Los Angeles herald., 1892-06-19
ART OF STORY TELLING.
IT FLoURlsHEs AT WASHINGTON
LIKE A GREEN BAY TREE.

Robert Graves Tells of Congressmen whs
Make Its Cultivation . Matter of spe
eial Care-Billy Mason and Allen. o.
l1issIssippi specimen stories.
Especial Correspondence.1
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10. Story telling has
been reduced almost to q science in these
modern times. 1t has become profession
In which great mum bers and a great vari
ETY. of men are eager to excel Here at the
national capital the story teller Is in his
glory. He finds the boon companions
the kindred spirits, the ears in which jests
always thrive, men of note and leisure
as appreciative listeners. It follows as
matter of course that in Washington
many of the best story tellers in the world
may be found. The fact is, a good many
men are sent down to congress, or picked
out for appointment to executive offices,
more for their skill as story tellers than
for their ability in more serious endeavors
Other things being equal the good story
teller has better chance In the rivalry for
place than the man who can't tell a story.
The spinner of yarns finds it easier to win
friends and votes and to attain genuine
popularity.
good fellow" which sometimes means that
he is good for telling stories and for
precious little else. It also happens, of
course, that many of the Oldest and bright
est men in public life are gifted with the
art anecdotal. Among the story tellers of
the capital there is always more or less
rivalry. Often you see dozen of them
claiming rivalry in a new and good thing.
An instance of this is to be found in
story told at the expense of President Har-
rison. Inasmuch as it was an absurd and
yet bright thing, one which the president
himself has laughed at more than once, /
trust no friend of the present occupant of
the White House will accuse me of parti-
sanship because introduce this mot for
the purpose of pointing moral and adorn-
ing my tale. The story was of a caller at
the White House. who wanted to see the
president
"You can't see him, said Doorkeeper
Loeffier, who these many years has stood
at the outer portals of the presidential
sanctum.
''But my business is urgent and impor
tant."
= Il am sorry, but can't do anything for
you. You can't see the president"
The caller hesitated, while fiendish
oLAllc CudSCQ q ClOuu VI VCAdClOu lIOu Ills
face.
"Good heavens, is it possibles" he ejacu-
lated.
SIS what possible?" queried Loeffler.
"That the president has got SO small as
that"
This hit at the supposed smallness of the
president first came out at time when
there was great deal of growing at the
manner in which things were being car
ried on in the White House, though as
time wears on l imagine good many of
the disgruntled ones are changing their
opinions concerning the size of the presi-
dent. But at that time the story appeared
to strike q popular chord among represen-
tatives and senators in congress. state
it solemnly and accurately when / say that
at least forty of the wits and story tellers,
or alleged wits and story tellers, of con-
gress have since told me this yarn. The
joke of it is that in almost every case the
senator has made himself or one of his
friends the hero of the incident. Each told
1t as new thing, and every one of the Re-
publican narrators concluded his story with
an expression like this:
"Npw, for heavens sake, don't say l told
you!'
AS soon as new story gets into the Capt.
tol the professional yarn spinners eagerly
seize upon it and retail it as their own.
They have small respect for the rights of
proprietorship, Some of them systematic
ally ''work'' the press, that accounts may
be sent out which shall enhance their glory
and spread their fame. There was Con-
gresham Mason-Billy Mason, of Chicago
He was royal story teller, indeed, and it
will be long time before we look upon his
like again. Mason had away of working
the newspapers which was quite effectual
He was always on the outlook for new
stories, and when he found one he gath
cred about him in the rear of the hall of
the house a dozen congressman and pro-
ceeded to regale them with it. Then he
rushed out into the corridor, and there
catching newspaper men in groups of four
or flve exclaimed:
boys, have you heard my latest storyi
I've just been telling it to the fellows in
side, and they nearly killed themselves
laughing. 1t was like this"
And having corralled fifteen or twenty
correspondents and repeated his tale to
them during the day it was not surprising
that a number of papers, the next morning
or morning or two after, contained BILLY
Mason's latest story" But the fat con-
.gressman from Chicago was one of the best
story tellers the Capitol has ever harbored,
and every one forgave him his little weak
ness.
Another famous story teller, who has
been wise in not hiding his light under u
bushel, is John Allen, of Mississippi, the
funniest man in the house, who will have
things all his own way now that Mason is
gone, unless some new humorist comes to
the front. Allen long ago made an ar
rangement with newspaper friend of his
by which the congressman was to give his
correspondent first chance at his stories,
and in return for this privilege the news
paper man was to make dozen or fifteen
manifolds of his copy and give them out
where they would do the most good.
Allen is one of the most successful story
tellers of these days. He is essentially
southern in his style, and great majority
of the really good story tellers are from
the south. Allen never smiles himself; at
his funniest his face wears peevish, panied
expression. But he is the cause Of many
smiles in others. His good stories would
fill book. He can be witty too. One day
he was making aspeech in the house, when
a fellow member attempted to interrupt
him. Allen drew himself up to his full
height and exclaimed. I'm sorry, Mr..
Speaker, but cannot permit myself to be
interrupted, except by applause" Equally
good was his response to reporter, who
asked for his views on the tariff. "You
must excuse me-" said the Mississippian,