turned
the tables on him.
On on" OCCASION there was n poker game
IN progress IN slater ) room At the Com
monwcnIth, Toward morning when the
game ended, Slater, who was acting banker.
out OF small rIuIlup while pnSlinp tlp