National Republican., 1888-02-12
THE POWER OF A WORD.
How Single Expressions Set Different
Wheels of Human Action Turning.

Wheels of Human Action Turning.
Some time ago an eminent physician re-
marked to friend that the President was
getting too stout, and unless he took more
exercise the result might prove serious. This
friend met a journalist in search of any kind
of an item, and the great medicine mans re-
mark appeared the next day in print.
Ahi what a wondrous thing to
Note how many wheels Of toll
One word, one thought, may put in motion.
On the wings of electricity the warning
words from high medical authority sped
over the land and across the boundless waste
of waters. The press of London Paris, Der
lin, and even where the waters of the Neva
bear the commerce of the Cars! took up
the question of the Presidents avoirdupois
and its influence on his health. The great
journals of our own land tired out the inn
mortal horses in securing doublc-leadcd
specials bearing directly or remotely upon
the grave subject. The rural newspapers
paused in their weekly efforts to solve the
problem of what farmers hen had produced
the largest egg and took up the new and in
tcrcsting discussion with astounding prompt
itude. Tea-parties at the crossroads rcvelcd
in the all-absorbing question, and one old
maid while under the influence of strong po-
tatons of Yung Hyson, observed that
although she'd never marry the likelicst
man that ever was born, yet if she were the
Presidents wife she'd make him get up early
in the morning and take six-milc walk"
The effect of this discussion was marvel
Gus. Soon great pair of Indian clubs were
passed through the back door of the Execu-
tive Mansion, accompanied by set of massive
dumb-bClls and several bOXing-gloves
riUiI nf pnliSt thnpips established
there, and ere long the world learned that
the President of the United States was sub
iecting himself To a severe physical training
in order to reduce burdensome and increas-
ing avoirdupois. This news spread as rapidly
as contagion in the good old times. The
fat men of the country became alarmed and
adopted a similar treatment. Exercise be,
came the recognized safety-vave of good
health. The demand made on the Indian club
and dumb-bell manufacturers was enormous.
Tricycles found such sales that the capital
| invested in their manufacture was doubled:
The business of bicycle making so prospered
that several interested in this industry of
| fered to send the eminent doctor, who by his
innocent expression had started their
wheels of toll, samples of their handwork.
II is estimated that the ayoirdupos reduction
during the first six months of this healthiul
craze among the fat men was sufficient to
have made all of the lean men stout. Ger
tainly in the case of the President ii proved
very beneficial. He is in better health to-
day than when he first entered the White
House, and the rugged and somewhat coarse
| lines of his face have been toned down to a
pleasant and more distinguished expression.
Another evidence of the power of word
or of an expression may be found in the fol-
| lowing incidents Some time ago, to the
amazement and chagrn of all true friends
of civil service reform, the President, with
out moments warning, forced the resigna-
ton of faithful official who entered the
service when beardless boy some twenty
four years ago, and was recognized by all as
the best executive officer known to the his
tory of that department. In defense of
this act, the President insinuated that the
officer in question could ncitherspeak French
nor German, and that knowledge of at
least one of those languages was necessary IN
that position. a strange insinuation, how
ever, insomuch as not one-tifth OF the ap-
| pOintees to places in our foreign service dur
ing this administration understood any Ian
guagc save their mother tongue.
Obi what wondrous thing to
Note how many bureaucratic tongues
| One presidential word can set in motion.
The insinuation of his excellency had u
magic effect upon the clerks in the depart
ment. Go now to the homes of those en-
ployed in this branch of the Government
service and you will find the works of Fas-
quelle, Ollendorf and otto laying about pro-
miscuously. The trade in this class Of text
books has suddenly become lively, and the
teachers of German and French find their
avocation lucrative. In the department
there is a transformation. Instead of hear,
ing the old salutation of Good morning
one is now greeted with, Gluten morgan,
Mein Herr, vie be linden Sic sich?' or Com.
ment vous portezryous &c matin, monsieur
II is no longer This is fine weather." but
''Es ist schones wetter, Heute, +" or 'Das wet
ter heitert sich auf," I'll fait beau temp
aujoud' hui" No more will you hear, Were
you in the theater last night?' but "Gingen
Sic ins Theater gestern Abend?" Ifperchance
an introduction is made il will he "Mein
Herr, erlauben Sic mir linen Herr Won
Schmidt vorzustellen," or Monsieur, per-
mettez moi de vous presenter Monsieur de
Jones'" This linguistic iniatuation born by
the Presidents insinuation has penetrated
even to the Indian bureau, where strong
the various Indian tongues in the hope OF
securing an agency or inspectorship in the
near future. In that bureau il will not re-
quire much listening to hear some clerk cry
out, "Wa-as-a-kleesh bar-bethld kla-hoki-
she-thai-sad," or "Wa-as-a-te-kleesh, nj
forth until the ear of the ignorant visitor Is
nearly paralyzed by the jargon, 1t is truly
surprising strange to note how many Du-
reaucratc tongues have been set in "philo-
logic motion" by his eXcelencys remark
able assertion
Another instance of the power of single
word Sometime since the Postmaster Gen
eral decided that two persons employed III
his department might marry without en-
dangering either of their clerkships, Here
tofore the cares of makingin the service
were onerous, TO make love with honorl-
BILE intentions meant, at the Consummatlon
ofit, the retirement from Government em-
ploy of at least one of the contracting par.
ties. But the Postmaster General spoke and
the scene changed,
There Is word of plural number,
foe to peace and human slumher.
Now, any word you chance to take
BY adding you plural make,
But II you add an To this,
How strange the metamorphosis
Plural IL plural then no more
And sweet what bitter was before.
Surely cares have been changed to cdreSs in
the postal service, and numerous engage
ments will now be consummated.
Now that the bars have been taken down
, /, in the way that led To the marital paradise
! may each one choose his wife as Mrs. Prim'
rose did her wedding gown-for qualities
that will wear WELL"
; Ahl what wondrous thing II is TO
Note how many anxious hearts
One word may set In joyous motion.