The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1885-11-14
HOW 1T STRUCK FoLoER.
A Presidential Decision which Reminded
the Secretary of q Story.

A Presidential Decision which Reminded
the Secretary of Story.
Astory is told of Judge Folger which
is said to have happened at one of the
Cabinet meetings at the White House.
President Arthur, it appears, wanted
certain thing done. forget what it
was. 1t is not material, anyway. He
had laid out his plans, considered the
subject carefully, taken the advice of
competent persons, was sure that what
he was about to do was right and
simply wanted to submit the whole
matter to his Cabinet, so as to be able
to say, if possible, that he had their
support, When the Cabinet set down
in the little room adjoining the library
he presented the subject to them and
gave them his views. He spoke frankly
and forcibly throughout He made it
appear that he had made up his mind
about the matter and was going to act
accordingly, whether his Cabinet
agreed with him or not. As he was
about to reach the close of his remarks
he went through the form of asking
the advice of his Cabinet and wound up
by saying:
Gentlemen, what is your opinion on
the subiectP"
Nobody answered. Frelinghuysen
looked at Brewster, Lincoln frowned
inquiringly at Teller, Chandler wiped
his eyeglasses and Gresham stroked
his beard. Finally Folger, who had
been quietly rubbing his chin in a
corner of the soom, returned to the
table.
THAT reminds me of story" he
said. Everybody locked at him.
''That reminds me of story" re-
peated Judge Folger. "There was a
man in my town once, whom knew
well, who had collection of pictures
of which he was very proud. He was
a man of culture and means. He had
travelled extensively in Europe. He con-
sidered himself connoisseur of pictures
and his collection, which it had taken
him years of toll and labor to bring to-
gether, was the special object of his
care and attention. He delighted in
showing it to his acquaintances; in
fact, on every possible occasion he in
vited their criticism of it, One day a
friend called whose opinion about the
collection he was particularly anxious
to know. He had heard that his friend
was considered an art critic of the first
order. After dinner, then, he led him
into the gallery. They passed from
picture to picture, the host explaining
the merit of each, the time and cir
cumstances under which it was bought
and so on. He considered this anC
that picture very fine; in fact the whole
collection. But he invited his friend
to express openly and without reserve
his opinion. DO you know he said
turning suddenly to his visitor, tina
man Brown was here the other day
and would you believe it. he had thu
impudence, when / asked him what he
thought of my pictures, to tell me they
were mere daubs, not worth the can
vas they were painted on, and to us'
similar expressions of appreciation.
felt like kicking him down those stairs,
and hopping his excited brow, tn
} host once more asked his visitor, Now
what do you think of my collectionP'
. Here Judge Folger stopped. TIL
members of the Cabinet sat quiet an,
looked rather embarrassed for a fey
moments. The President colore
slightly, but said nothing. FINAL
} Freling huysen smiled in a careful an
| diplomatic manner; Brewster raise
his frill sleeve to brush the hat benin
which he was concealing horrid grin
Chambers eyes twinked with merr
ment through his glasses; Gresham
mouth twitched; Lincoln relaxed h
t stern and forbidding features, and TIE
Ter ran his hand over his laughin
= countenance. The President joine
good naturally in the laugh at his ow
. expense and the meeting broke u
1 without further business having bee
Q transacted. The subject which tt
S President had preached that day WIS
never after alluded to at Cabin
: meeting.-M Y. Tribune.
r