The evening times., 1898-05-21
CHATS m THE LoBB17s.
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and Hotels.

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and Hotels.
Mr.. Charles B. Leach. having beex rsg-
istered at the Portland for several days,
has but lately departed for his home IN
Mark Hanna Town, and appended unto
his visit here h an oft-told tale Of wrong
and ingratitude. Mr. Leach Is a brief,
smoOth-faced bunch Of disappointment
For several years he has been secretary
Of the Cleveland board Of education and
was wtthal happy and contented man
until certain unseIfish sense Of Repub-
hcan loyalty led him into the broad,
vague path Of politics. As supporter Of
Mark Hanna In the former senatorial
der.
He was the busiest man in all Ohio.
20 ms own way OF thinking, and spent
many wakefui night in choosing the
.faenos upon whom he would bestow
large, juicy slices of political patron
age when the fight had been won. Like
pneumatic tire puncture to his fond
dreamings. there came a split in the Re-
publican party. Hon. Albert 4. McKis-
son. the young mayor Of Cleveland. led
tne Doiters. and leagued his followers
with the Democrats in a fight that dis.
turbed Mr.. .Hanna's equilibrium by its
prospects of success. Through It all Mr..
Leach went about whispering weird and
wonderful promises in the ears Of those
who listened.
With a great show of modesty he caus-
ed to be understood that he. Leach. had
his Trilbys firmly planted on the In
side and not unwilling did he bask In the
sunshine OF newspaper columns as one
close to the smiles of Hanna.
But from the night Senator Hanna sat
In the Union Club. Cleveland, receiving
news OF his election and congratulations
thereon: from the very minute Charlie
Leach slapped the senator on the back
with a broad. familiar slap, saying:
We've won; haven't we Mark" there has
been an air Of friefdity between the two
or more properly between Mr.. Hanna and
his old friend Charlie. for Charlie had
nothing to do with the advent of frost.
From the promise Of a fat sinecure in
Washington Mr.. Leach was put on tenn
porarily with something Just as good"
which meant the office of collector of
customs t-home. Charlie was strong in
faith until the weeks slipped by like
nickels in siot rlachine and finally an
other nan was appointed collector.
In deer wrath Leach gathered together
change of collars and cuffs and q choice
assortment Of expostulatory rhetoric, and
hurried away to the Capital There had
been some mistake; just an explanation
and all would be righted. For several
1 days he haunted the Arlington, and then
transferred his base of strategy to the
Capitol Hanna met him several times
| that was Charles fault-and said:
How do you do. Mr.-ah-Leach."
Mr.. Leach has gone home now, a far
wiser and more cynical man.
Cnaak kipD af v*f,,
what certain up-to-date hotel clerk said
the other night about Ohio people who
have wonderful confidence in their infiu-
ence at Washington. They usually come
in quest of promised jobs that have been
lost in the shuttle of war or in some 9TH
er way They register with great bold
fiourishes. and write Cleveland" Can
ton" or just plain "Ohio." in chirography
of unusual size. They loiter about at first
with an air of intense Importance. which
evaporates with succeeding days of dis
appointment and finally vanishes alto
gether. Then 1t Is that the Ohioan wan
derS back home to resume affairs of neg
lected business. On the homeward Jour-
ney he says president Mckinley instead
Of Major" and Senator Hanna in
stead of MY friend Mark
Edward s. Hamley, of Portland, Me-.
has been registered at the Regent for a
day or two. He was asked about the ap-
prehension generally supposed to perme-
ate his part of the country lest the Span
iards send a gunboat or two into Port
land harbor and annihiliate the town He
said:
I'VE are not so apprehensive of danger
as many in this part of the country seem
to suppose. The main channel leading
into Portland harbor is strongly defend
ed by Forts Preble and Slocum 1t has
been suggested that the Spaniards
might come through what is known as
the West Channel, around Peake's ISL
and down Caseo Bay.
They probably would get close enough
to lombard the city by that route. but
the Auxiliary Navy for coast defense will
soon patrol our northern waters, and,
meanwhile. We are not losing any sleep
over the possibility of having our dreams
disturbed by Spanish shells"
What makes a hit with me-" declared
the man who travels for a Chicago house.
as he sat in the Willard lobby last night.
is that every time anything Is said
about the Spaniards bombarding Boston
II creates burst of merrfment Person.
ally / have no particular grievance
against the town beyond the fact that its
no good. But why people should be
tickled with the thought of having it
bombarded Is more than / know.
1T would be an easy thing, too, and
that makes 1t all the more serious Now
suppose" Che was interrupted here by
the hurried exit of several of his au-
dience) Il say. suppose the Spaniards
should decide to blow Boston into history.
They could steam into her harbor, drop
a few shells into-well. say fremont
Street. and then say. Now. you brave
friends. see what we can do. Come out
here and load us I'M with all fhe coaI ua
want or we'll shoot you on the map'
Then with new supply of coal they could
steam up to
Sir" interrupted the man who had
registered from Boston. lit is very appar-
ent that you have taken on a new supply
of inspiration from the depths of sundry
auxiliary cruisers"
The gentleman from Chicago subsided.