Blaine's Good Humor

On one occasion, a decisión which Blaine made as speaker of the houae greatly enraged a new member, who waited on Penusylvania avenue after the house adjourned with some friends, declaring that he would "have it out or fight." "You can't," said one of his friends; "nothing you can say will gat the better of Blaine's good humor and politeness." "We'll see!" said the enraged man as he caught sight of the stately form of the speaker coming slowly tovrard him. He stepped forward quickly and stood across his path. "Mr. Blaine," he saidtloudly, "I don't know you. But I take the liberty of tölling you, sir, that you are a fooi and a jackass!" "Indeed!" said Blaine, mildly; "now I wonder," regarding hirn thoughtf ully, ' 'what kind of a liberty you would have taken if I had been one of your intímate friends?" and, bowing courtoously, he passed on while the companions of the congressman burst into a shout of laughter.