Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-16
Fifty Years Ago
I'm The Star

From time irnmemorial Washington
has known numerous strange charac-
tiers, many of them
WashingtOns claimants against the
uCharactars Government, persons
~"SU0AS' with grievances, in
ventors, proponents Of unique schemes
for doing this, that and other things.
There was never a time since the Gov
eminent was established in this city
when these human oddments have not
sojourned here. In The Star of Feb
ruary IA, 1880, Is an article telling Of
some of the eccentrics of that period:
frequent visitors ut the Capitol cam
not have failed to notice the daily oc-
cupant Of the front seat of the left
hand Senate gallery. He is known as
the prayer f1end.' In rain or shine he
Is punctually on hand. At two min
utes before IL he Shambles in, takes
his seat, and quietly waits until the
chaplain begins his prayer. Then he
rises, throws his body back to an angle
which may some day lose him his bal
ance, poises his head even to a more
toe and heel until the amen Is uttered.
to which he responds Then he re-
sumes his seat and generally remains
until the session closes, particularly II
there is a debate. He is quite evidently
. conservatist and strict construction
list. He Is tall and thin, more than
feet high. His frame is angular, face
Of gray side whiskers. Otherwise his
face Is cleanly shaver. He dresses in
plain black. wears cloak and carries a
cane. II he happens to come in late,
no matter who may be in his seat, or
how much difficulty he may have to
reach 1t, he will crowd his way to his
place and Dust any one who may be in
It. The name Of this odd character is
Powell Cuthbert.
Another conspicuous character Is an
old lady named Almira Thompson. She
mas claim. In fact she has presented
claim to every Congress since the
Forty-third and Is daily at attendance
both In gallery and committee room to
see how 1t is coming on Her claim
Is Tor services alleged to have been rem
oered as a hospital nurse. Almira has
temper of her own and woe be it to
the congressional solon who refuses to
treat her with consideration! She fire.
quently manages to get seat next to
the prayer f1end' The latter shuns her
because, as he alleges, she is crazy 1t
Is amusing to see the old man try to
cut Almira dead. She will sometimes
SIT by him and talk at him IS or
20 minutes without being able TO
elicit response. Then Almira will get
mad and will take hold of him with
both hands, turn him around so as to
race her, whereat the old man, power
less to resent her muscular force, will
deign to make reply, resume his posi-
ton in which he has been disturbed
and feign sleep to dodge her attentions.
Another character who up to q few
months ago was daily visitor to the
Capitol Is Col. Maurice Pinchover. This
man has grievance. He declares that
Col. Tom Scott, the railroad king, years
ago robbed him in a railroad transac-
ton and reduced him to penury. He
carries with him usually tin case
about. 2 feet long and inches in
diameter in which is a drawing of some
kind Originally it might have been q
tracing OF plat of ground and the
cross sections. but, whatever It was in it's
primitive state, it is unintelligible now
by reason of all manner of additions
which have been added by the mis-
chievous. One day last Summer, Pinch
over came to the Capitol with A wooden
shirt, saturated in blood, which he de-
clared, was the shirt worn by him when
ne was assaulted by Tom Scott on the
plains OF Colorado. Pinchover also has
claim. All that he has ever yet sue
ceeded IN explaining is that 1t IL for mill
lion collars and Is connected with mine
OF some KIND. Since the present session
began ne has not put in an appearance,
and it is believed that ne is over TIE
Eastern Branch. AZ times ne is dan
gerouS. Journal Clerk Smith on one
occasion filled the tin case he carries
With mucilage. When Pinchover dis
covered 1t he became unRovernable and
would have done Smith bodily injury
had he not fed incontinently out Of
range"