The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-17
STORIES OF THE TOWN.

Richard Henry Savage, novelist, who is
now in command of the battalion OF en-
gineers, in which the Indiana company is
included, had a lengthy conversation with
Governor Mount during his visit to Indian
apolis previous to the muster of the COM
pany. The subject drifted gradually from
general war discussion to personalities, and
during the conversation the subject of a
complete unity of both the North and South
was touched on. In order to illustrate how
far reconciled even those who were former
ly the most bitter had become, Major Saw
age related a circumstance in which the
wife and daughter Of Jefferson Davis fig
ured. The two ladies live at the same hotel
in New York at which Major Savage makes
his home, and a strong intimacy exists be-
tween the two families. While making ar
rangements to leave home to get his bat
talon together, Major Savage was agree
ably surprised one evening to receive from
Mrs. DaviSs hands toilet case made by
her. In presenting it to him she said: MIR.
Savage, I'm glad you are going to take your
part in the war; may God bless YOU" Much
affected. Major Savage replied: Are you
really glad that ! am to fight under the
stood deep in thought, the burden of which
he could not even surmise but finally, rails
ing her fine, old face, she said, almost in a
w
cigar" it is told at the '1evees' before the
Council meetings, always feel of it. If
there is a hard lump toward the end you
light, pass it up. It's loaded This is an
injustice to Mr.. Higgins, but nevertheless
the warning goes out, and it is sometimes
taken seriously. A warning like this as to
cigars Mayor Taggart offers has not been
received with the least credeRce. 1t has been
said, Gin your heart to heart talk with the
mayor, be careful he isn't jollying you"
This has not gone through" with newspa-
per men. Reasons for it have been ascribed
both to his artlessness and to his artfulness.
There are to-day, however, two newspaper
men who will believe almost anything about
the efficiency of the mayor in working a
practical joke
meeting of the Aquatic Club was held
one night last week in the mayors private
Office at the Grand Hotel. AS those inter
ested in the club gathered, and sat about the
room talking at random before the business
on hand was taken up, the mayor opened his
desk and lifted out two boxes of cigars He
opened both boxes and handed them about
the company: The cigars were of the fine,
Misunderstanding variety.
These cigars said the mayor, designat-
ing one of the boxes, ''are loaded
He said this in his most serious tone. All
OF those present, except one, a newspaper
man, took the mayor at his word and Sc
lected cigars from the other box The
newspaper man smiled in a superior way
and took cigar from the box which Mr.
Taggart had said contained loaded cigars.
The newspaper man had known Mr. Tag
CART for long time and thought he was ION
to his curves" The conversation went on
steadily and the newspaper man smoked
comfortably. He made a remark and set
tied back in his chair with the cigar in his
mouth to take a long Whit. There was a
slight explosion and a puff of smoke and
9 Of M fA1L
He threw up his hands and started back
ward as II to soar over his chair. The
mangled cigar had fallen from his lips.
Laughter shook the company.
When the excitement had subsidized an
other newspaper man strolled into the room.
He was offered both boxes of cigars by Tom
Hedian with the same warning Mr.. Taggart
had given in the first instance. With the
same smile the first newspaper man as
sumed, the second took a cigar from the
loaded box. At this the rest of the crowd
became busy trying to look natural" The
mayors face wore it's ever-present, undis-
turbed look Tom Hedian alone referred
further to the cigars.
THAT cigars loaded he said
The newspaper man laughed quietly
presently he leaned over and put the cigar
behind Mr.. HedianS ear Mr. HeCian was
occupied in conversation, and the cigar ex
ploded before he realized it was so close
to him. The shock nearly overthrow him.
Everyone was delighted. The two newspaper
men were discounted, but, they told them
selves, they had learned that which the ex-
perience or others could never teach them.
Ihey Will be wary of the mayor in the
future, and his actions Will be thoroughly
analyzed Tor some hidden vile.
A peculiar blunder occurred the other dav
during the examinations at Camp Mount
Lieut.. Waterman had been besieged for sew
eral days by numbers of young men who
were under the limit age Of eighteen for ad-
mission to the ranks Of the regiment, and as
they had adopted many subterfuges to ac-
complish their ends. he was compelled to
use considerable vigilance to outwit them.
As result Of this every youngster who
came before him was viewed with suspicion
ard made the subject of severe scrutiny and
catechising. During the examination of
the Shelbyville company one of the bows
came up for examination in fear and trem-
bling and his shrinking manner Immediate
ly excited the suspicious of Lieut.. Water
man. Being a man of few words he asked
the recruit rather shortly: How old are
your" To which the boy-now completely
scared-answered family: Eighteen n five
months Whats, that you say eighteen
you will have to wait few months before
we can take you" With a sheepish look on
his face the recruit turned away and pre-
pared to resume his clothes. Before he had
donned them, however. his captain came up
and. learning the state of affairs, said:
Funny he is too young. His own father
told me before we came away he was past
eighteen Calling the young man back,
Lieut.. Waterman again asked how old he