Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-12-29
AN ARKANSAS OANARD.
The Old Etiquette story on Gov. Coke
Worked Up in New colors-
The Old Version.
The Senator Considered Impervious to
the willy Lobbyist-His Quiet
Life at the Capital,

WASHINGTON, Dec. pa some
what prolific correspondent Of the Ar
kansas Gazette, writing from WASH
ington City, is responsible for the fol-
lowing story which appeared In that
paper ON the 18th inst:
last week a constituent from Texas
called ct the hotel. He knew Coke
we'll. In fact he was exceedingly init
mate with him. He inquired for the
number OF the senator's room ana
bounded upstairs. He raped on the
door and was answered by the senator
himself. The Texas friend stretched
forth his hand for the grasp OF friend
ship. Coke did not respond IN the
mai,ner desired. Instead, he gs2ed
tiereplv al the intruder and said stern
lv. DON'T YOU know that that Is not
the way to call on a gentleman You
should scud up your card before you
come yourself
UThe Texan was abRshed. He did
not like the reception. but thought IL
only a wbim that would wear away In
time. He descended 10 the Office,
wrote his name on the card and sent
Il an In due form. In ten minutes the
colored bell.boy returned and aston
ished the stranger by the remark, as
he bowed almost tot the floor: DE
pemman ann not ut home, sah.' COke's
constituent Is reading up on Kelm's
official etiquette"
The facts are that Senator Coke does
not now stop at any hotel in the city
nor has he done go during the present
session OF congress, having private and
auiet duarterP where he attends to his
duties us an able, fearless and conscien-
tioua representative Of "A great state
and a great people, and where his
Texas friends and acquaintance are al
ways accorded hearty welcome
Therefore, this correspondent h clearly
mistaken, hut has been made the vic.
tim OF story, old enough to retire
from the public stage. that everybody
heard at the time and enjoyed. The
true story Is that several years ago a
couple of individuals, not Texans, and
who had never seen Texas, had been
annoying Senator Coke with their
ceaseless opportunities about matter
that affected them only. They were
In the habit of intruding themselves
upon him uninyited and unsolicited.
On one occasion they called when the
senator was busily engaged, and he,
not caring to be disturbed, told them
that II was the custom for gentlemen,
| desiring the audience Of congress
man, TO send up their cards They
either didn't have sense enough TO
take hint or else thought the senator
hypercritically correct as to matters OF
etiquette, 80 they descended TO the
Office Of the hotel and sent their
card up. When II came the
senator said to the card-bearer that he
was not OF home. Thus he got rid oil
couple OF persistent bores for all time
to come, and he Is now considered i'm
pervious to the willy Establishments o
that congressional pest-the lobbyist
The idea sought TO be conveyed b.
/ the Arkansas Gazette that Gov. Coke
because Of his elevation to the position
Of United States senator, has becom
frivolous stickler to etiquette II
Washington, IL az supremely ridiculou
IA anything imaginable. Gov. Coke
AS our people delight to designate hin
10 a thorough and representatiy
Texan, and u brave and dlgnifed SCI
ator, who has the best interests Of h
state always Mt heart and who at an
and all times IL ever ready TO exten
TO any and every Texan full an
, friendly welcome at his quiet and vi
ostentatlous apartments In this cit
A TEXAN.