exclaiming, "Dinnie couldn't rade it,
Your Honor, but I rid it over to him, _and he is parefictly deloighted
wid it!"_

Three gentlemen, each of whom at a later day reached the Speakership,
had served but a single term in the House at the opening of the
forty-sixth Congress: Mr. Keifer of Ohio, Mr. Carlisle of Kentucky,
and Mr. Reed of Maine. Mr. Keifer was a gentleman of ability and of
exceedingly courteous manners. He took a prominent part in debate,
and was the immediate successor of Mr. Randall in the chair. After
an absence of twenty years he has again been returned to his seat in
the House.

Few abler men than Mr. Carlisle have been in the public service.
He was a recognized leader of his party from his first appearance in
the House, and an authority upon all questions pertaining to tariff
or finance. During his long service as Speaker he established
an enduring reputation as an able presiding officer; as possessing
in the highest degree "the cold neutrality of the impartial Judge."
While a Senator, he was appointed by President Cleveland to the
important position of Secretary of the Treasury. The duties of
that great office have never been discharged with more signal
ability.

Mr. Reed stood alone. He was unlike other men, a fact which probably
caused him little regret. Self-reliant, aggressive, of will
indomitable, he was a political storm centre during his entire
public career. His friends were devoted to him, and he was
never forgotten by his enemies. Whoever was brought into close
contact with him, usually carried away an impression by which to
remember him. Upon one occasion, in the House, when in sharp debate
with Mr. Springer, the latter quoted the familiar saying of Henry
Clay, "Sir, I would rather be right than be President." Mr. Reed,
in a tone far from reassuring, retorted, "The gentleman from Illinois
_will never be either!"_

The retort courteous, however, was not always from the lips of the
Speaker. Mr. Springer, having at one time repeatedly attempted,
but in vain, to secure the floor, at length demanded by what right
he was denied recognition. The Speaker intimated that such ruling
was in accord with the high prerogative of the Chair. To which
Springer replied:

"Oh, it is excellent
To have a giant strength; but 't is tyrannous
To use it like a giant."

Of immense physical proportions, towering above his fellows,
with voice by no means melodious, a manner far from c