Show STAGE j TALES PALES By E. E C. C TAYLOR The Congressman's Joke T TOM con CORWIN WIN famous Ohio statesman and and popular orator of a century ago ngo has a n keen sense of ot humor and because of his bis dark complexion played a Joke on an nn obsequious tavern keeper one time that was often related relate up and down the length of the National road and at Washington Tom In hIs Ills early days was a n wagoner wagoner wagoner wag wag- oner a n driver of ot freight wagon trains along the great west east highway and the rallying cry of ot othIs his friends in the campaign that elected him governor of Ohio was Hurrah for Tom CorwIn the wagoner wagoner wagoner wag wag- oner boy I Because of ot his dark complexion completion Tom frequently was mistaken for fora forn a n negro by strangers At that time the race distinction was very ery much pronounced Once when he was a member of congress he passed over o the National National Na Na- road In a chartered coach coah In company with Henry Clay and other other other oth oth- er distinguished gentlemen en route to Washington D D. D C. C The party stopped one day at an nn anold anold old stage tavern kept by Samuel Cessna at the foot of ot Town hill In Ina Inn ina a n place also known as fiS Bol- Bol follow Bollow Hollow low low 25 miles east cast of Cumberland Md Cessna was fond of entertaining entertain entertaIn- ing guests and was particularly anxious to cater to these distInguIshed distinguished distinguished distin distIn- tra travelers elers The tall form of ot Tom Corwin attracted attracted at at- his attention He noted Toms Tom's swarthy complexion and heard beard his his' companions call him Tom and supposed he was the servant senant of the party Cessna had met Clay before and knew him The party ordered dinner and then someone suggested drinks all nU allaround allaround around to relieve the tedium of ot travel and excite an appetite for tor forthe forthe the e expected dinner Cessna hurried harried hur har- ried to his storeroom and produced a bottle of ot fine One old co cognac nac the tony tong drink of the old pike The finest drInk of ot the day was brandy and loaf sugar lighted by a taper and burnt burntt Popular tradition had hadIt hadIt hadIt It that If t burnt brandy couldn't save sa a man In need of physical relaxation relaxation relaxation re re- his case was hopeless The zealous old landlord produced produced produced pro pro- this drink and handed banded It first to the other gentlemen In CorwIns CorwIn's party After each of the others had stepped up to the bar and been served ser Cessna In a patronizing way offered a glass to Corwin sayIng sayIng say say- Ing lug Tom you take a drink CorwIn drank off of the glass In an humble manner and returned It to the landlord with modest thanks The others In the party saw what was was transpiring and kept straight faces Dinner then was announced and when the party entered the dining room they saw that a side table after the custom of the time had been set for tor their servant Corwin went over to the side table table ta tn- ta- ta ble and sat down while the others gathered around the sumptuous feast at nt the Ue main table All AU by himself In the corner Corwin enJoyed enjoyed enjoyed en- en Joyed an nn excellent meal Clay occasionally oc oc- ct would call can over o to him Tom how are you getting on oni Corwin would modestly reply Very well Dinners In those days were elaborate elaborate elaborate orate affairs and this continued for nearly two hours When all nil had satisfied their appetites the landlord landlord landlord land land- lord produced cigars and passed them around to Clay and the oth oth- ers Then he took one from the box and laid It on the servants ser table Take a cigar Tom Cessna said condescendingly Corn vIn Corwin In expressed his humble thanks and went outsIde outside outside out out- side to light it Soon after the meal was over the coach was as r rudy rady ady to the distinguished party said good-by good to the landlord Clay was the last to I appear and with him was the servant ser User servant I vant ant i Mr Ir Cessna Clay said permit me to Introduce the Hon Thomas Corwin of Ohio It took the flabbergasted landlord a long time to recover reco and whenever whenever whenever when when- ever Tom Corwin passed through after that he was given the best bestIn bestIn bestin In the house c 1931 Western Newspaper Union |