Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-12-10
STORIES OF THE DAY.
The Father of Teddy Roosevelt Had
Some Positive Convictions.

Old residents of Union Square tell a
funny story on Theodore Roosevelt's
father. James j. Roosevelt, in connection
with the equestrian statue of George
Washington in the southeastern corner of
the park. This is unquestionably the
finest statue in New York. 1t is the work
of Henry kirke Brown, who had some
trouble getting paid for it. collection
was taken up, says the New York Press.
among others called on being Mr. Roose-
welt, who lived in Twentieth street He
declined positively to contribute cent
He had reasons. He had been assistant
gresham and an assemblyman. His in
fluence was powerful. 81 hope you will
change your mind said the neighbor in
charge of the fund Never said Ted
dy's father, with every bit of Teddy'.ss
firmness. "Wel, sir, let me say that if
you don't you will put George in a mighty
that George has been in tighter. places
than Union Square, and he didn't need
me to HELM him out He has no business
in Union Square, and | am under no obli-
cations to assist him..
PROUD OF HIMSELF.
Pulpit orators in San Francisco are not
unlike the shifting sand. says the News
Letter They change rapidly and occa-
sionally become soggy. AT present the
most prominent preacher in the city Is
the Rev. Charles Edward Locke. bright
and shining ornament of Methodism who
holds forth in the Central church.
A week or two ago Dr. Locke was being
shown through Grace church by an
Episcopalian admirer. Gazing interest
eddy at the stars painted on the ceiling,
| the visitor inquired if they had any spec
ial significance.
Oh was the reply. you know what
the Bible says: He made the stars al
"Ah." commented the Methodist par
son. do you know the difference be-
tween your church and ours?
.Oh, | don't know" said the Episcopal
you put your stars in the ceiling. We
| put ours in the pulpit was the eng
''' A SIMPLE IDEA
| The early death in London of the Hon.
| William Strut. heir of Lord Beper re-
calls the fact that the first to bear the
title was blacksmith who used to give
| the latter's inventions. When Arkwright
made his original spinning-frame he
found to his chagrin that the, threads
smith. who said at once that he could
soon remedy the defect. 'All right" said
the inventor, 'go ahead. But the smith
had a keen eye to business and would
only effect the remedy on condition of re-
ceiving half the profits of the machine
for the space of ten years A long but
| one-sided discussion followed, in when
Arkwright was conquered. An. agree
ment was at once drawn up. Then the
smith took his hand out of mis- pocket.
rubbed it over one of the cylinders and
said coolly enough, That's all it wants =
| He had merely chalked his hand and Gre
| ated q rough surface whre Arkwright had
| left two smooth ones. That blacksmith
very properly-became first Baron Belper.
SOME OF CURRAN'S REPARTEE.
| John Philpot Curran was noted for his
! powers of repartee and sarcasm. Many
of his good things in that line nave come
| down to us through the century. There
could not be better testimony to their
worth; but as most of them are too we'll
known to need repeating here, / will SIM
| ply give a few that l have picked up in
| out-of-the-way places. At a dinner-table
| in London the conversation turned on
public speaking. Curran stated that he
| could never address an audience for a
quarter of an hour without moistenins
his lips. II have the advantage of vol
there Curran,' said Sir Thomas Turton,
! a pompous and pretentious member OF
Parliament. l spoke the other night in
the House of Commons for five hours on
the Nabob of Dude, and never felt in the
indeed" replied Curran, .for every one
agrees that it was the driest speech of
the session..
One day Curran was walking past the
Parliament house in College Green be.
fore the Bank of Ireland got possession
of it, with a nobeman, who had promoted
the legislative union by his votes. =
wonder what they intend to do with thai
useless building?'' said the nobleman
For my part / hate the sight of it, ~
do not wonder at that, my lord returned
Curran. who was an anti unionist. :.
never yet heard of murderer who wa.
not afraid of ghost"
Curran, as will be seen from these anee