Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 January 1889 — A New Story About Evarts. [ARTICLE]

A New Story About Evarts.

New York Graphic. The latest story about Senator William M. Evarts, whose dry wit is proverbial, is told by ex-Governor Van Zand t, of Rhode Island. The Governor was one of the party that accompanied President Hayes on his famous tour into the South. Cincinnati was the starting point of the trip, and Nashville was the principal objective point. Mr. Hays liked to have the train stop at every station so that he could make a little speech. He went by a circuitous route ip order to mingle with the people, as he expressed it. Senator Evarts, who was his Secretary of State, was one of the party. He was sitting in a rear car enjoying a quiet smoke with Governor Van Zanat, when the train drew up at a Station, which the Governor declares was like nothing so much as Charleß Dickens’s description of the town of Eden in “Martin Chuzzlewit.” There were a dozen houses besides the station. There were twenty or thirty lank and dirty looking males, and twice as many women. The latter had no other clothing than blue jean dresseß which barely fell below their kneps. Their ankles and feet were bare of covering. ’ The entire populance looked as if shaken to pieces by ague. Postmaster-General Key came hastily into the car, almost before Evarts and Van Zandt had taken this inventory of the town. Addressing himself to Mr. Evarts, he said: “The President would like to have you come out and speak to the people.” Mr. Evarts' set his peculiar old silk hat firmer on the back of his head until it crushed the lobes of his ears, heaved a sigh, and got up to obey the request, ks he said, “Well, I presume I must do as the President desires. This town looks about Cabinet size!”