The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-05-29
How the johnson Club Caught a Tartar.

correspondence OF the Boston Advertiser
The ''serenade" had but one real purpose
lt was a trap set for Mr.. Secretary Stanton.
The officers and managers of this little nocket
club were vain enough to think fbe,, a. nd
catch this grim-faced war minister after the
President and Mr.. Seward had failed in irving
to do so-it is the best joke of the season 'Tbe
report OF that famous Cabinet conlab on re-
construction had been published. and everv-
body had noted the forcible manner in which
1t was said Mr.. Stanton endorsed" the Presi-
dent and denounced" the scheme of the Joint
committee of fifteen. Nobody believed tbe
report, though 1t was known to come directly
from the White House and the State nansrty
ment. Mr.. Stanton did not fall info tbe share
A day or two afterward oracular announce
ment was made through the convenient me-
dunn OF the Associated Press teegraphic dis
patches that the truth of the Cabinet renort
was not questioned "save in one particnlar
wiz: position alleged to have been taken by
Secretary Stanton, and if this has been mis-
stated 1t is presumed he himself will cause an
authentic denial to be made, and not leave
MS views open to doubt or conjecture" This
was cleyeriy baited trap, but the willy head
of the War Department again proved TOO
sharp for the willy head of the State Depart-
ment. Hence this "sercnade" to the Prasi-
dent and his Cabinet. -
wednesday evening came, and so did the
"sereBade"-midnigh came, and the amis-
SION OF the club had been accomplished. The
Marine Band came out in melody and blne
coats-the managers of the club came out in
pomp and open carriages--the people came ont
IN small numbers and weak enthusiasm-the
PRESIDENT came out in feeble voice and COM
mendable brevity-the Secretary of the NAVY
came out in zone and all" four times in a min
ute and half-the Secretary of the Treasu-
rry came out in ward politician style and cheap
imitation of his superior-the Postmaster
General came out in meaningless platitudes
and airy balancings-the Acknowledgement
came out and wentto dinner some time he
fore the serenaders got there-the Secretary
OF the Interior came out in silence and crisn
letter OF rebuke-the Secretary of War came
out in 10 -
Wen, the scene was as good as first-class
comedy. Everybody" was there : twelve
hundred, all told, perhaps. A wide and deem
watcr-plpe ditch was there, in front of the
house, also, into which several persons fell
Inc managers carriages were there, too. os
was also the foot-weary band PRESENTLY tha
door OF the house opened, and the tahean
was set-the Secretary in the CENTER sora-
ground, manager or two on either s;de n
young man with candle on the right and a
young man with candle on the left. The
secretary raised his spectacles from his nose
10 ms iorehead, produced roll of manuscript,
anu q. once began reading, without so much as
looking at the crowdor giving the ib-tongued
onlclalS chance TO show themselves and in
troduce him. His hair seemed thinner, and
MS under jaw heavier, than ever before. He
lie read clearly and with good emphasis, but
so con larodsy that the claquers had no op-
portunlty to applaud. The instant he finish
Ell he dropped his spectaeles to his nose, bow
ed curt goodnight" and-was gonel 1t
er could find wit enough to call for three
cheers-and when he got them they were the
most ghostly cheers ever heard. Mr.. Green
Clay Smith had carried out his threat-sWell
smoke 'em out, by G-d"-but he knew, and
his brother managers knew, and the crowd
knew, that third nicely baited trap had
sprung and caught only-a Tartarl .