The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-04-13
BILL SNORT IN THE WHITE HOUSE
BY ALEx. Y. SWEET .

The great Texas journalist, Col Snort, writes from the White House to his young friend Johnny Fizzletop in Texas. He tells Johnny what the expression bete notr means. Col. Snort insults President Harrison's pastor, and is filled with remorse The great Texas journalist also tells how he got even with ex. Gov. Hubbard for refusing to cheerfully subscribe to the Crosby County CIdrton and FdrmerS Vindicdtor. Shorts letter follows:
 My DEAR JOHNNY: In my last letter to you referred to my having a bete noir, and in your reply you say that l should leave those fancy drinks alone and stick to straight whisky, and then wouldn't have 'em 90 often.
 My dear Johnny, you betray your ignorance. bete noir is not the kind of bait you think 1t is You are not we'll up in Greek you would know that literally translated 1t means "back beast" ]" and appropriately applied 1t to President Harri- sons colored stenographer.
 You do me a great injustice in limiting that I have lem again. Pve not been drunk, lately, more than eight or ten times and then invariably, with some member of the Texas delegation.
 You must not always think the worst of a man, Johnny. When first came here, like yourself, I didn't know what 6ete n0tr was, until l heard Mrs. Harrison say to Mrs. Morton that Mrs. Jim Blaine-you may have heard of him-was her bete notr, and the latter replied "Mine too" Then I knew what it was.
 When was a Texas Democrat, Johnny, was A good one. never scratched a ticket or put water in my whisky but, of course, all that Is changed, now that I have fopped and become an ardent Republican office holder under President Harrison. Nowadays I never refer to the ex- x-Confederates except as unrepentant rebels. Northern Demo- crats are still copperheads, who striving to destroy the perpetuity of our Republican nstitu- tions. Like the New York Graphic, the Crosby County Clarion and FarmerS Vndicator has changed front.
 The Republican party is in line and harmony with mo In all respects, except the ngger ques- tion. draw the line-the color lne-just this side from the gentleman from Senegambia.
 little incident occurred yesterday morning which annoyed me, but 1t goes to illustrate what l say. Twas in my private office leaning back in my easy chair, smoking a thirty cent cigar and musing on the infinite. Here in Washington an official Is not considered man of the people unless he spits on the carpet and he don't attract the attention of the foreign ministers unless he has got his feet on the desk. We'll, wss thinking how nice 1t is to be power behind the throne, when a clerical gen. tleman entered
 He was a rather dandifed- looking clergyman, but otherwise he very much reminded me of the parson in the "Private Secretary" He asked me in rather arrogant voice if President Harrison was in. told him that the president was out, but that he would return shortly, at the same time asking the visitor to take seat, which he did. We conversed for & few minutes about the weather, when he turned the conversation in the direction of Africa, by observing, with an upward glance:
 "How shall, ah, we help the poor negro2"
 "Down south, where live when am at home, if you leave the smoke house door unlocked, the poor negro generally helps himself" replied, forgetting that had Topped and was now a con- sistent Republican.
 This seemed to shock him somewhat, but he pulled himself together and said
 "My dear sir, the country owes a great debt of gratitude to the negro There were, ah, 1S7 O00 colored soldiers in the war, and there are 100000 of them living in the country now, ah."
 "Yes, ah," replied, initiating his drawl, "and that, ah is the reason why the people in the south have to build burglar proof hen roosts, ah."
 "The negro, ah, is going Co make good impres- sion in this country" he said, ignoring my home thrust.
 Said I, "there is a nigger stenographer in the next room, and if had my way the next impres- sion he would make would be with the hollow of