Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-12

webster was asked what the retaining fec would
be: The reply was 81 900.
"One thousand dollarsI exclaimed the client.
Eyes, replied Webster. "but you will not have
to take 1t. and you need not if you do not wish
it. can't engage to try the suit without re-
tainer. II l am not retained I may be ap-
preached by the other party and may get q
much larger fee from them than from you.
II am retained will, Of course, have to try
the suit for you"
This frightened the client and he wrote out
check for u 900 and gave 1t to Mr.. Webster
who put II into his pocket and then said:
II VIII now give you my advice on the case
II 10 that II you can compromise the suit on
fairly good terms you had better do it will
not charge you anything for that advice"
The client expressed his thanks and left
He did compromise the suit and then came
back to Webster. Mr.. Webster congratulated
himself on his success and was turning 10 other
business, when the visitor said:
"Of course shall not now need your services,
Mr.. Webster"
Certainly not, SIR"
'And-how about that 81 900 paid you, he
went on, evidently expecting to have 1t
handed back to him.
"Oh," replied Mr.. Webster, while a broad,
substantial smile fitted across his dark face,
''you don't seem to understand. That was q
retaining fee. called in law q retainer. By vir-
tue OF the contract also became . retainer
What am l to retain, II not my fee?"
Our First Sultan.
The Sultan of Johore will give our people
different idea Of the rulers OF the far
east. We imagine them a set Of hesthen igno-
ramuses. They are, in fact, generally we'll
educated and are as smart as we are. visited
this sultan during my tour around the world
and spent two hours with him in his palace
near the Straits Of Malacca. He speaks English
fuently and he has spent a part Of his life
In London. He knows most Of the London
nobility, and has been entertained by the
queen. He has q number of pictures Of the
royal family Of England in his palace, and
found that he knew all about America. When
he received me he had a lavender silk skirt
wound around his waist over his trousers and
above this he bad on . sack coat Of white duck.
A turban Of brown plush decorated with great
diamond medallion covered his head, and he
had diamond pendant on his breast
and diamond rings on all his fingers.
He has about ten million dollars worth
OF diamonds. and he often wears rings Of dia-
monds and emeraids and diamonds and ru-
bies. He had bracelets Of solid gold rope on
each OF his wrists and his palace was guarded
by soldiers in gorgeous uniform. talked to
him somewhat Ct his travels and he told me
that he needed only to 60 to America to COM
is that he will come to New York and 70 home
by San Francisco. He lives Just half
way around the world from us, and
an anger hole might be bored through
the earth at a certain angle from the Capitol
here at Washington and strike his capitol in
Johore. The sultan is Mohammedan and his
kingdom is little bigger than Massachusetts,.
1t contains considerable good mineral lands,
but its chief products are coffee and gambler, q
plant which is used for tanning. The most Of
the labor is done by the Chinese, and the sultau
encourages Chinese immigration in every way.
His people are Malays. who will not work. The
sultan sold me his only hope for the develop
ment Of his country came from the Chinese.
New story Of Columbus.
Speaking OF the worlds fair. 1 heard new
story of Columbus last night. It was one
which ex-senator William NJ Evarts told some
time ago at a dinner given in Washington BY
John B. Alley of Massachusetts,. Alley was,
you know, mixed up in the Credit Mobilier,
and he has in different specuiations made
great fortune. He has been living in Washing
ton during the winters for some years, and his
dinners are famous. Mr.. Alley had
very large acquaintance with great men,
and he likes to talk about his ex-
periences with them. As the story
goes, ne frequently INDUCES in "reminiscences
at his dinners. During the one ut which this
incident occurred be had monopolized the
conversation. He had told his guests what
President Buchanan had asked Mr.. Alley and
how Mr.. Alley had replied to Mr.. Buchanan
OF how Abraham Lincoln had greeted Alley on
certain occasion and how Salmon B. Chase
had advised with him on another. As Alley
told his last story, his eye caught queer smile
playing around the wrinklsd lips OF Sena-
tor Evarts, and he asked him il he had
not mething to say. Senator Evarts replied:
81 have been thinking while you have been
speaking, MIR. Alley, OF one Of the most stir
ring incidents in our history. 1t was when
Columbus was on his way to tho discovery of
America. You remember the anxiety of the
great discoverer the time arrived when he
had calculated he should arrive on the shores
OF the new country. Morning after morn
ing he appeared early on the deck, strain
ing his eyes in looking toward the west.
At last one day as he gazed through his glass
his face seen to shine with surprise He
looked long and earnestly and finally handed
the glass to his most intimate friend at his
side, exclaiming: There, Alley. thank God,
there is land at last! Embrace me, Alley; our
fortunes are made!' The teller of this story
does not give the response OF Mr.. Alley.
FRANK CAaprNrvp