WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:03.520 This is section forty five of The Gilded Age. This 2 00:00:03.640 --> 00:00:07.320 LibriVox recording is in the public domain. The Gilded Age, 3 00:00:07.519 --> 00:00:10.439 A Tale of to Day by Mark Twain and C. D. Warner, 4 00:00:10.759 --> 00:00:14.679 Chapter forty five. The galleries of the House were packed 5 00:00:14.720 --> 00:00:18.120 on the momentous day, not because the reporting of an 6 00:00:18.160 --> 00:00:21.039 important bill back by a committee was a thing to 7 00:00:21.079 --> 00:00:23.640 be excited about. If the bill were going to take 8 00:00:23.679 --> 00:00:27.199 the ordinary course afterward, it would be like getting excited 9 00:00:27.239 --> 00:00:30.640 over the impaneling of a coroner's jury in a murder case, 10 00:00:30.679 --> 00:00:34.240 instead of saving up one's emotions for the grander occasion 11 00:00:34.280 --> 00:00:37.439 of the hanging of the accused two years later, after 12 00:00:37.479 --> 00:00:40.479 all the tedious forms of law had been gone through with. 13 00:00:41.000 --> 00:00:44.119 But suppose you understand that this coroner's jury is going 14 00:00:44.159 --> 00:00:47.039 to turn out to be a vigilance committee in disguise, 15 00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:50.759 who will hear testimony for an hour and then hang 16 00:00:50.840 --> 00:00:54.119 the murder on the spot. That puts a different aspect 17 00:00:54.200 --> 00:00:57.640 upon the matter. Now it was whispered that the legitimate 18 00:00:57.679 --> 00:01:00.880 forms of procedure usual in the House, and which keep 19 00:01:00.920 --> 00:01:04.040 a bill hanging along for days and even weeks before 20 00:01:04.079 --> 00:01:07.319 it is finally passed upon, we're going to be overruled 21 00:01:07.480 --> 00:01:10.560 in this case, and a short work made of the measure, 22 00:01:10.799 --> 00:01:13.599 And so what was beginning as a mere inquest might 23 00:01:13.680 --> 00:01:16.799 turn out to be something very different. In the course 24 00:01:16.840 --> 00:01:20.519 of the day's business, the order of reports of committees 25 00:01:20.920 --> 00:01:23.920 was finally reached, and when the weary crowds heard that 26 00:01:24.040 --> 00:01:26.760 glad announcement issue from the speaker's lips, they ceased to 27 00:01:26.799 --> 00:01:31.120 fret at the dragging delay and plucked up spirit. The 28 00:01:31.239 --> 00:01:34.359 Chairman of the Committee on Benevolent Appropriations rose and made 29 00:01:34.359 --> 00:01:37.719 his report, and just then a blue uniformed, brass mounted 30 00:01:37.760 --> 00:01:41.280 little page put a note into his hand. It was 31 00:01:41.319 --> 00:01:44.280 from Senator Dilworthy, who had appeared upon the floor of 32 00:01:44.319 --> 00:01:48.799 the house for a moment and flitted away again. Everybody 33 00:01:48.879 --> 00:01:52.319 expects a grand assault in force, no doubt, you believe, 34 00:01:52.400 --> 00:01:55.159 as I certainly do, that it is the thing to do. 35 00:01:55.680 --> 00:01:59.799 We are strong, and everything is hot for the contest. 36 00:02:00.079 --> 00:02:03.359 Suespousal of our cause has immensely helped us, and we 37 00:02:03.480 --> 00:02:07.079 grow in power constantly. Ten of the opposition were called 38 00:02:07.079 --> 00:02:10.280 away from town about noon, but so it is said, 39 00:02:10.759 --> 00:02:14.919 only for one day. Six others are sick, but expect 40 00:02:15.000 --> 00:02:17.759 to be about again tomorrow or next day a friend 41 00:02:17.800 --> 00:02:22.000 tells me a bold onslaught is worth trying. Go for 42 00:02:22.039 --> 00:02:24.639 a suspension of the rules. You will find we can 43 00:02:24.680 --> 00:02:27.879 swing a two thirds vote. I am perfectly satisfied of it. 44 00:02:28.319 --> 00:02:33.520 The Lord's truth will prevail dilworthy. Mister Buckstone had reported 45 00:02:33.560 --> 00:02:36.599 the bills from his committee one by one, leaving the 46 00:02:36.639 --> 00:02:39.520 bill to the last. When the House had voted upon 47 00:02:39.560 --> 00:02:42.879 the acceptance or rejection of the report upon all but it, 48 00:02:43.520 --> 00:02:47.759 and the question now being upon its disposal, mister Buckstone 49 00:02:47.800 --> 00:02:49.879 begged that the House would give its attention to a 50 00:02:49.879 --> 00:02:53.280 few remarks which he desired to make. His committee had 51 00:02:53.319 --> 00:02:56.759 instructed him to report the bill favorably. He wished to 52 00:02:56.800 --> 00:02:59.520 explain the nature of the measure and thus justify the 53 00:02:59.520 --> 00:03:04.000 committee's The hostility roused by the press would then disappear, 54 00:03:04.360 --> 00:03:06.599 and the bill would shine forth in its true and 55 00:03:06.639 --> 00:03:10.719 noble character. He said that its provisions were simple. It 56 00:03:10.800 --> 00:03:15.599 incorporated the Knobs Industrial University, locating it in East Tennessee, 57 00:03:16.120 --> 00:03:19.599 declaring it open to all persons without distinction of sex, color, 58 00:03:19.759 --> 00:03:22.879 or religion, and committing its management to a board of 59 00:03:22.919 --> 00:03:27.000 perpetual trustees with power to fill vacancies in their own number. 60 00:03:27.719 --> 00:03:30.439 It provided for the erection of certain buildings for the 61 00:03:30.560 --> 00:03:39.120 university dormitories, lecture halls, museums, libraries, laboratories, workshops, furnaces, and mills. 62 00:03:39.199 --> 00:03:42.240 It provided also for the purchase of sixty five thousand 63 00:03:42.280 --> 00:03:45.879 acres of land fully described for the purposes of the 64 00:03:45.960 --> 00:03:50.719 University in the Knobs of East Tennessee. And it appropriated 65 00:03:51.039 --> 00:03:54.400 blank dollars for the purchase of the land, which should 66 00:03:54.439 --> 00:03:57.159 be the property of the National Trustees in trust for 67 00:03:57.199 --> 00:04:00.840 the uses named. Every effort had been made to secure 68 00:04:00.879 --> 00:04:03.159 the refusal of the whole amount of the property of 69 00:04:03.199 --> 00:04:07.360 the Hawkins heirs in the Knobs, some seventy five thousand acres, 70 00:04:07.400 --> 00:04:12.319 mister Buckstone said, But mister Washington Hawkins, one of the heirs, objected. 71 00:04:12.800 --> 00:04:15.360 He was indeed very reluctant to sell any part of 72 00:04:15.360 --> 00:04:18.720 the land at any price. And indeed this reluctance was 73 00:04:18.879 --> 00:04:22.560 justifiable when one considers how constantly and how greatly the 74 00:04:22.600 --> 00:04:26.720 property is rising in value. What the South needed, continued 75 00:04:26.759 --> 00:04:30.839 mister Buckstone was skilled labor. Without that, it would be 76 00:04:30.920 --> 00:04:34.480 unable to develop its mines, build its roads, work to 77 00:04:34.600 --> 00:04:39.839 advantage and without great waste its fruitful land, establish manufacturers 78 00:04:40.079 --> 00:04:44.600 or enter upon a prosperous industrial career. Its laborers were 79 00:04:44.639 --> 00:04:50.120 almost altogether unskilled. Change them into intelligent, trained workmen, and 80 00:04:50.199 --> 00:04:53.360 you increased at once the capital the resources of the 81 00:04:53.480 --> 00:04:57.399 entire South, which would enter upon a prosperity hitherto unknown 82 00:04:58.279 --> 00:05:01.160 in five years. The increase in local wealth would not 83 00:05:01.199 --> 00:05:04.319 only reimburse the government for the outlay in this appropriation, 84 00:05:04.879 --> 00:05:09.199 but pour untold wealth into the treasury. This was the 85 00:05:09.240 --> 00:05:13.000 material view, and the least important in the Honorable Gentleman's opinion. 86 00:05:13.600 --> 00:05:17.279 Here he referred to some notes furnished him by Senator Dilworthy, 87 00:05:17.319 --> 00:05:20.680 and then continued, God had given us the care of 88 00:05:20.720 --> 00:05:24.319 these colored millions. What accounts should we render to Him 89 00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:28.079 of our stewardship. We had made them free, Should we 90 00:05:28.160 --> 00:05:31.959 leave them ignorant? We had cast them upon their own resources? 91 00:05:32.360 --> 00:05:35.639 Should we leave them without tools? We could not tell 92 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:38.519 what the intentions of Providence are in regard to these 93 00:05:38.720 --> 00:05:43.519 peculiar people, But our duty was plain. The Knob's Industrial 94 00:05:43.639 --> 00:05:47.680 University would be a vast school of modern science and practice, 95 00:05:47.879 --> 00:05:51.560 worthy of a great nation. It would combine the advantages 96 00:05:51.600 --> 00:05:57.800 of Zurich, Fribourg, Cruzot and Sheffield scientific providence had apparently 97 00:05:57.839 --> 00:06:01.040 reserved and set apart the knobs of East Tennessee for 98 00:06:01.120 --> 00:06:04.800 this purpose. What else were they for? Was it not 99 00:06:05.000 --> 00:06:08.959 wonderful that for more than thirty years, over a generation, 100 00:06:09.560 --> 00:06:13.639 the choicest portion of them had remained in one family, untouched, 101 00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:17.560 as if separated for some great use. It might be 102 00:06:17.639 --> 00:06:20.399 asked why the government should buy this land, when it 103 00:06:20.439 --> 00:06:23.920 had millions of acres more than the railroad companies desired, 104 00:06:24.279 --> 00:06:27.800 which it might devote to this purpose. He answered that 105 00:06:27.879 --> 00:06:30.720 the government had no such tract of land as this, 106 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:33.720 It had nothing comparable to it. For the purposes of 107 00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:36.720 the university. This was to be a school of mining, 108 00:06:37.079 --> 00:06:45.199 of engineering, of the working of metals, of chemistry, zoology, botany, manufactures, agriculture. 109 00:06:45.519 --> 00:06:48.240 In short, of all the complicated industries that make a 110 00:06:48.279 --> 00:06:51.519 state great. There was no place for the location of 111 00:06:51.519 --> 00:06:54.879 such a school like the knobs of East Tennessee. The 112 00:06:54.959 --> 00:06:58.519 hills abounded in metals of all sorts, iron in all 113 00:06:58.560 --> 00:07:04.360 its combinations, super bismuth, gold and silver in small quantities, platinum, 114 00:07:04.360 --> 00:07:08.639 he believed, tin, aluminum. It was covered with forests, and 115 00:07:08.720 --> 00:07:12.600 strange plants. In the woods were found the coon, the apossum, 116 00:07:12.800 --> 00:07:16.360 the fox, the deer, and many other animals who roamed 117 00:07:16.399 --> 00:07:20.720 in the domain of natural history. Coal existed in enormous quantity, 118 00:07:20.720 --> 00:07:23.279 and no doubt oil. It was such a place for 119 00:07:23.360 --> 00:07:27.360 the practice of agricultural experiments that any student who had 120 00:07:27.399 --> 00:07:30.600 been successful there would have an easy task in any 121 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:35.240 other portion of the country. No place offered equal facilities 122 00:07:35.279 --> 00:07:40.560 for experiments in mining, metallurgy, engineering. He expected to live 123 00:07:40.600 --> 00:07:42.839 to see the day when the youth of the South 124 00:07:42.879 --> 00:07:47.279 would resort to its mines, its workshops, its laboratories, its 125 00:07:47.279 --> 00:07:51.360 furnaces and factories for practical instruction in all the great 126 00:07:51.399 --> 00:07:56.360 industrial pursuits. A noisy and rather ill natured debate followed 127 00:07:56.399 --> 00:08:00.439 now and lasted hour after hour. The friends of the 128 00:08:00.439 --> 00:08:02.959 bill were instructed by the leaders to make no effort 129 00:08:03.000 --> 00:08:06.040 to check it. It was deemed better strategy to tire 130 00:08:06.120 --> 00:08:09.600 out the opposition. It was decided to vote down every 131 00:08:09.639 --> 00:08:13.319 proposition to adjourn, and so continue the sitting into the night. 132 00:08:13.759 --> 00:08:18.040 Opponents might desert then, one by one and weaken their party, 133 00:08:18.279 --> 00:08:22.199 for they had no personal stake in the bill. Sunset came, 134 00:08:22.360 --> 00:08:25.240 and still the fight went on. The gas was lit, 135 00:08:25.600 --> 00:08:28.000 the crowd in the galleries began to thin, but the 136 00:08:28.079 --> 00:08:32.080 contest continued. The crowd returned by and by with hunger 137 00:08:32.120 --> 00:08:35.759 and thirst, appeased and aggravated the hungry and thirsty house 138 00:08:35.799 --> 00:08:39.600 by looking contented and comfortable. But still the wrangle lost 139 00:08:39.639 --> 00:08:44.000 nothing of its bitterness. Recesses were moved plaintively by the opposition, 140 00:08:44.279 --> 00:08:48.519 and invariably voted down by the University Army. At midnight, 141 00:08:48.559 --> 00:08:51.960 the house presented a spectacle calculated to interest a stranger. 142 00:08:52.440 --> 00:08:55.840 The great galleries were still thronged, though only with men. 143 00:08:55.960 --> 00:08:58.720 Now the bright colors that had made them look like 144 00:08:58.840 --> 00:09:02.960 hanging gardens were gone with the ladies. The reporter's gallery 145 00:09:03.039 --> 00:09:06.240 was merely occupied by one or two watchful sentinels of 146 00:09:06.279 --> 00:09:09.840 the quill driving guild. The main body cared nothing for 147 00:09:09.879 --> 00:09:12.320 a debate that had dwindled to a mere vaporing of 148 00:09:12.440 --> 00:09:15.519 dull speakers, and now and then a brief quarrel over 149 00:09:15.559 --> 00:09:18.440 a point of order. But there was an unusually large 150 00:09:18.440 --> 00:09:22.639 attendance of journalists in the reporter's waiting room, chatting, smoking, 151 00:09:23.000 --> 00:09:27.000 and keeping on the key vive for the general eruption 152 00:09:27.240 --> 00:09:30.320 of the congressional volcano that must come when the time 153 00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:34.279 was ripe for it. Senator Dilworthy and Philip were in 154 00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:38.399 the Diplomatic gallery. Washington sat in the public gallery, and 155 00:09:38.480 --> 00:09:42.120 Colonel Sellers was not far away. The Colonel had been 156 00:09:42.159 --> 00:09:45.960 flying about the corridors and button holding congressmen all the evening, 157 00:09:46.240 --> 00:09:49.480 and believed that he had accomplished a world of valuable service. 158 00:09:49.960 --> 00:09:52.799 But fatigue was telling upon him now, and he was 159 00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:57.399 quiet and speechless for once. Below a few senators lounged 160 00:09:57.480 --> 00:10:01.559 upon the sofas set apart for visitors, and with idle congressmen. 161 00:10:02.200 --> 00:10:06.039 A dreary member was speaking, the presiding officer was nodding 162 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:09.159 here and there. Little knots of members stood in the aisles, 163 00:10:09.320 --> 00:10:12.960 whispering together all about the house. Others sat in all 164 00:10:13.000 --> 00:10:17.720 the various attitudes that expressed weariness. Some tilted back, had 165 00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:21.519 one or more legs disposed upon their desks. Some sharpened 166 00:10:21.559 --> 00:10:27.000 pencils indolently, Some scribbled aimlessly, some yawned and stretched. A 167 00:10:27.039 --> 00:10:30.559 great many lay upon their breasts upon the desks, sound 168 00:10:30.559 --> 00:10:35.360 asleep and gently snoring. The flooding gaslight from the fancifully 169 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:39.840 wrought roof poured down upon the trank was scene. Hardly 170 00:10:39.879 --> 00:10:43.600 a sound disturbed the stillness, save the monotonous eloquence of 171 00:10:43.639 --> 00:10:47.279 the gentlemen who occupied the floor now and then a 172 00:10:47.360 --> 00:10:50.960 warrior of the opposition broke down under the pressure, gave 173 00:10:51.000 --> 00:10:54.799 it up and went home. Mister Buckstone began to think 174 00:10:54.840 --> 00:10:58.120 it might be safe now to proceed to business. He 175 00:10:58.159 --> 00:11:02.600 consulted with Trollope and one two others. Senator Dilworthy descended 176 00:11:02.600 --> 00:11:04.559 to the floor of the house, and they went to 177 00:11:04.600 --> 00:11:08.679 meet him. After a brief comparison of notes, the congressmen 178 00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:11.480 sought their seats and sent pages about the house with 179 00:11:11.639 --> 00:11:16.200 messages to friends. These latter instantly roused up, yawned, and 180 00:11:16.240 --> 00:11:19.720 began to look alert. The moment the floor was unoccupied, 181 00:11:20.080 --> 00:11:23.240 mister Buckstone rose with an injured look, and said, it 182 00:11:23.320 --> 00:11:25.879 was evident that the opponents of the bill were merely 183 00:11:25.960 --> 00:11:29.679 talking against time, hoping in this unbecoming way to tire 184 00:11:29.759 --> 00:11:33.279 out the friends of the measure and so defeated. Such 185 00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:36.720 conduct might be respectable enough in a village debating society, 186 00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:39.639 but it was trivial among statesmen. It was out of 187 00:11:39.720 --> 00:11:42.799 place in so august an assemblage as the House of 188 00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:46.440 Representatives of the United States. The friends of the bill 189 00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:49.519 had been not only willing that its opponents should express 190 00:11:49.559 --> 00:11:53.279 their opinions, but had strongly desired it. They courted the 191 00:11:53.360 --> 00:11:56.759 fullest and freest discussion. But it seemed to him that 192 00:11:56.799 --> 00:12:01.720 this fairness was but illy appreciated, since gentlemen were capable 193 00:12:01.720 --> 00:12:04.960 of taking advantage of it for selfish and unworthy ends. 194 00:12:05.679 --> 00:12:08.960 This trifling had gone far enough. He called for the question. 195 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:12.879 The instant mister Buckstone sat down. The storm burst forth. 196 00:12:13.159 --> 00:12:16.559 A dozen gentlemen sprang to their feet. Mister speaker, mister speaker, 197 00:12:16.600 --> 00:12:21.799 mister speaker, Order Order, Order, question question. The sharp blows 198 00:12:21.799 --> 00:12:25.519 of the Speaker's gavel rose above the din. The previous 199 00:12:25.639 --> 00:12:30.679 question that hated gag was moved and carried. All debate 200 00:12:30.799 --> 00:12:34.000 came to a sudden end of course, triumph number one. 201 00:12:34.759 --> 00:12:37.080 Then the vote was taken on the adoption of the report, 202 00:12:37.080 --> 00:12:40.799 and it carried by a surprising majority. Mister Buckstone got 203 00:12:40.840 --> 00:12:43.320 the floor again and moved that the rules be suspended 204 00:12:43.320 --> 00:12:46.320 and the bill read a first time. Mister Trollip, second 205 00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:49.240 the motion the speaker. It is moved, and clamor of 206 00:12:49.320 --> 00:12:53.480 voices move, we adjourn. Second the motion, adjourn, adjourn order 207 00:12:53.600 --> 00:12:58.039 order the speaker, after using his gavel vigorously, it is 208 00:12:58.120 --> 00:13:01.559 moved and seconded. That the House do now adjourn all 209 00:13:01.639 --> 00:13:06.519 those in favor voices Division, division, Hazeen, Nays, haze and nays. 210 00:13:07.679 --> 00:13:10.399 It was decided to vote upon the adjournment by a's 211 00:13:10.440 --> 00:13:14.360 and nays. This was in earnest. The excitement was furious. 212 00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:17.960 The galleries were in commotion in an instant. The reporters 213 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:21.279 swarmed their places, Idling members of the House flocked to 214 00:13:21.320 --> 00:13:25.039 their seats. Nervous gentlemen sprang to their feet. Pages flew 215 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:29.519 hither and thither. Life and animation were visible everywhere. All 216 00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:32.360 the long ranks of faces in the building were kindled. 217 00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:36.120 This thing decides, it, thought mister Buckstone. But let the 218 00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:40.559 fight proceed. The voting began, and every sound ceased, but 219 00:13:40.639 --> 00:13:44.639 the calling of the names, and the eye no no 220 00:13:45.480 --> 00:13:48.759 I of the responses. There was not a movement in 221 00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:51.559 the house. The people seemed to hold their breath. The 222 00:13:51.639 --> 00:13:54.000 voting ceased, and then there was an interval of dead 223 00:13:54.039 --> 00:13:56.720 silence while the clerk made up his count. There was 224 00:13:56.759 --> 00:13:59.440 a two thirds vote on the university side and two 225 00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:03.919 over the speaker. The rules are suspended. The motion is 226 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:07.480 carried first reading of the bill by one impulse. The 227 00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:10.919 galleries broke forth into stormy applause, and even some of 228 00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:13.200 the members of the house were not wholly able to 229 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:16.759 restrain their feelings. The speaker's gavel came to the rescue, 230 00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:20.720 and his clear voice followed, order, gentlemen, the house will 231 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:23.879 come to order. If spectators offend again, the sergeant at 232 00:14:23.960 --> 00:14:27.159 arms will clear the galleries. Then he cast his eyes 233 00:14:27.200 --> 00:14:30.559 aloft and gazed at some object attentively. For a moment, 234 00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:34.320 all eyes followed the direction of the speakers, and then 235 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:38.039 there was a general titter. The speaker said, let the 236 00:14:38.039 --> 00:14:41.080 Sergeant at arms inform the gentleman that his conduct is 237 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:43.919 an infringement of the dignity of the house, and one 238 00:14:43.960 --> 00:14:46.159 which is not warranted by the state of the weather. 239 00:14:47.080 --> 00:14:50.320 Poor Sellars was the culprit. He sat in the front 240 00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:52.679 seat of the gallery, with his arms and his tired 241 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:57.399 body overflowing the balustrade, sound asleep, dead to all excitements, 242 00:14:57.519 --> 00:15:02.320 all disturbances. The fluctuations of the Washington weather had influenced 243 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:06.039 his dreams, perhaps, for during the recent tempest of applause, 244 00:15:06.399 --> 00:15:09.679 he had hoisted his Gingham umbrella and calmly gone on 245 00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:14.320 with his slumbers. Washington Hawkins had seen the act, but 246 00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:16.799 was not near enough at hand to save his friend, 247 00:15:17.240 --> 00:15:19.840 and no one who was near enough desired to spoil 248 00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:22.799 the effect. But a neighbor stirred up the colonel now 249 00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:25.120 that the house had its eye upon him, and the 250 00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:29.279 great spectacular furled his tent like the Arab. He said, 251 00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:32.799 bless my soul, I'm so absent minded when I get 252 00:15:32.799 --> 00:15:35.279 to thinking, I never wear an umbrella in the house. 253 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:39.519 Did anybody notice it? What asleep? Indeed? And did you 254 00:15:39.559 --> 00:15:42.679 wake me? Sir? Thank you, thank you very much. Indeed, 255 00:15:42.960 --> 00:15:45.720 it might have fallen out of my hands and been injured. 256 00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:49.320 Admirable article, sir, present from a friend in Hong Kong. 257 00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:52.559 One doesn't come across silk like that in this country. 258 00:15:52.679 --> 00:15:57.080 It's the real young Heysen, I'm told. By this time 259 00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:59.960 the incident was forgotten, for the house was at war again. 260 00:16:00.519 --> 00:16:03.279 Victory was almost in sight now, and the friends of 261 00:16:03.320 --> 00:16:06.799 the bill threw themselves into their work with enthusiasm. They 262 00:16:06.840 --> 00:16:09.639 soon moved and carried its second reading, and after a 263 00:16:09.679 --> 00:16:12.879 strong sharp fight, carried a motion to go into committee 264 00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:15.759 of the whole. The speaker left his place, of course, 265 00:16:15.919 --> 00:16:19.799 and a chairman was appointed. Now the contest raged hotter 266 00:16:19.879 --> 00:16:22.879 than ever, for the authority that compels order when the 267 00:16:22.960 --> 00:16:25.840 House sits as a house is greatly diminished when it 268 00:16:25.879 --> 00:16:30.120 sits as committee. The main fight came upon the filling 269 00:16:30.200 --> 00:16:32.679 of the blanks with a sum to be appropriated for 270 00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:37.720 the purchase of land. Of course, Buckstone, mister chairman, I move, you, sir, 271 00:16:37.879 --> 00:16:42.600 that the words three millions of be inserted, mister Hadley, 272 00:16:42.919 --> 00:16:45.639 mister chairman, I move that the words two and a 273 00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:51.320 half dollars be inserted. Mister Clawson. Mister Chairman, I move 274 00:16:51.399 --> 00:16:54.720 the insertion of the words five and twenty cents as 275 00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:58.240 representing the true value of this barren and isolated tract 276 00:16:58.320 --> 00:17:02.440 of desolation. Question, according to rule, was taken upon the 277 00:17:02.519 --> 00:17:06.519 smallest sum. First it was lost, then upon the next 278 00:17:06.519 --> 00:17:11.400 smallest sum lost also, then upon the three millions. After 279 00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:14.960 a vigorous battle that lasted a considerable time, this motion 280 00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:19.640 was carried. Then, clause by clause, the bill was read, discussed, 281 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:23.160 and amended in trifling particulars. And now the Committee rose 282 00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:26.640 and reported. The moment the House had resumed its functions 283 00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:29.920 and received the report, mister Buckstone moved and carried the 284 00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:33.200 third reading of the bill. The same bitter war over 285 00:17:33.240 --> 00:17:35.839 the sum to be paid was fought over again, and 286 00:17:35.920 --> 00:17:38.119 now that the a's and nays could be called and 287 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:41.039 placed on record, every man was compelled to vote by 288 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:44.359 name on the three millions, and indeed on every paragraph 289 00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:48.160 of the bill, from enacting clause straight through. But as before, 290 00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:51.119 the friends of the measure stood firm and voted in 291 00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:54.480 a solid body every time, and so did its enemies. 292 00:17:55.400 --> 00:17:58.920 The supreme moment was come now, but so sure was 293 00:17:58.960 --> 00:18:01.119 the result that not even a voice was raised to 294 00:18:01.160 --> 00:18:06.000 interpose an adjournment. The enemy were totally demoralized. The bill 295 00:18:06.119 --> 00:18:09.559 was put upon its final passage almost without dissent, and 296 00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:12.440 the calling of the a's and AA's began. When it 297 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:16.519 was ended, the triumph was complete, two thirds vote held good, 298 00:18:16.839 --> 00:18:19.480 and a veto was impossible as far as the House 299 00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:23.400 was concerned. Mister Buckstone resolved that now that the nail 300 00:18:23.480 --> 00:18:25.880 was driven home, he would clinch it on the other 301 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:29.960 side and make it stay forever. He moved a reconsideration 302 00:18:30.039 --> 00:18:32.519 of the vote by which the bill had passed. The 303 00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:36.599 motion was lost, of course, and the Great Industrial University 304 00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:39.200 Act was an accomplished fact as far as it was 305 00:18:39.240 --> 00:18:41.519 in the power of the House of Representatives to make 306 00:18:41.559 --> 00:18:44.319 it so. There was no need to move an adjournment. 307 00:18:44.599 --> 00:18:47.680 The instant the last motion was decided. The enemies of 308 00:18:47.720 --> 00:18:51.240 the university rose and flocked out of the hall, talking angrily, 309 00:18:51.640 --> 00:18:55.880 and its friends flocked after them, jubilant and congratulatory. The 310 00:18:55.920 --> 00:18:59.640 Galleries disgorged their burden, and presently the house was silent 311 00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:03.599 and deserted. When Colonel Sellars and Washington stepped out of 312 00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:06.359 the building, they were surprised to find that the daylight 313 00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:09.240 was old and the sun well up, said the colonel, 314 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:13.119 give me your hand. My boy, you're all right at last. 315 00:19:13.400 --> 00:19:16.599 You're a millionaire. At least you're going to be. The 316 00:19:16.680 --> 00:19:19.480 thing is dead. Sure, don't you bother about the Senate. 317 00:19:19.880 --> 00:19:22.960 Leave me and Dilworthy to take care of that. Run 318 00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:26.720 along home now and tell Laura Lord, it's magnificent news, 319 00:19:26.759 --> 00:19:31.400 perfectly magnificent. Run now. I'll telegraph my wife. She must 320 00:19:31.480 --> 00:19:34.160 come here and help me build a house. Everything's all 321 00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:38.160 right now. Washington was so dazed by his good fortune, 322 00:19:38.160 --> 00:19:41.200 and so bewildered by the gaudy pageant of dreams that 323 00:19:41.319 --> 00:19:44.240 was already trailing its long ranks through his brain, that 324 00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:47.519 he wandered. He knew not where, and so loitered by 325 00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:50.160 the way that when at last he reached home, he 326 00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:52.559 woke to a sudden annoyance in the fact that his 327 00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:55.799 news must be old to Laura now, For of course 328 00:19:55.839 --> 00:19:58.839 Senator Dilworthy must have already been home and told her 329 00:19:58.880 --> 00:20:02.119 an hour before he knocked at her door. But there 330 00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:05.559 was no answer. That is, like the Duchess said, he 331 00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:09.319 always cool. A body can't excite her, can't keep her 332 00:20:09.319 --> 00:20:12.559 excited anyway. Now she has gone off to sleep again, 333 00:20:12.920 --> 00:20:15.160 as comfortably as if she were used to picking up 334 00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:18.079 a million dollars every day or two. Then he went 335 00:20:18.119 --> 00:20:20.839 to bed, but he could not sleep. So he got 336 00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:23.960 up and wrote a long, rapturous letter to Louise and 337 00:20:24.039 --> 00:20:26.920 another to his mother, and he closed both to much 338 00:20:26.960 --> 00:20:30.599 the same effect. Laura will be Queen of America now, 339 00:20:30.920 --> 00:20:33.839 and she will be applauded and honored and petted by 340 00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:36.680 the whole nation. Her name will be in every one's 341 00:20:36.680 --> 00:20:39.480 mouth more than ever. And how they will court her 342 00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:43.039 and quote her bright speeches, and mine too, I suppose, 343 00:20:43.319 --> 00:20:46.400 though they do that more already than they really seem 344 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:49.200 to deserve. Oh, the world is so bright now and 345 00:20:49.319 --> 00:20:53.279 so cheery. The clouds are all gone. Our long struggle 346 00:20:53.319 --> 00:20:57.200 is ended. Our troubles are all over. Nothing can ever 347 00:20:57.240 --> 00:21:01.000 make us unhappy any more. You, dear faithful ones, will 348 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:04.400 have the reward of your patient waiting. Now. How Father's 349 00:21:04.440 --> 00:21:07.319 wisdom is proven at last, And how I repent me 350 00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:10.640 that there have been times when I lost faith and 351 00:21:10.680 --> 00:21:13.599 said the blessing he stored up for us a tedious 352 00:21:13.640 --> 00:21:16.920 generation ago was but a long drawn curse, a blight 353 00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:20.400 upon us all. But everything is well now. We are 354 00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:25.119 done with poverty, sad toil, weariness, and heart break. All 355 00:21:25.240 --> 00:21:29.759 the world is filled with sunshine. End of chapter forty five.