Greenfield Evening Republican, Greenfield, Hancock County, 29 March 1895 — Page 3

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Ofiice at, 23 UJ W. Main street, over Early's drug store. Prompt attention to calls in city country.

Special attention to Children?, Women*' and f'lironio Diseases. Late residual physician St. Louis Childrens Hospital. :»tly

ELMER J. BINFORD, LAWYER.

Special uttontioii given to coikctiobA. s)Uti,, estates, business, convoyilucing. ftNotary always in ortice.

Ollice—Wilsuii block, opposite conrt-houno.

C. W. MORRISON'S SON.

UNDERTAKERS.

27 W. MAIN ST.

Greenfield, Indiana.!

COPYRIGHTS.

CA\ I OBTAIN A PATENT For a prompt, answer and an honest opinion, write to MIINN A: ()(,, wbo hi'.ve had nearlytifty years' experience in the patent businc-ss. Coiianunieationa strict! emfklentirJ. A Handbook of Information concerning Patents and how to obtain tbem sent free. Also a catalogue of mechanical and seientiile books fant free.

Patents taken thvj.eTb Munn & Co. receive special notice 1:1 thg en JiAtmsienn.and thus are brought wisely before the public without cost to the investor. This splendid paper, issued weekly, cie? nily illustrated, has by far tho largest circulation of any seientilic work in tho world. &:{ a year. S.itnpl-3 copies sent free.

Buildinc KdiLion, monthly, $2.50 a year. Singlo copies, 'Z-h cents. Kvery number contains beautiful plates, in colors, and photographs of new houses, with v!aiis, enabling builders to show the latest designs and secure contracts. Address

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Trains leave Oauibf due 'Mt.va' |7 05 a in. all*! t2 00 in. lor lltisii dl(j, Sln lby ville, CoiHinbtis -OK', mtcroii-.l ule slations Arrlvo Canibri.lif.! it,y +12 30 ami tQ.3.«j p. in.

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Gj:.:iai M^:ugor, Ocinral I'assongar Agist,

1-20-u.j- I'lTTsiiuaoii, 1'k: N'a Kor tone cards, rates of fare, tin OIIE II tkkets, ba rjra^o idiocks and furtliec informaUon rogai'dln^ tin? runninn ».f trains apply to any Aitent of lite PenuNylvunia Lines.

CAPTAIN ISAAC BASSETT AND HIS LONG SERVICE IN THE SENATE.

The Venerable Page Claims to Be Writing a IJook of Keiiiiiiiscences—His Set We.vs. Ho Is Always Mentioned In the Appropriation Kills—Other Senate Employees.

[Special Correspondence.]

Washington,

March 25.—Captain Isaac

Bassett lias boon in the employ of the United States sonato since December, 1S31—'53 years. Ho holds the record and it is likely to remain unchallenged, for in these days of rotation in ollice very few men have tho opportunity to grow gray in public service. There is a good deal of humbug aliens old Isaac Bassett. lie is et such picturesque. figure and unique experience that, tin? people who write of Washington purroii-'ul his name, from time to t.mo with a halo of romance, and it is an open qiiestion whether tho people who visit the enpitol during tlu session of congi-ens nay more attention to the vice president of jhe 1'uited States or the old man v.'ho acts as chief of the senate, pages. Assistant doorkeeper is tho resounding oineial tille of Captain Basse'..!", but. chief page is his occupation iind the measure of is canaei'.y is found iJi the feet" at he onlereu tho senate chamber as a page tio years ago, and today lie is still a page. The truth about Basse t-fc is that he is a rather narrow old man whose father was r. workman for tho senate and who came into service as page or errand bey. The pages of 11 were nor 1 he pampered, well dressed litik« fellows of i{«.)}. They were not petted and privileged, ae.d tiiey did not draw §2.50 a :y for running after copies of bills and reports and get-ting occasional glasses of water for thirsty statesmen. There were two pssges in istfl, and their pay was 1.f 0 a day. This was excessive paj" for erraed work, and it was probably justified, like tho excessive wages of the page hoys today, on sentimental ,".rounds. Tho pages of 1 .'5. as a rule, have widowed

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CAPTAIN I'.ASSKTT T.VKICS A 1'INCII Or SNI FF, mothers dependent on them for support. Tho senate is a very sentimental. soi"! hearted body whero sugar and iron ant! coal are not concerned.

Webster Took Him on His Knee. Captain 2iass»tt, as I said, was tho son of a man who kept tho old senate chamber (now the supremo court room) in order, or, as Bassett himself now explains it, ''I lind oharye of the MERUITE chamber." The youn^ llassctfc used to play about, tho senate chamber when lie was 10 years old, and several of the senators took a kindly interest in him. One of these was Daniel Webster, and Captain lk ssett claims that lie can stiil remember the morning of tho great speech of Webster in reply to lay no because .Senator Webster on that nioruinir took the livllo Ikissett oil his knee and spoke kindly to him. Probably at this timo the elder Dassott, as is the habit of fathers in tho government service, was scheming to f^ofc his son on tho salary roll. At any rate, in the next year Mr. Webster asked tho boy if ho wanted to bo a page and persuaded tho senate to make tho necessary appropriation for his employment. Naturally Captain Bassett reveres the memory of his early patron, and ho does not hesitate wiien he expresses any opinion at all to say that there are no orators today liko those of half a century ago. Captain Das.- eft, however, is not much given to expressing opinions. Ho is shrewd enough not to open his mouth very wide. IJut, liko tho owl, ho looks exceedingly wise on all occasions.

Of course long and faithful service brought promotion. No ono probably ever thought of removing Bassett. There may havo been tho same fierce desire for offices undor tho senate 50 years ago that there is today, hut thoro was not the sanio disposition to turn out partisans or nonpartisans to nmko room for political workers. Iconoclasts like Wolcott and Dubois aro peculiar to Ihis day and generation in tho senato. Ho Bassett continued to fulfill tho duties of a page long after ho had passed tho ago limit until ho became as much a part of the senato chamber's furniture as tht'desks, or tho chairs, or tho old ivory gavel. Then as a mark of special honor, in recognition of his faithfulness, his name was Inserted in the appropriation bill, and thoro it remains today. And so long as tho salary of hia placo is appropriated for Isaac Bassott no vandal secretary of tho senate can disturb tho old man in his placo, and no sergeaiit-at-arnis can touch him. Isaac Bassott Is ono of the few employees of tho government who is independent of his superior officers.

IIU Reminiscences.

In his long experience in tho sonato Cnptain Bassett has witnessed some of tho most celebrated debates and eomo of tho most memorable scones in the history of the Amerlcnn congress. If ho had tho power of description, he could unfold a stofy of amazing interost. But then if he had that deseriptlvo power ho would not have been contented to romain a senato pago for more than half a century. So many people, however, havo said to bim that ho ought to bo able to furnish valuable and interesting contributions to tho personal history of statesmen of the past generation that the old man has been led into tho promise that ho would write a book of reminiscences. That promise was given 10 or 113 years ago. Every little while some ono asks tho captain how the book is getting on, and he shakes his head very mysteriously and says that ho expects to publish it before very long. No ono has ever seen tho first sheet of tho captaln's manuscript, and to tho Bassott reminiscences have ooino to bo a by word in Washington.

In personal conversation Bassett usually refuses to talk about any of his heroes. Ho surrounds them with mystery, shaking his head ominously with an expression which is Intended to moan, "I could tell some things if 1 would." But beyond the

fact that Webster and Clay were great speakers that Clay used snuff persistently and that Webster and Douglas drank too much he has nothing for tho public car. He wiil not even identify tho desks which were used by these great men. Ho claims that he can distinguish them by private marks and that he has a record which refreshes his memory when that is ncccssar :, but he is e.fraid that if the visitors to tho senate chamber knew which desk was used by Webster they would chip pieces from it for relics. There is no doubt that Webster's desk is on tho senate floor, and so aro all the other desks which were nut in use about (50 years ago. There w'ero C'2 of these mahogany desks

,:k Knafi' Jti t"ie Senate. Captain 'kismets has a muiiber of souvenirs of his service, hut the most notable of these is the snuffbox of .••old which \vns presented to him by thu senators on the occasion of the lift ieth anniversary of his apjioini lent as page. He delights in explain:r.a tint ho a.-quired tho taste for siiuii* taking by f.:!I..wing the examplo of theory Clay. In. tin se days snuSf was is f'-.r the usesenators in a box which ,nou on a she'f near the presiding ollie.rs desk. -Mr. ('lay never brought- bis own snuiVhox wirh him to the senato for fear I hat if it was before him he wouhl take too much. He usually called ono of tiio two pages when he wanted a pinch.

Or if they were busy lie would walk down tho able of tho chamber, sometimes in tho middle- of a sue eh, calmly take his snufi' ami return to his place. Tho senato s!.:P provides snuiT for its members. Regularly each year appears in the report of the expenses of the secretary of the senate, '•For five neural jar Barnaul's mixture snai'i i'.:r use United States senate, $3." Most, of this sniiiT is consumed by Captain bassett, bus his gold snuffbox is aivrays st the service of senators, and one or two of them—notably Senator .Morrill—still take a pinoh from occasionally.

Captain I]

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peculiarities in

clude mere than snuff taking. Ho dresses invariably in black out of respect for tho senate. lie has two suits of clothing made each year. Ono is a frock suit of black broadcloth, and it is always shining and spot less. Tiie other suit is lighter in weight and is for summer use. Tho coat is of black alpaca, and with this ho wears a white vest. Tho captain's hair is long and silky. Every morning ho comes to tho senate harbor shop and has it dressed. Tho barber brushes it straight down the back of his head to a point about an inch ubfivo his standing collar. Thero the straight fall is broken into a regular wave. Kvery hair follows exactly tho direction of its fellows. This coiffure tho captain preserves throughout the day. Not oven the oldest member of the senate can say that he ever saw Bassett's hair rumpled. Supporting tho ifignity of tho senato is Basse'tt's chief duty. Anothor is to keep tho pages on ono sido of tho vioo president's rostrum in order. A third is to meet the clerk from tho house or tho private secretary from tho executive mansion bearing a message to the senate and to announce him to the presiding oOicer. It is in this occupation, where ho spreads his long legs eompassliko and ducks his venerable head, saying hoarsely, "A inessago from the president of the United States!" that he is most familiar to the public.

He Controls the Clock.

His most unique performance is on tho last day of the short session when tho hour of noon approaches. At five minutes beforo It-' o'clock Captain Bassett walks down the aisle of the senate bearing a long pole and pokes the hands of the big clock back. 10 or 15 minutes. Now congress does not expire at noon by the senato clock. It expires at midday. No court has ever passed on the question, but it would not surprise a great many peoplo who have seen Captain Bassett go through I this absurd performance if some act of congress of great importance was some I day invalidated by the supreme court bocaiuo it- was signed by tho president after midday of -March 4.

Tho salary which Captain Bassett draws for performing tiio onerous duties which I havo described is a year. That is not at all bad, and yet, considering tho fact that the captain docs not come in for tiio "extras" which arc distributed so freely among tho senato clerks, it is by com- I parison not excessive. Tho sergoant-at-

Tho rotary carries its own operating plant, but is propellod by a looomotlvo coupled on behind By moans of a wliietlo the miui who handles the fan signals tho ongineer when to back or fill or break away. Tho combination of noises which greet tho visitor boxed up inside tho rotary is something appalling. An earthquake on wheels would bo a mild comparison. Thero is a hiss of steam, shrlokingof whistles, and tho rumblo and rattle of machinery which causes tho entire fabric to tremble and danco on the rails. Then, as tho whirling knives carve their way foot by foot into the frozen drifts, thoro comes a horrible, crunching, crumbling sound, as if some strong jawed mpn somewhere In die fan was eating dry toast with his mouth open. Small rocks click once as ihey strike tho meiai and then go whirling through the funnel and strike the opposite bank. -j.

arms draws $4,500 and the secretary of the sonato $5,30(5. And each of these officials has perquisites. For example, Secretary Cox draws a regular amount from tho contingent fund for tho hire of horse and carriage to take messages to tho prosidont, while the clerks who go to tho White House with theso messages travel in tho cars. But then every ono in the senato employ gets as much out of Undo Sam as bo can. The senato librarian, for example, has been drawing $1,000 a year for many years, in addition to his salary of :300, for preparing an index whitfh is never published. Hardly a year passes that $-1,000 or $5,000 is not given to cmployoes for "index" or other work done during regular oflico hours. And with few exceptions an annual sum of $30,000 or $40,000 is given as "an extra month's pay" to men who under tho general law usually rocoivo 12 months' salary for six I months' work.

GEOKGE GRANTHAM BAIN.

An Earthquake on Wheels. For tho benefit of thoso who havo never seen a rotary snowplow it ouii bo simply doHcribed n» an elongated box car carrying a windmill on tho front end. This wheel Is about 10 feet in diameter and fitted on its face with knives or fans set at an angle liko tho fans of a windmill. Tho backs of theso knives aro turned over In tho form of a trough, slightly ourved, and as tho snow slidos In through tho cutter It is carried up and thrown from an oponing just back and above tho rim of tho wheel. Any one who has seep a blower pumping air call understand tho working of the rotary. They both operate on-the same principle. In tho latter snow Instead of air Is drawn backward between ibe 'jaws and projected from tho funnbl. When feeling well and turned against work of its liking, a steam rotary picks up tho offending snow and hurls it into tho next township.

THE TOOTHSOME PEANUT.

Ten Million Dollars Spent Annually In America X'or This "Fruit." A man incidentally asked a street vender if bis peanuts v.'ero first class, and tho response to tho inquiry was surprising. "No," sairl the vender, "you do not get first class peanuts in this country in this \vay. Tho best peanuts are used for other purposes. They aro made into meal and grits by scientific men, and in Germany they aro prepared for sick peoplo in tho hospitals. Tho peanuts yon get in candy aro tho very poorest grade, and some of tho 'burnt almonds' which you get are nothing more than fourth rata peanuts. "Where did the peanut come from':*' "From Central and Hocth America. They grow thero in long pods, and tho potls contain from four to five kernels. They vt..ro carried to tho old world in tho early days, and in tho seventeenth century they consti- ntcd tho chief sfaplo of Al'ricri. You will find if you look it up that tiro slave dealers of Africa in thoso days used to load their ships with peanuts to bo used as i'uod for their human cargoes. Tho negroes who were imported from Africa to this country brought over tho peanut, and they were scattered and first grew in Virginia. And now this country is raising tho crop, and, owing to American shrewdness, the nut is ground and used iur various purposes and shipped till over the world. "I reckon you know," tho vender continued, "that peanuts in a certain condition are more nutritious than beef. When specially prepared, they rank with beans and peas. Tho peanut is .said to contain 2U per cent of protein and 49 per cent of fat. What is known as peanut meal contains 52 per cent of protein and 8 per cent of fat. It is the cheapest of all food materials."

In 1801 and 18(55 peanut oil was manufactured largely in four southern states and was employed as a substitute for olive oil. In fact, one druggist admitted, somoof the "olive oil" sold now in this country is nothing moro than peanut oil. Nearly all of tho olive oil sold in tho United States is mixed with part of tho jieanut. Peanuts furnish from CO to 50 per cent of tho weight of their kernels in oil. Sometimes peanut oil is used for lighting, and, again, it is utilized to advantage in tho making of soap and as a lubricant in machine shops.

Tho American peanut is larger and better llavorod than any other, but it does not contain so much oil as the African nut. Tho "ca'.-.e" which is left after extracting tho oil makes excellent feed for cattlo and is used very largely for that jjurposo in Germany, where it sells from #ti0 to ijtfO a ton. This country owes to Germany tho suggestion it has received in relation to tho edible qualities of peanuts, and tiio department of agriculture is now investigating tho method of Germany in tho way in which that country has handled tho nut, and tho result is to bo published by tho department for tho benefit of the farmers.

Tho United .States now produces 4,000,000 bushels of peanuts annually, or 88,000,000 pounds. The total world's supply amounts to about (500,0t)0,000 pounds. Tho exportation from Africa and India to Europe during tho last year amounted to nearly 400,000,000 pounds. Of this quantity 2^2,000,000 pounds were delivered at tho port of Marseilles, tho bulk of it being pressed for oil.

It is estimated that §10,000,000 worth of poanuts aro eaten every year in tho United States, and most of tho quantity, it is said, is consumed between meals and at odd times.—Chicago Post.

Within the Law's Limit.

Tho gamo was poker, and tho players wero men prominent in American public life. Ono was a statesman from Kentucky and the other Judge "Tom" Nelson of Indiana, ex-minister to Mexico, and one of tho brightest wits America has produced. A western senator dealt tho cards. Thero was a caroful "skinning" of indicators on tho part of tho participants, and Judge Nelson found tho result such as to guarantee tho advisability of chipping in. Tho Kentuckian did likewiso with an eagerness that denoted strength in his particular direction. The others dropped out. Tho Kentuckian and the Hoosier each domanded a single card, and tho senator deftly flirted them off the deck. For a few minutes tho botting progressed. "Two blues better, Tom." "Two more than you. "I'll have to lift you about so many, Tom." "Well, I'm sorry, but you must meet a further increase of ivory."

So it went until tho Kentuckian began to doubt the efficiency of the three ten spots ho held in his loft hand.

There was too much in the pot to allow him to lay down, so he sighed and called the judge, with the words: "What have you pot, Tom?" "Queens," was the sententious response. "How many?" queried the Kentuckian. "One, thundered tho diplomat "Do you tako mo for a bigamist?"—Washington Post.

Big and Costly Keys.

The keys to the iron gates which are placed at either end of the corridor in the Philadelphia city hall, where council chambers aro to be, are marvels of strength and workmanship. Tho New York manufacturer claimed that oach key cost $16 and occupied the time of skilled workman for a week. They aro mado of stool, entiroly hand wrought, and tho designs are artistio and complicated. The locks on tho gates are unusually powerful, and it is explained that tho councilmen feared lest lobbyists might secure an entrance to the chambers. The bolts run up and down from tho door to the coiling, and nothing short of a dynamite charge or a battering rant could induce them to give way.

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Monographs on the Man of Destiny

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THE HISTORIAN

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