The age-herald., 1899-12-28
JOE WILLETT AND
 HIS BOOM TRUNK

From the New York Sun.
 Late last evening tall man walked rapidly down Broadway carrying trunk. Between Twenty-fifth and Twenty7sixth streets he met short man carrying bar rel and the light of recognition spread over their countenances Simultaneously they spoke.
 Have you got one, too?" were their words.
 'I have," each replied.
 Let us go to quiet spot and commune," said the tall man. q am Jocelyn John stone. I am the private secretary to the Hon. Randolph Guggenheimer, and this is the Guggenhemer boom. IL is in my keep ing. l shall defend it with my life. You I recognize as the inventor, proprietor and sustainer of the Van Wyck boom. I as- sume that it is in that trunk which you bear upon your shoulder. Let us go and converse apart"
 They went. Mir. Willett ordered seltzer and MT. Johnstone ordered a small glass of milk. MT. Willett opened the conversa- ton.
 'Where." he began, "did you find the Guggenheimer boom, may I ask?'
 ''The Guggenheimer boom," responded MT. Johnstone, originated in the Old Do- minion. That is where MT. Guggenhelmer originated, may add. MT. Guggenheimer has grown to national importance in New York, however and We claim him for our own.'
 "Yes, indeed" said MT. Willett. New York is where Judge Van Wyck, from whom the great heart of the southern masses beats, made known the tremendous quali- ties of leadership which he possessed. But he, too, was born in the south''-
 Judge Van Wyck, as I remember" in- terrupted MT. Johnstone, first took prom thence upon his unwilling head in the town of Brooklyn. Later ne was defeated for governor-but let that pass. I was speak ing of MT. Guggenheimer. Lynchburg, Va, was the town of his birth, and there the heart of the people proclaims him our next vice president. Shall I not show the boom to you?"
 ''Oh, mo-" exclaimed MT. Willett, hastily, you needn't 1 have seen others"
 "Yes, l know" said MT. Johnstone, ap- parently somewhat disappointed. And now tell me how does the Van Wyck boom do?'
 Sir responded MT. Willett, 'it does Weil-inOSC an1aZlnSly well. Ine people or the south regard Van Wyck as one of them. They remember the great antitrust speech he made. They know that the blood that courses through his veins is akin to that that flows in their arteries. They have marked him their choice, and the great voice of the people will announce it. They love him, they respect him. May | not show the boom to you?"
 Not on your-that is, not tonight" said MT. Johnstone; q have no glasses with me. But, MT. Willett, do you not think that We could effect a great saving by combining our booms Van Wyck will catch the Dutch. ODonovan Rossa has endorsed Mr. Guggenheimer as an Irish man-one of the Goggan family-what a. combinatlon!'
 At this inspiriting suggestion the two boomers clasped hands. Their grasp was long and firm. Then they resumed their burdens and passed out into the night They paused as they reached the threshold A look of perfect understanding flashed be- tween them and they united their voices in this cry, which rang through Madison Square and echoed under the Dewey arch:
 Three cheers for Van Wyck and Gug- genheimer! Hooray!"