| Show What Excited His Wonder When the newlyelected Senator Nes mith of Oregon reached Washington he Yashingon was too bashful to present his credentials creden-tials and be sworn in at once as a member mem-ber of the Senate He spent a day or two looking down upon the distinguished body from a seat in the gallery so as to get the hang of things a little before he vantured on the floor His diffidence wore off after a little while and his great fund of anecdote his fine vein of humor his frontier frankness and originality of character and manner drew around him warm friends of both parties Standing one day in a group of Senators who had I been questioning him concerning his adventurous ad-venturous life Senator Wilson of Massachusetts said I understand Mr Nesmith that you had never seen a railroad until you came East and that I everything of that sort in the way of modern improvement was entirely new to you Now I am curious to know what struck you as being the most wonderful timing on this side of the continent Nesmith hesitated a moment then said Well I spent my first two or three days I in Washington up there in the gallery I looking at the Senate and I think what I most filled me with wonder was the I thought that I who went off to Oregon years ago a poor uneducated boy should be here as a member of the highest legislative legis-lative body in the country That was my great wonder VellbutI dont mean that exactly said Wilson who I was chiefly curious about what mechanical mechani-cal contrivance or invention had excited most surprise What after that most I surprised you 1 Well said Nesmith dropping his serious manner and putting I on a quizzical expression I think aftertime j after-time sensation of surprise at being here j myself what excited most wonder mysel cxcied was I how the devil the rest of you got here II I I I |
