Evening star., 1923-04-29
Capital Sidelights
BY Will p. KENNEDY.


he relates it himself Of how he ac-
quired that sobriquet:
In 1892. as a young man Of twenty
three years Of age. he was finishing
his law course in the Office of Wherry
& Walker at keosauqua, Iowa. His
father lived on a farm eight miles
south of the town on Fox river bot
tom. Part of this farm was low and
swampy. and here the calamus root
grew abundantly. Young Brookhart
took his books home and divided his
time between the books and digging
drains in the calamus swamps.
When the political campaign start
ed in the fall Brookhart took the
stump for tho republican ticket and
spoke three times In the county with
Senator John H. Gear, one Of his pre-
decessors, then running for Congress.
and made many other speeches be-
sides In the course Of these speeches
he told some stories on DR.. Jones, the
local democratic leader. The doctor
was a fighter and a clever corre-
spondent in the State Line Democrat,
and Immediately took up the gauge
Of battle. He described with great
sarcasm the wisdom and statesman
ship which young Brookhart had i'm
bibed among the frogs, mosquitoes
and crayfish OF the calamus swamps,
and then dubbed him the "Calamus
Swamp Orator"
Brookhart was game The paper
came out Saturday morning. and by
night the republicans had organized
At rally Eb,nb In Dr. nrdos Jonss town Of can.f i5
great energy and humor. This con-
tinued for several weeks and became
the incident Of the campaign. 1t is
remembered to this day, and in his
junior senator is still the "Calamus
Swamp Orator"
When republican John Taber of
Auburn, n. Y, comes into the
next Congress as successor to the
pump manufacturer, Norman j. Gould
OF Seneca, he will perforce have TO
forego his favorite pastime, skating
and tobosganning at which he has
been an expert performer for many
years. even though he has achieved
the dignity OF special county Judge.
But as Judge" Taber confesses to
being devoted student Of history
he will find compensation in the
wealth Of ready material in the Con-
gressional Library.
y x I. X
Here comes another war hero.
Republican J. L. Milligan Of Rich
mond. Mo-, will enter the new
Congress with the distinction Of hav-
ing been twice cited for bravery in
action by Gen. John J. PershinE and
Gen. Peter Traub He enlisted in the
9Th Missouri Infantry June 2, 1917;
&C 90 foi ~ 4
14oth Infantry. 35th Division, from
August 8. 1917. to May II, 1919. He
embarked for France April 23, 1918,
and returned April IS. 1919.
+ * X *
A mule story is always interesting,
30 here Is one which Senator Duncan
L. Fletcher OF Florida says made a
vivid picture in his mind:
This happened when was a small
boy between ten and twelve years of
age. My fathers plantation was about
flve miles from the railroad, seven
miles from the county seat. four
miles to the nearest grist mill, and I
was the millboy. Regularly once
every two weeks I had to haul the
corn and wheat to the mill and bring
back the meal. grits and -four. The
mill was the old-time water mill on
a creek, which I had TO cross with
my outfit, which consisted Of one OK
drawing q two wheeed cart. MY father
had pair OF immense white oxen.
One of them. Brandy by name. was
gentle and fast. 7 would go TO the
jump on his ok and ride him home,
hitch him to the cart by mems OF a
rickory bow around his neck. keyed
to q yoke to which the shafts Of the
- -
to have the corn and wheat loaded.
1t was days Job. Sometimes I was
delayed by the miller, others having
got there first, and each customer
had to wait his turn for grinding.
This day ! speak Of was a hot sum-
Brandy water at the mill, 50 when
we started home he was very thirsty
had TO cross the creek on which the
mill was situated, and there was
quite long. rather steep hill we had
to descend TO the fording place. There
was no bridge. The creek was $50 to
zoo feet wide. and from one TO three
feet deep. The banks on both sides
were four or five feet high. but the
wagons. carts and teams had worn
a cut at both ends of the road to the
waters level. There was a turn in
the road as we approached this en-
trance to tho creek. 1 sat on the front
OF the cart. holding the line which
the cart loaded with flour. meal and
grits. We came down the hill leisure
ly until we got within about 100
yards of the creek. when Brandy's
thirst spurred him on and he began
to trot and hurry for the water, OF
course. my entire weight on that limo
in an effort to hold him had not the
slightest effect on his movements and
neither did my command or pleading.
He went pell NELL after that water
Uya
in doing so he made short cut across
the entrance to the creek. throwing
the right wheel up on the bank and
the left wheel four or five feet lower
IN the mud rut. Just as we reached the
creek, thus upsetting the cart and
throwing me and my load of -four.
meal and grits into the creek. The
bow around his neck was turned so
he not only couldn't drink, but he
nearly choked to death before could
get to him and take out the key and
release the yoke. I landed ON my
feet in water up to my waist, and
about that time some travellers fortu-
nately came along and helped me
grinding, save Brandy, who took his
time getting his water, and we drove
peacefully home. He apologized for
his haste and disobedience and we
were as good friends as ever.
After that 1 always gave him
water before leaving the mill and
starting for home"
Il hauled cotton from the fields. as
the hands picked it. often with that
outft-Brandy and his cart. He was
perfectly white, an immense animal.
very intelligent. easily managed by
talking to him. and walked and trot.
ted as fast as a horse. He never
ran away but that time I mention
and then he had no Interior motive
he simply wanted water and thought
no one should object to his eettfnr
it as quickly as possible"
!. X X
Have you ever stopped to think