When Mr.Newberry and Mr.
Dick Overend were young, men went into congress from pure patriotism; there was no such thing as graft or crookedness, as they both admitted, in those days; and as for the United States Senate--here their voices were almost hushed in awe--why, when they were young, the United States Senate-- But no, neither of them could find a phrase big enough for their meaning.
They merely repeated "as for the United States Senate--" and then shook their heads and took long drinks of whiskey and soda.
Then, naturally, speaking of the rottenness of the federal government had led them to talk of the rottenness of the state legislature.

How different from the state legislatures that they remembered as young men! Not merely different in the matter of graft, but different, so Mr.
Newberry said, in the calibre of the men.

He recalled how he had been taken as a boy of twelve by his father to hear a debate.

He would never forget it.

Giants! he said, that was what they were.