Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-04-29
HE KNEW THING OR TWO

small the other evening by airing his
knowledge of American history. The lads
father didn't say much at first. He likes
to have his boy know whole lot OF things
but the old gentleman had a thing or two
up his sleeve, and after the lad had talked
knowingly and grandiloQuently of English.
Spanish and French settlements for awhile
he concluded to take a little hand himself.
You've been instructed a good deal about
George Washington, haven't you, John?'
the father asked the boy.
Try me-" replied the lad, with a supe-
rior smile.
We'll, here's little one" said the father.
WAS George Washington a private citizen
on the day of his death?"
of course he was" answered the lad
promptly.
oh, l guess not" said his father anna
bly, He was lieutenant general and COM
mander of the United States army on the
day of his death"
The lad looked incredulous.
Just look into 1t and you'll find> OUT
went on his father. washington left the
executive chair at Philadelphia on March
4. 1877. He retired to the peaceful shades
of his Virginia home which he enjoyed
Tor Just year, when he was again called
into the service of his country, in anticipa-
ton OF war with France. and on July B.,
l19s, he was commissioned lieutenant gen.
erai and commander of the United States
of his death, December IA, 1799.'
me lads eyes were pretty wide open
with wonder by this time
Why, l say, pop how do you remember
all that? / don't believe 1 ever heard that
before
'Oh, know a few little ones like that
responded his father. Now. here's another
trifiing one. which is rather interesting,
however. IN view of Mr.. Reeds retirement
as Speaker of the House. Of the three
dozen and odd gentlemen who have filed
the chair of Speaker of the House of Rep
resentatives. how many of EN- ever be-
came President of the United States?"
The lad reluctantly confessed, after some
thinking. that he'd have to pass that one
up.
We'll, that's one that you can probably
ask your teacher without getting an imme-
date reply" said his father There was
only one-James X. Polk of Tennessee
Several of the Speakers got the nominal
ton for President at the hands of their
respective parties-some of them giants
too, in a political sense-but they were al
defeated. to the intense establishment of
their friends. Polk was the only one that
got through and he wasn't so much of a.
political giant Mr.. Bell of Tennessee Mr.
Clay of Kentucky and Mr.. Blaine of Maine
were the other three who were nominated.
MIR. Bell was elected Speaker of the House
over Mr.. Polk. who was elected Speaker
by the Congress succeeding. so you can
Just take a pencil and pad and figure out
what chance Mr.. Reed has of ever becom-
ing President Of he wants the job. using
the history of his predecessors attempts
Tor the chief magistracy as your guide"
Why, say, pop, that's almighty clever
OF YOU! exclaimed the high school boy
I didn't think you remem-"
on used to dig pretty hard for facts
Wneh L was your age. SON. replied his
rather Just picked up a few little ones
IKE that, you know. And I've followed the
thing pretty carefully right along ever
since, too. Here's a simple one for Won
n in our !,
ever held three cabinet positions"
Inc boy. after considerable fumbling
around. was compelled to give up" on
Mr. Gresham" said his father. .He
was Postmaster General and Secretary of
the Treasury under President Arthur and
land"
The lads respect for his father was WISH
bly, increasing
l hadn't any idea. pop. that you"
Of course. you hadn't" interrupted his
father But, as 1 go along, 1 just buckle
on to whatever little facts come nv Wav.
Now, how many West Pointers ever got
to be President Of the United States?
We'll, General Grant was one" said the
boy
How many others?'
The lad fumbled that one, too, until his
father interrupted him with:
You needn't figure on that any longer.
General Grant was the only West Pointer
who ever reached the presidential chair.
jeff Davis, also a West Pointer as you of
course know. got to the chief magistracy
of the confederacy."
Il would have been thinking for an hour
over that one, and"
Probably" said his father drily. What
President attained the ripest age of the
lCt?"
The boy fell down on this without a strug-
gle.
John Adams-he died at the age of
Jefferson were next in point of age Madi-
son living to eighty-five and jefferson to
eighty-three. What's been the average
lifetime of Presidents after leaving the
The lad had to stand mute on this one,
too.
Twelve years and some odd months"
went on his father. James x. Polk sur
vived the shortest time-three months and
eleven days-and John Adams the longest
twenty-five years and four months"
Il guess L don't know so much as"
on. yes, you do-yOu know plenty, son.
Presidents Of the United States We're alive
at the outbreak of and during the civil
war;"
Another crusher for the boy, who gave
it up.
There were five of 'em, son." said his
ia Their. They were Martin Van Buren,
John Tyler. Willard Fillmore, Franklin
Pierce and James Buchanan. The last three
VI THESE lived curing the whole OF the war,
and for several years after. Now, name
me few distinctive features IN the career
Of John Quincy Adams"
The lad fioundered on this and his father
continued:
Why, in the first place. he was the only
President whose father was also chief exec
utive Then, his was the only election for
President that was ever thrown into the
House of Representatives Finally, he was
the only one who after leaving the White
House re-entered public life through an
elective office serving his Congress district
in the House of Representatives to the day
of his death, which occurred on the floor of
the House eighteen years after his term as
President expired"
There was considerably more of the kind,
and when that high school lad finished the
seance he had arrived at the conclusion
that his big mistake right along had con-
sisted i'll his supposition that his father Ga
man of few words was more or less of a
mental duffer
The Red Henry Ward Beecher.
From the Chicago IIter-Ocean.
Chief HalfMoon of the Sin-Ka-Use or
oh TY,Ii 10 oil