The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-09-12
HOW 1T STRUCK FoLGER.
A Presidential Decision Which Reminded
the Secretary OF a 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 q
certain thing done. l 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 10 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 subject?"
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
corner of the room, returned to the
table.
That reminds me of story" he
said. Everybody looked at him.
THAT reminds me of a story" re-
peated Judge Folger. "There was a
man in my town once, whom l knew
well, who had collection of pictures
of which he was very proud He was
q man of culture and means He had
travelled extensively in Europe. He con-
sidered himself connosseur 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 acquantances; in
fact, on every possible occasion he in
vited their criticism of it. One day
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 and
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, that
= man Brown was here the other day,
u and would you believe it, he had the
u 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 use
: similar expressions of appreciation.
. felt like kicking him down those stairs,
and hopping his excited brow, the
host once more asked his visitor, Now,
what do you think of my collection" u
Here Judge Folger stopped. The
l. members of the Cabinet sat quiet and
looked rather embarrassed for few
4 moments. The President coloreC
,f slightly but said nothing. Finally
u Freling huysen smiled in careful ant
L diplomatic manner; Brewster raised
lie his frill sleeve to brush the hat behinC
ct which he was concealing horrid grin
ID Chambers eyes twinked with merri
. ment through his glasses; Gresham
= mouth twitched; Lincoln relaxed hi
q stern and forbdding features, and Tel
al Ter ran his hand over his laughin!
al countenance. The President JOINED
-, good naturally in the laugh at his owl
" expense and the meeting broke III
without further business having bee
transacted. The subject which tn
d, President had preached that day wa
C. never after alluded to at Cabine
KS meetng.-N N. Y. Tribune.