The evening times., 1896-12-24
1000 ~~~~9 ~~~sxA~M~~~e~~e~~
and other matter which could be supplied
in advance.

W
In advance.
a certain evening paper one year as
signed man who shall be known as Mac
to write the descriptive story because of
his experience in handling similar stories
In other years, and because OF his ability
! as descriptive writer In those days
and even row, for all ! know-Mac was
known as an expert poker player, and one
much Interested in card combinations. such
as "fuil houses,'' "straights," "flushes,
etc.
Onthc morning Of the st of January some
other correspondents OF daily newspapers
at the capital having no political dispatches
to write, prepared for little game Of
draw" Mac was invited in advance to
join the party. He hated to let the oppOr-
tunity slip. 1tinvolved, believe, even the
matter ofrevenge for past losses TO the same
crowd.
So, after due delibcration, he sat down
in his room, and, with an official program
OF the White House reception before him.
wrote in advance a very elaborate de-
scriptioD Of the event. lie had seen so
many receptions ut the White House that
he could write about one just as well in his
office as in the east parlor.
The Story.
The description of the reception was
written, divided into half dozen parts,
so as to appear as though it was a running
account, and placed in numbered envelopes.
Then an order was left with the messenger
company for a boy to call every half hour
at the room where the poker game was to
be played. and Mac threw himself heart
and soul into the spirit OF the play.
At the hour when the Presidents recep-
ton was about to open reporter OF the
evening paper, passing the White House,
saw a great commotion, and noticed that
people were hurrynig away instead OF go
ing into the reception
He inquired of one of the officers on duty
at the gates and learned that a member of
the diplomatic corps had dropped dead at
the beginning OF the reception, and that
the President and the members OF the
receiving party had retired Immediately
and ordered the White House closed.
The reporter went to the Mansion and
looked about for Mac, whom he knew was
assigned to write the story Of the recep-
ton Mac was not in sight and no one had
| seen him. So the reporter gathered hastily
what facts he could obtain and hurried
uOWH 10 Itt billts oi lilt paper Will tilttll.
Two or three men were sent out To hunt
up other facts, and a story was put to-
gether hastily for publication in special
edition. Meantime nothing had been heard
from Mac.
Presently a messenger boy came into the
local room Of the paper breathless. From
the White House, he said, rs he threw do wIl
an envelope addressed in Macs well known
hand. The city editor tore it open. To his
amazement, instead of a story OF the death
in the diplomatic corps Re found care
fully worded description OF the reception
as IL might have iooked at that time but for
the calamity which had interfered with it.
He put the envelope aside and waited.
Half an hour later another breathlcss mes
senger and another installment of the story
of the reception it might have been; thir.
ty minutes later more copy from Mac. In
three hours the reception had been brought
to triumphant close with the usual hand
shaking of public and President Meantime
none OF Macs copy had gone to the printer
II had been saved by the city editor a al
eXhibitto be used later.
That afternoon word reached the poker
game OF the calamity at the White House
Mac got up from the table and made a
hurried trip TO the office OF the newspaper.
The city editor smiliugly handed To him
the copy which he had been sending to III,
office in half-hourly instalments through
the afternoon. 1T will he useful next year
perhaps, he said, softly.
The White House reception is not th'
| only official function on New Years Day
| The Secretary of State always gives a
| breakfast to the members OF the corps dip
| lomauqle, and the other Cabinet people. the
| Vice President, the senior general of tn,
army and the senior admiral of the navy
| stationed here give receptions at theiI