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A WRITER OF SPEECHES.
One of Washington’s Re¬
markable Characters.
A Man Who Makoi a Living by Writ¬
ing Orations for Oongra^men.
“There goes one of the moaV bril¬
liant men of this generation,” said a
gentleman, himself distinguished as a
writer and a scholar, to a New York
Telegram correspondent in Washing¬
ton. A tall, stooping figure was pass¬
ing at a shuffling gait The face was
strong, but furrowed by years and dis¬
sipation. An old slouch hat. which at
one time might have been presentable,
covered tho massive head, but
only partially concealed a tangled mass
of gray hair, which streamed out hith¬
er and thither in obedience to the com¬
mand of the tickle wind.
“That man,” continued my infor¬
mant, “is a remarkable character. If
it were not for his unfortunate habit
of intoxication, he would have long
ago been noted as one of the great
men of his time. Now lo >k at him as
lie shambles down the avenue. You
would not suppose for a moment that
he was a man of intellect, and yet it is
a fact that he has contributed more
pages to the Congressional Record
than any living person. Of course
much that he writes is pure and una¬
dulterated trash, because the member
for whom tho speech was written
wants just that kind of material; but
on the other hand, I happen to know
that he is the author of many brilliant
speeches which were bought and paid
for by another person.
His name is Carter, and he is a char¬
acter. I have heard that at one time
he was a member of congress from
Virginia, but on that point ! will not
be certain. For years and years, how¬
ever, lie has been in Washington ses¬
sion after session, making his living
by writing speeches for congressmen.
It has come to be matter of business
with him. Of course he is obliged to
conduct his negotiations with the con¬
gressmen very secretly, but it is only
one feature of life behind the scenes
in Washington. .So far a3 I know
Carter is the only man who actually
relies upon his facility in the composi¬
tion of speeches for a living. lie has
written them on all conceivable topics.
Nearly every important measure
which has been before congress dur¬
ing the past quarter of a century has
felt the impress of Carter’s pen. The
amount of matter that man turns out
is something enormous each week.
When such a measure as the tariff bill
is up he fairly coins money.
“Not only does he write speeches to
order, but he keeps a stock in hand on
the standard topics of the time, such
as ‘the tariff,’ ‘need of a new navy,’
‘civil-service reform,’ etc. There is
only one feature of his work which is
not generally understood. it fre¬
quently happens that Carter is called
in by some of the ablest statesmen of
the house and asked to write a speech
on this or that topic. The length is
specified, the general tenor and heads
are given, and, last but not the least to
Carter the price is agreed upon. In
cases the congressman gives Carter a
general idea of what he desires to say,
but relies upon the speech-writer to
polish it up and fix it into the proper
shape for delivery. Many members of
known ability found this a very conven¬
ient method of getting rid of a great
deal of drudgery. You see. they know
that they just as able to write
their own speeches as Carter is, but they
find it so much easier to engage him to
do the work—under their direction, of
course—that they are unable to resist.
It often happens that a member of
congress becomes pressed for time, and
finds it absolutely impossible to indite
the speech which his constituency will
expect from him on the iloor.
The Trading-Hat.
These interesting rodents are dwel¬
lers in the Rocky Mountains and
adjacent hills, and are known among
us by various significant names, hj
mountain-rat, timber-rat, and trade
rat. The first, of course, refers to
their native home; the second to tho
sound of their gnawing, scarcely to
be distinguished from the sawing ot
timber; and the last to their peculiar
system of barter or exchange, so
curious a habit that it is doubtful if
any other animal has ever been
known to practice it while in a wild or
untamed state.
These animals are much larger and
stronger than the ordinary house-rat—
so much so that cats are apparently
afraid of them, and cannot be induced
to attack them. They are pretty, well
formed, have very bright black eyes,
prominent, beautifully shaped, pointed
ears, and soft gray fur. Their tails
are not rat-like, but are more like a
squirrel’s, only less bushy, being
covered with fur.
Such keen, intelligent-looking little
creatures are thev that, but for our
instinctive dislike to the name of rat
we should be strongly tempted to tame
them as attractive and teachable pets.
Until they learn that they have an
enemy in man, they are quite unsus¬
picious, and will allow any one to walk
up to them .—Popular Science Monthly,
Optional Clvi.ities.
Optional civilities, such as saying to
one’s inferior, “Do not stand without
your hat,” to one’s equal, “Do not rise,
I beg of you,” “Do not come out in the
rain to put me in my carriage,” natur¬
ally occur to the kind-hearted, but
they may be cultivated. It used to be
enumerated amongst the uses of for¬
eign travel that a man went away a
bear and came home a gentleman.
I't is not natural to the Anglo-Saxon
race to be overpolite. They have no
petit soins. A husband in France
moves out of an easy-chair for his
wife, and sets a foot-stool for every
lady. He hands her the morning pa¬
per, he brings a shawl if there is dan¬
ger of a draught, kisses her hand
when lie comes in, and tries to make
himself agreeable to her in the the
matter of these little optional civilities.
It has the most charming effect upon
all domestic life, and we find a curious
allusion to the politeness observed by
French sons toward their mothers and
fathers in one Moliere’s comedies
where a prodigal son observes to his
father, who had come to denounce
him, “Fray, sir, take a chair,” says
Prodigal, “you could scold me so much
more at your ease if you were seated
Looking to the Future.
She hadn’t made up her mind about
it, and they were so widely, oh, so
widely separated , -in . tne ,, parlor |
from each other; maybe as much as
three feet. There was a passive smile
fringed with doubt between them.
She was engaged in deep meditation
with herself and was looking on the
tloor, when he said:
“Matilda, why not give an answer
to my proposal ?'
. _
“Why, I was just thinking how you
will ook when you get old,” she
thoughtfully replied .—Kentucky State
Journal.
Ablations In Africa.
Giving the surplus baggage to a native
—one will always appear when wanted—
<ve hastened forward and entered the
\pwn of Ishore just as the sun was veil
ng its face behind the forest line stretch¬
ing across the western sky. No new
features were marked in the town; the
Rtoie narrow lanes, same mud huis, same
general appearance. A few points of
difference may be noted. They partake
more of the Youruba color—a brown
-ather than black, They take on more
of the energetic spirit of the Ilouras
than the Guinea nations to the west of
them.
We find a comfortable hat in which to
pass the night and to which we are wel¬
comed with true hospitality. This is
'■endered more intense by a small dash
>f tobacco. A good evening meal is
jerved and we throw ourselves down
upon a couch of skins, and with Outchie
iivhere we c m reach him with a word,
we fall off to sleep and dream.
The first sun opens our eyes in the
morning, and to a novel scene, Outchie
gives a short laugh, a cross between a
choke and a sneeze, as he sees me with
jpen eyes, and attempts to apologize for
the freshnesss of the morning custom.
It seems two or three members of the
family had occupied the room with us
and were now engaged in the morning
ablution. Standing in a large English
bath pan, some three feet in diameter,
was an African Pocahontas, enveloped
in a cream lather of soap from head to
foot. A servant was washing her down,
and with soft native sponges made from
the shavings of an elastic bark he left
her dry and polished as a black marble
statue.
A full morning bath is a daily necessity
In Africa if health and comfort is a de¬
sideratum, and the 3 r. m. bath in some
portions of Guinea is an observation
seldom departed from except Dy the lo wer
classes. Our turn comes next, and at a
word from Outchie, Pocahontas and her
attendants vanish, and two servants put
me through the same refreshing orde d,
finishing with the lime juice bath. This
fits the skin for perform ng its proper
functions during the trying hours of an
African mid-day .—Boston Bullet hi.
From investigations made by Dr.
Alexis A. Julien regarding the life (that
is, the period before decay appears), of
different stone in this climate, it appears
that the life of coarse brown stone is five
to fifteen years; laminated brown stone
twenty to fifty years; compact fine brown
•tone, one hundred to two hundred
years; Nova Scotia stone, untried, fifty
to two hundred years; Ohio sandstone,
from one to many centuries; coarse fos
siliferous limestone, twenty to forty
years; granite, seventy-five to two hun¬
dred years; gneiss, fifty years to many
centuries.
If a German account is to be believed
the plant world has its living electrical
generators as well as the animal king¬
dom. It is stated that on breaking hand a
stem of the Phytolacca electrica the
receives a shock like that given magnetic by an
induction coil, and that the
needle is affected to a distance of twenty
feet. This energy of the plant is great¬
est at 2 r. m., and almost disappears at
nightfall.
Three Quotations.
When a through man is hanging,cut his pockets him down,
then go .—Texas
Post.
When a man is coughing give him Red
Star Cough Cure .—Baltimore News.
"When you want to conquer pain, use
St. Jacobs Oil .—Philadelphia News.
Professor Tyndall has stated that the
purest water he ever obtained was from
a melted block of pure ice. The watei
of the chalk districts of England he con
aiders remarkably pure.
Iron bars and steel are elongated much, by
magnetization, the shortened. latter not so
but nickel bars are
| Scm 3 Folks
i j, ave much difficulty in swallowing the huge,
pSr^S'“ e p,“t”
j
aoh, sick and bilious headache, etc., they have
no equal. Their operation is attended with no
discomfort whatever. They are sugar-coated
and put up in glass vials.
The Caroline Islands number five hundred,
big and little.__________
The best Ankle, Boot and Collar Pads are
I made of zinc and leather. TV?/ them.
j Only three years during exceeded the last fifty have
tluM-cvenucs of Brazil the expend
Bronchitis is cured by frequent small doses
of Piso’s Cure for Consumption.
Small and steady gains give competency and
a tranquil mind.
Some Frank Confessions!
“Our remedies ere unreliable. ”—Dr. VaV
entine Mott.
“We have multiplied diseases.”—Dr. Rush*
Philadelphia. annually slaughtered in
“Thousands are
the sick room.”—Dr. Frank.
“The science of medicine is founded on con¬
jecture, improved by murder.”—Sir Astley
Cooper, M. D.
“The medical philosophical practice of the present day
is neither nor common sense.”—
Dr. Evans, Edinburgh. Scotland. rule
Dr. Dio Lewis, who abhors drugs as a
and practices hygiene, is frank enough, how¬
ever, to say over his signature “If I found
myself the victim of a serious kidney trouble, I
I should use Warner’s safe cure because am
satisfied it is not injurious. The medical pro¬
fession stands helpless in the presence of more
than one such malady.” If dies with¬
An old proverb says: a person
out the services of a doctor, then a coroner
must be called in and a jury empanelled to of
inquire and determine upon the cause
death; but if a doctor attended the case, then
no coroner and jury are needed as everybody
knows why the person died!— Medical Her¬
ald.
________
The winters in Iceland are milder than those
in Iowa. This is clue to the Gulf stre am.
It is a Fact
well established that consumption if attended
10 in its first stages, can be cured. There is,
lowever, no true and rational way to cure this
disease, which is really scrofulous ulceration of
he lungs, except through purifying the blood.
Keep the liver in perfect order and pure blood
vill be the result. Dr. Pierce’s "Golden Medi¬
al Discovery,” a purely while vegetable compound
ioes all this and more: it purifies the
blood it also builds up the system, strengthen¬
ing it against future attacks of disease. Ask
for Dr. Pierce’s “Golden Medical Discovery.”
fake no other. Of druggists.
It is said that more money is needed to put
Bartholdi’s statue on her last legs.
Mensman’s Peptonized beep tonic, the only
preparation of beef It containing its blood-making entire nutri¬
tious properties. contains
force,generating and iif e-3ustaining properties;
iuvaluable prostration, for and indigestion, all dyspepsia, nervous
forms of general debility;
also, in all enfeebled conditions, whether the
result of exhaustion, nervous prostration, over¬
work or acute disease, complaints. particularly if resulting
om pulmonary York. Caswell,Hazard &
Co., Proprietors, New Sold by druggists.
A declaration of war—Throwing old tin cans
and other refuse in our neighbor’s yard.
The habit of running over boots or shoes
corrected with Lyon’s Patent Heel Stiffeners.
A polite way of dunning a delinquent is to
send him a bouquet of forget-me-nots.
^atiHiactury iivncnce.
J. W. Graham, Wholesale Druggist, of Austin,
Tex., writes.—I have been handling Dr. Wm.
Hack's Balsam for the Lungs for the past
year, and have found it one of the most
salable medicines I .have ever had in my house
for-Coughs, Colds, and even Consumption, al¬
ways giving entire satisfaction. Please send me
another gross.
Your character cannot be essentially injured
except by your own acts.
_
Decline ol Man.
Mental or organic weakness, nervous debility
and kindred delicate diseases, however in¬
duced, speedily and permanently cured. For
urge illustrated book of particulars enclose
HI cents in stamps and address, World’s Dis¬
pensary Medical Association, G63 Main Street,
Buffalo, N . Y.
_
Lightning struck a California pear tree and
cooked the fruit brown.
ELY’S
CREAM BALM **
Cleanses tlie Head. f. ELY’S
Allays Inflamtnat Ion. mm
Heals the Sore*. Re.
stores Taste, Smell, the Senses Hearing. of mfeverJ!#
A POSITIVE CUltli.
Cream Balm
has gained an enviable repu¬
tation wherever known, dis¬
placing all other prepara¬ HAY-FEVER
tions. A particle nostril; is applied pain;
into each no
agreeable 60t. to use. circular,
Price by mail or at druggist. Send for
ELY BROTHERS. Druggist s. Owego. N. Y.
1 CURE sa^ura FITS! merely to stop tnem to»
VVhen I i ao not mean
or FALLING SICKNESS a life-long study. I warrant my
remedy to cure the worst cases. Because others have
tailed is no reason for not now receiving a cure. Send M
once for a treatise and a Free Bottle of my infalllDla
remedy. Give Express and Post Office. It costs yotj
The Happy Horn 1
i \ CHAIR HAMMOCK.
The most delightful Him
U mock ever invented, for sit
colors ting or reclining. ornamental. Infancy
and Out
customers are rapturous
t 'would over it. Says buy ore : ‘' $5fl I
r~ not min it
eonid not get another." Agents wanted. Ask your deal¬
er foi it. Sample shipped to ai y address on receipt ot
5*2 Write for circular. V. Arnold A Non, Honeoye,
ILLS
and ENCINES BKS P c rtable and Sta
U A? ALL SIZES. S f | CINCINN^'t ti : narv. IUustrat
L ANE BODJLEY Fr ‘
CO Q
Blair’s Pills. G:eat English Gout and
Rheumatic Remedy.
Oral liox, SLOP: ryaad, 60 eta.
rVTIYTTTyj a:»«t WHISKY HABITS cured
11F111 VATO if! V} br' U °° Ga
EY. MD, Atlanta.
k CO .. Pub*., 1013 Main Street, Richmond, Va.__
Pensions to Soldiers A Heirs. Sendstamp
• for Circulars. COL. I* BING¬
HAM. Au’y. Washington, D. O.