The herald., 1896-04-26
Then Mr.. Cleveland Renders Sill
yer Threads Among the Gold
TUNES STATESMEN FAVOR
saey All Think Well of Their Execu.
ti0l
nckinley Whistles Yer Cant Lose Tie, Honey.
Depew's Shoo-fIy and Hoke Smiths
knuckls Accompaniment

Every man has q firm belief stored away
somewhere in his heart that he is q mighty
fine whistler. He also has some particu-
lar tune which he thinks he whistles with
more feeling and with greater charm
than any one else. But if this man were
asked to whistle his pet melody in compa-
ny he would think that some one was try
ing to make fun of him iu public.
Whjstling and small boys are generally
supposed to be the inalienable property of
one another, but any one whose vocation
throws him much in the company of states
men Of the day, knows that whistling be-
longs as much to them as it does to the
small boy. It may not he the height of
dignity to fill the air with the shrill notes
of some popular tune, but that doesn't
seem to count.
Even the chief executive of the nation is
addicted to the whistling habit. He has
only one tune in his repertory, and this was
in the heydey of it's popularity twenty-five
years ago. The first line of it runs, "Dar-
ling, I am growing old, silver threads
among the gold." Men who were young
quarter of a century ago will remember
that when they called on their sweethearts
they were always regaled with this seng,
which teeE uith touching sentiment.
Mr.. Clev a was not such very young
man when silver Threads Among the
Gold" was brought out, but his mind was
evidently in very receptive state at that
precise period, for men who have known
him we'll for the past three decades say
they never heard him attempt any other
tune. More than that, the president only
whistles the first three or four lines of the
song and then begins over again.
1t is always a sign of great good humor
on the part of the president when "Silver
Threads Among the Gold" is heard in the
White House. The servant knows that it
means the nation is safe anil that the
president has risen above tile cares of
state.
Ruth and Esther can both sing 'Silver
Threads Among the Cold" but their baby
sister is not old enough yet to appreciate
the beauties Of the song. Every night when
Ruth and Esther have been placed In their
brass cribs Mr.. Cleveland visits the room
and sits with them until they are asleep.
Ruth always says, whistle, pop" and
does, repeats, "Whistle, pop Other
people may not think much of the presi-
dent as whistler, but his little girls think
it the finest music in the land. They drift
into the land of nod every night to the
same tune, and in their waking hours hum
it all day long. Once or twice Mr.. Cleve-
land has endeavored to throw in a little
variety by singing his only song. but as he
is unable to hold the tune, he was warned
by his children to desist.
William Mckinley is the personiflca tion
of dignity at all times, with the one excep-
Rumor says that since he began sweeping
everything on the board, to the chagrin of
his e. o. P. rivals, he has been whistling
a great deal lie has number of songs,
but uncohsciously he has settled upon as
his favorite that joyous melody called Yer
Can't Lose Me, Honey. Joe Manley of
Maine heard the Ohio statesman whistle
this not long ago, and mutual friends say
lie regarded it almost as a personal affront
Inc wnoe political world knows that
Tom Platt recently earned the title of the
Sweet Singer of Gotham by rendering the
Battle Hymn of the Republic at a love
feast. Mr.. Platt sang this in complicated
voice, which comprised bass, baritone and
tenor at different periods of the song. He
only sings on very rare occasions, but if he
knows you we'll enough he will tell you that
he is something of a whistler. The Bowery
is his favorite.
John Griffin Carlisle does not conflne his
whistling to his private apartments. 1t is
said that even at cabinet meetings he
breaks into melody when there is a lull in
business. My Old Kentucky Home is, very
naturally, his favorite. When the secre.
tary of the treasury is softly whistliug this
tune HOke Smith has been known to keep
time by knocking his knuckles on the ma
hogany table, with the rest of the cabinet
leaning back in their easy chairs, enjoying
the rare musical treat.
Matt Quay of Pennsylvania is really
very fine whistler. He can throw in lot
OF MARBLES and trills with the ease of an
expert. In war times he was said to bs
the finest whistler in his regiment, and
that he always went into action whistling
ois loudest. He has an extensive repor-