Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1898-04-14
PEOPLE WITH "WHEELs."
A Source of Greet Annoyance to
Prominent Men.
The visits OF the CranI1s Are Kept
from the Newspapers to Pre-
vent Further VisitatiOns.
-RidicuIous Gases.

A well-dressed woman of imposing
stature and impressive dignity entered
the anteroom of the Office of one Of
the most noted men in New York few
days ago, and demanded that the at
tendant take her card to his chief with
out delay The card was passed on to
the private secretary, and, as it bore an
unfamiliar name, he stepped into the
anterooln to see who the caller might
be. 81 do not wish to see YOU she eX-
claimed, 'let me see DR.. - at once.
This company has possession of 40
trains of cars that belong to me, and l
want them. You have had them for 81
years, and that is long enough"
"Wheels!" muttered the private sec
rotary. Then aloud he said Certain
ly, madam, you are entitled to your
property. The president would be glad
10 talk the matter over with you, but
he has an engagement in the western
part of the state to-day, and will not re-
turn here for some time. Perhaps it
would be better for you to put your
claim in writing"
every WELL" replied the woman,
calmly. But could you not personally
give me one or two trains for my imme-
date use?"
at would afford me pleasure to do so,
madam" replied the secretary, "but l
have no authority. The president alone
can act in such matters"
THAT is unfortunate, for really need
train to-day" said the woman, in
tone of regret. However, l will write
letter to DR.. -. Please see that my
property is well cared for
The woman made her exit with grace
full dignity, and left the private score
tary and attendants wondering who she
was. Her manner was that of a person
of good social station, and aside from
her extraordinary demand'she did not
appear irrational.
"She is the fourth crank that has been
in here this month" said the private
secretary. Some of the newspapers
published an account of the first Wis
itation just after New Years, and since
then the freaks have been coming along
every few days. 1t is Il singular fact
that whenever a story is published
about a crank calling OH noted man,
that man is sure to be besieged by
cranlls for several days afteTward.
Such invariably is the case with Dr.
-. We try to keep all mention of
these crank visitations out of the news
papers, but once in awhile story gets
into print, and then we have wheels
by the dozen-both callers and letters.
It seems to me that all the crazy people
who are at large read the newspapers.
When they learn that one of their kind
has been calling on any particular per-
son, they all become seized with burn
ing desire TO do likewise. Ofcourse, not
one of them gets into DR.. IS room,
but those of us who guard the ap-
proach have to be on the alert constant
ly. Twenty cranls, with ridiculous err
rands, have been turned away from here
in one months time. Nineteen of them
were the natural result Of the publica-
ton of a story about the first visit.
While most of these mentally unbal-
anced visitors are harmless, occasional
ly one comes along with homicidal
mania. After big railway accident, for
instance, a self-appointed avenger is
certain to turn upwith an inspired mis-
sion to remove the president of the road
from the earth."1N. y. Times