The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-07-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.
che Humorous Side Of President hoKin-
ley-A Joke on Foraker-Ben But
terworth's Illustration.
Especial correspmdence.l

g "Achlnley ID essentially
serious minded man, but amiable and
good natured and possessed Of supply
of patience that would have put Job,
with all his boils, to shame. But he
has also humorous side-a side never
revealed to the public. however.
Throughout his public career he has
avoided levity or the appearance Of
levity. The public enjoys comedy, but
1t rejects tragedy from the mouth of the
comedian, and many statesman
whose brilliant sallies of wit earned
him fame has discovered too late that
the public turns away its head when no
attempts to be serious. Although the
president has therefore always enacted
the role Of the tragedian upon tho stage
of life, appealing to the minds and
hearts Of the public, when he is away
from the glare of the footlights he not
only relishes joke, but sometimes can
not resist the impulse to poke fun at his
int1mates. Office seekers under the
strain of pregnant hopes are in too
much agony to enjoy joke When they
crowd in to see the president, they are,
III u measure, like men before jury.
Their fate is in his hands, and to a man
in the dock levity is CHASTITY.
Asked Him What His Chances We're.
No matter how persistent the impor-
tunities or how ridiculous the claims of
an applicant for office, it would be cruel
to be anything but serious. Still, even
the president cannot always command
himself or restrain an occasional flash
of humor. One of the best illustrations
of this was found in the anecdote print
ed in The Post about Captain Meredith,
the old chief of the bureau of engraving
and printing, who has haunted the
White House ever since the inaugural
ton in an endeavor to secured his old
place. But it is probable that Meredith,
instead of approaching the absurdity of
the situation, did have O sinking SEN
sation in his stomach when the presi-
dent innocently asked him what his
chances were and followed tho question
by warmly congratulating him when
Captain Meredith answered in dazed
sort Of way TINT he thought they were
pretty good
a Joke on Senator Foraker.
A few days ago Senator Foraker es-
corted place hunting constituent in to
see Mr.. Mckinley. The Ohio senator
had been on similar missions for
week. Foraker has not had any luck
to speak Of, as David B. Hill would
say, in the matter Of patronage, but he
knows he earns tho eternal gratitude Of
his constituents by making the effort,
md failure does not daunt him. On
this particular occasion after tho Ohio
senator had presented the claims Of his
friend the president looked at him
quizzically moment Then his face as-
sumed well simulated expression Of
anxiety, which, however, could not
hide the twinkle in his eye as he said:
Foraker, you don't look we'll. You
are working too hard. Why don't you
take rest?"
The Ohio senator was greatly amused
after he got ont of the White House,
but his companion saw no cause for
merriment in the presidents anxiety
concerning Foraker's health.
Ben Butterworth of Ohio, now COM
missioner of patents, used to say that
Mckinley was devoid Of all sense Of
humor, but this was Mt a time when
Butterworth wasn't in a position to
fully appreciate humor. They were both
i'll congress-it was just before the
opening of the memorable Fifty-first.
Both had aspirations for the speaker
ship, but the Ohio delegation in caucus
decided to present Mckinley as their
candidate. Butterworth thought Nc
Kinley took the Endorsement of his cam
didney too much as matter of course
and totally disregarded his Butter
worths) claims. which, 1t goes without
saying, he considered quite as weighty
as McKinley's. 1t was after the caucus
that Butterworth advanced this propo-
sition touching MoKinley's deficiency
in humor.
Ben Butterworth's Illustration.
"Why," said Butterworth, "if Nc
Kinley and were walking through an
orchard which had only one bearing
tree, and that tree had but two apples,
he would pick both, put one in his
pocket, take bite out of tho other and
then calmly turn to mo and ask:
Ben, do you like apples?'"
Probably Batterworth's opinions have
changed since Mckinley appointed him
commissioner Of patents.
Picturesque Senator Pettus.
II any one word could describe SEN
ator Pettus Of Alabama, it would be
"owlish. Mr.. Pettua has only been in
the senate since the 4th of last March,
but it is safe to say that not day has
passed without a speech or a remark of
some kind from him. Some senator's
like Wetmore, for instance-aro content
to sit quietly in tho senate chamber for
months Mt time. Not so with Pettus
He has an observation for every hour of
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