Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 July 1881 — Garfield Tells “A Little Story. [ARTICLE]

Garfield Tells “A Little Story.

Providence Press. In 1875, when the Democrats organized the house of representatives for the first time after the war,there was a general clearing ont of old clerks to make places for the friends of Democratic congressmen. Two old attaches of the-house, who had held their places through many administrations, Mr. Barclay, the journal clerk,and Dr. Mahaffy, one of ths reading clerks, supposed that Congress could not get along without them, and that they were not, therefore, in any danger of removal. Sitting in their arm-chairs in their office, General Garfield said, as they blew .the smo|te from their cigars, they congratulated each other: “Well,it was to be expected that these poor devils of under clerks would lose their places, but we are solid. Adams, the new clerk of the house, will never be fool enough to turn us out.” But one day as unexpectedly as a thunder clap from a clear sky, came the announcement that even Barclay and Mahaffy had been removed. Both men immediately put on their hats and went over to Sanderson’s in search of liquid consolation. They drank confusion to Clerk Adams and the whole Democratic party, and they chuckled and laughed as they called up in imagination the inextricable tangle into which Hie busiuesaof the house would get as soon Ua they left their desks; aud finally when they were pretty full, they started back to the capital arm-in arm. As they beat up against the wind across the piazza, Dr. Mahaffy burst into an immoderrte laugh. “I shay,Barclay,” said he, (hie), “won’t it be • good joke when they come (hie) to us on their* benued knees and beg ua to come back and straighten things out.” Just then Barclay, who didift seem to appreciate the joke much, stopped,straightened himself up, and, pointing at the Goddess of Liberty on the dome of the capitol, he shook his infirm finger at it aud said; “D’ye see her (hiclMahafly? She totters! she totters!” Well, Barclay and Mahaffy have almost been forgotten at the capital,but the Goddess of Liberty’still stands at thfe head of the dome.