The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1890-10-26

purchased some brightly FURNISHED apples
from a rustic peddler. amused himself by
proffering the fruit TO youthful 6ruln and
then Withdrawing it from his extended
claw. much to the enjoyment OF the distln-
guished passengers upon the train. lne
length of the animals chain had become
temporarily shortened by his revolving
around the post. The youthful scion of the
house of Evarts found the fun he was hav-
ing SO enhancing that he ran away to get q
fresh supply of apples, and when ne re-
turned the bear. by revolving around the
post in an opposite direction. had uncolled
his chain and could travel 10 its en-
tire length. Of this fact Master
he fearlessly took up his position where
he had stood before and again began to
taunt the animal with p~roffers of APP
pies. When. however, he suddenly dis
covered that the beast could reach him and
had still plenty of chain to spare. In his
alarm he suddenly turned tail and fled.
Bruin, however, was not to be easily
cheated of what he desired, m quickly
extending a claw. he grabbed the baggiest
portion Of the trousers of the son of the
coming Secretary OF State. There was a
youthful howl of agony, a slip and a rip,
and the greater part of the boys garment
was left in the bears triumphant
grasp. The elder Evasts being
a great statesman, did what many other
men would have done under similar cir
cumstances. He checked the hilarious
shouts of the spectators by grasping his son
and heir firmly, if not kindly. and, placing
him across one knee. the hand of Evarts the
father descended upon the flesh of EvarJs
the son in a way which, / Am sure. that
young man will never forget. Then the
train moved on.
But this does not end the story. The his
tory of this event would not be complete
without a record of the fact that the Presi-
dent-elect of the United States subsequent
ly figured in it in q manner which must
ever rebound to his credit and exhibit him
as a master of diplomacy. To have 1t an
nounced to a carping world that the tri-
.umphal journey of Rutherford b. Hayes to-
wards the chair of Washington had been
~signalized by his selected Secretary of State
rustics was certain to excite a flood of ridi-
Guile beside which the sarcastic laughter
which followed the questioned and much
discussed incident of Abraham Lincoln
creeping into the capital disguised in a
long cloak would sink into silence. Mr..
Hayes, however, proved himself equal to
this serious emergency. The train had
travelled but q few miles beyond Culpepper
Court House when the door of the
car in which the newspaper CORE
spOndents were, which had been locked,
SO that they. could not intrude upon
the grave deliberations of the statesman,
was opened and across the threshold walked
the Pre~sident-elect with his wife upon one
arm. To the astOnished newspaper men,
who were chuckling over the story they in
tended t~elegraphing from the next stopping
place, Mr.. Hayes thus addressed himself:
Gentlemen, myself and Mrs. Hayes have
come amOng you to ask a single favor which
l am sure you will not hesitate to grant.
You lave just witnessed q scene in which a
very dear friend of mine and of Mrs. Hayes
SO far forgot himself as to remember that he
was a father. He did what, probably, any
of you would lave done under like circum-
stances, and yet public narration of the in
cident will only serve to bring ridicule up
on him.. He feels deeply the notifying
character of the position in which he has
placed himself, and Mrs. Hayes and / have
come here to ask all of you to suppress pub
lie mention Of the fact. We are glad that
you are with us, we will be delighted to
show you any courtesies in our power, and
we only ask this one favor in return" The
newspaper men assent, but made
no promises. Then came Mr.. Hayes's coup
de grace. He added: Gentleman, l am
thankful for this kindness. but in order
that the re shall be no misunderstanding
between us. Mrs. Hayes and myself will
now walk among you, shake each gentle
man by the hand and obtain his individual
PROMISE" That settled the matter, and
that is why the story of how young Evarts
was spanked by his pa at Culpepper Court
House has never before been made part of
the history of this country.
Why do l now reveal the long-hidden
secret
Well, / wasn't there. and neither Ruther-
ford nor his wife took me by the land.