Evening star., 1928-12-09
Capital Sidelights

The gentleman in the wheel-chair
attracts the attention of all visitors to
the House of Representatives. He is
extremely modest and retiring. but once
in his career he caused CONSERVATION
by his abrupt and decidedly uncon-
ventional appearance at party" in
decidedly decollete attire.
| In the early 60s. Joseph jefferson
Mansfield, the veteran member from
| the ninth Texas district was station
| baggagemaster, and car recorder at
| Rosenberg. in Fort Bend County
| Rosenberg now a prosperous and thriv-
| ing city of several thousand, was then
but railroad junction, on the bald
| prairie. The surrounding country wa.
uninhabited and unfenced but noted
for its prodigality in production oi
mosquitoes.
Three railroads centered in Rosen.
berg. the Southern Pacific. the Santa
Fe and the "Macaroni" Quite a lot
! OF railroad business was transacted
both passenger and freight, but It wa,
of transfer character. About the onl,
local business transacted consisted oi
supplies for one lunch counter and tws
saloons. which, by the way, were no
without their patrons.
| AbS AutaES Vi bkC CdI IECUIQEF HfQ
| noggagemaster were continuous both
day and night. requiring two. in theil
| performance. Mansfield had an assist.
ant In the person of Leslie p. David
now banker of Gonzales, each being
on duty IL hours a day, a thing not un.
common with railroad workers of that
time
In the Winter of 1882, the town ol
Rosenberg, which principally consisted
OF railway station house. was de.
stroyed by fire. After this, temporar,
offices were provided for time, THE
santa Fe opened up box car. tht
Macaron1, IN tent, and the South.
ern Pacific hastily constructed {
weatherboard building, about IL by u
feet.
This building had a rough boart
counter across the center the rear por.
tion being occupied by the Office force
While that IN front was used as a wait.
ing room for passengers, who, Will,
transferring, were frequently reuuiree
to wait for several hours for the ar.
rival OF a wood burner" on the adj
joining line.
On account Of scarcity OF sleepins
quarters in Rosenberg Mansfield anS
David placed few boards over thI
toists Of this temporary office build
ing, upon which they spread a sinai
mattress This bed was occupied b,
them alternately, and the space above
1t. under the roof. was sufficient 70,
one person to sleep In comfort It alst
served as dressing quarters. This sleep
ing ana dressing quarter was about II
Ieet above the floor, and. to reach It
Stats were nailed to two of the studs ir
one end of the building.
Mansfield from childhood had beer
a somnambulist. It was quite common
Ior MIN to get up and stir about II
his sleep, sometimes even dressing ant
going to work In the car yards. Or
the night in question 1t was his tr1rt
| 10 occupy the sleeping quarter. DayiS
being on duty A blue whistler" wa
raging, and among the passengers Wht
crowded into the building for protec
ton from the weather was the Slut
travelling opera troupe, consisting of
dozen or more both men and women
The members Of the troupe were
making the best Of their situation
some of them getting out their musictl
Instruments, upon which they wer,
making some unusual sounds, which
were accompanied by hilarious laughter
The general noise and confusion par
tally aroused the sleeping Mansfield
whose presence on the perch above
up to this time, had been unobserved
At the foot Of the bed the boards sup
porting 1t extended some distance be-
yond the joist, and as Mansfield, In hi
confusion. placed his weight upon thi
position, they kicked up at the othe
end. spilling him In the mlds: of thI
crowd below
Pajamas were then unknown in Ro
senberg, and Mansfield was dressed
only In loose-fitting mighty" out o
which he almost completely escaped IT
the fall. the tail of the garment havjnt
| hung in some way. causing it to bl
pulled up over his head. ..-s>-
The commontion that ensued was in.
describable. The light panel door wal
demolished and both windows smashed
| as men and women made their escap:
| at every exit. Whether they though
| 1t was an angel, or thunderbolU ha!
| never been fully explained
Notwithstanding his 10-foot fall, |
was some seconds before Mansfielt
could realize what had happened. Th
coal oil lamp was then turned out loni
enough for him to scale the ladder Il
his perch, after which the passenger
were invited to return
Several members of the troupe received
slight bruises, and all were more or les
6renched by the cold rain, but afte
explanations were made, being goot
sports, they seemed to enjoy It,
Mansfield, deeming his quarters un
safe. afterward changed them over tt
Richmond, miles away, where HI
boarded at the National Hotel, ther
presided over by David Nation and wife
Mrs. Carrie Nation: the latter after.
ward becoming famous as q saloor
sn1osher
Thus early In the session Representa-.
tive James O'Connor of Louisiana has
pleasantly reminded his colleagues o.
their opportunity and warned then
against indulgence In too much talk
He said:
| "A celebrated statesman who hal
gone west forever once said that some
men could talk for half minute anc
keep the world thinking for half cen.
tury.. while most Of his countrymer
could talk for half century and moi
keep the world thinking for half {
minute"
The achievements of the Air Mai
Service were forcefully brought to the
attention and to the arnazement of his
colleagues In Congress by Representa-
tive Clyde Kelly of Pennsylvania. author
Of the contract air mail law of 1925
He emphasized that 1t has resulted ir
building up the aircraft industry ant
In furnishing reservoir Of men ailc
materials for the aviation development
which Is vital to any nation.
The contract Air Mail Service, 4
1t had no other achievement than ths
training of Col Charles Lindbergh tt
its credit, would be fully justified HI
was. contract air mail flyer and wal
on leave Of absence when he made hi
transatlantic flight.
L..