The times., 1897-07-22

President Mckinley ate watermelon for
dinner yesterday. 1t was no ordinary
every day go- as you please waterIne Ion.
but sevent y-eight FOUNDER, the pride of
the heart OF j. r. Row an, OF Sparks, Ga,
and the JOY OF that State so justly famed
melon in the United States, ripe, juicy and
so lusciousthat pick kaninny would not have
e xchanged it for Mahomets seventh
heaven or a dozen chicken yards without
watch dogs
IL was a gaily decorated melon, too. and
reached the White House packedin golden
hamper, wrapped in d silk American Rag
| and entwined with white silk ribbon, on one
end OF which were the flags of the United
| States and the State of Georgia, and on
| the other end this inscription:
Presented to Hon. William Mckinley,
! President of the q. S. A"
| It required two Congressman, railroad
| superintendent, coach. two horses and a
| driver to convey the pride of Georgia
| from the Baltimore and OHIO station to
| the White House, and 1t was all that the
| polished and gentlemanly Major Dubois
| could do to carry it from the front porch
| to the Presidents room.
When tie two Congressman, Messrs. l. F.
| Livingston and William G. Adanison, burst.
| ing with pride over the nobie product OF
| their STATE, introduced to the President
| Superintendent T. NJ Mitchell, OF Atlanta.
| Ca, who had the great watermelon in
| his custody, the President cast d longing
look at the latter and shook hands with
| the former Mr.. Mitchell said:
Mr. President: TIE plans of the great
| Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, of which I
| am the Sout hern representative. is to
promote and encourage every industry in
the territory in which it locates One
| year ago the progressive hand OF our
system reached out to the sunny South,
| we found the grand melon industry OF that
section was depreciating. and looking
! around to increase the farmer interests I
offered prize for the largest melon
| grown In the South this season, with the
| understanding that it was TO be presented
TO you as the Chief Magistrate OF our
country
The winner was a poor farmer IN far
off southeast Georgia, whose heart would
certainly feel cheeFed could he see the
product of his industry resting here in
1 tuG Hdbiutl uOtnS.
In our youth. Mr. President. we were
taught tn beware of the gift-Iaden Greeks;
but permit me to assure you that, though
| this gift has passed your gates when you
| open it you VIII find that no ofncesseking
! enemy VIE emerge from its center. 1t has
been horne to you with nothing bat the
best hopes for continued increased pros
| perity OF your administration, and the kind
est best wishes for the health and prosperity
OF yourself -
The President thanked Superintendent
| Mitchell with an earne stneSs that plainly
denoted the watermelon had, or rathe
sOun W ould touch a tender spot and sympa
thetic chord He dwelt on the JOY tha
is brought TO the human breast by tn
luscious melon .and spoke Of the tempta ton:
OF melon patch He was about to relate
some midnight adventures OF forty year:
ago, but checked himself, sighed, as h,
gazed at the melon, and said:
Il certainly do thank you for this present
I know of nothing that can give ME NOR
plea s ure- l also thank you for not conceal
ing an officeseeker within its great greer
circumference l accept the melon IN tn,
spirit in which IL is rendered, and at the
earliest possible moment I shall secret
it, or s much of it as l can, in tb.
department OF the interior. / viii do this
If it costs me a dollar for collie medicine. >
Then the President again shook hand
with Congressman Livingston and Adam
son and Superintendent Mitchell, and
swelling with a tustifiabie State pride
they withdrew.
The mammoth melon weighs seventy
eight rounds and is foTty-efght inches II
circumference. 1t arrived in Washington
Tuesday night and was placed on exhibit
tion In the window OF General Agen
HeEe's office at the Baltimore and Obi
station. Some months ago Mr.. z. ". Mitchell
offered prize of S25 for the largest nelol
in the United States, with the under
standing that it was to he presented {
Mr.. Mckinley, and j. 3. Rowan. Of Sparks
Ga, was the winner. The States Of Soutl
Carolina, Florida end Alabama conteste
with Georgia for the prize.