The age-herald., 1899-07-22
SHORT STORIES
 OF THE DAY


 Owen Ochiltree. writing in the PhiladeI- phia Inquirer, tells some interesting stories about Governor Stone, of Pennsylvania Just before he was nominated for governor, Colonel Stone distinguished himself in Washington. decrepit veteran from Pennsylvania was hobbling on crutches through the capitol on sightseeing expe- dition. He became tired, and seeing row of six unoccupied benches in the rotunda, he sat down to rest. A policeman instantly made for him. "Get up from there,'' he commanded. Don't you see that sign up there?" pointing to legend which bore the words: "These benches exclusively for ladies'"
 The veteran protested that he was tired out and that as the benches were not in use he felt that an old man who had lost a leg in his country's defense might be per- mitted to use a small space one of them. "It makes no difference" declared the po- lieeman. My orders from the police board are to keep men out of these seats. You must move on."
 The old soldier gathered up his crutches and prepared to move on just Colonel Stone came passing through. The colonel is veteran himself, and seeing 0 com- rade in distress, he inquired the cause The veteran explained and Colonel Stone lost his temper.
 ''Sit right down again on that bench" he exclaimed "and stay there until you get rested" Then, turning to the policeman, the colonel denounced his conduct in rather strong language, and added that he would have that sign taken down if he had to get a resolution through the house to do 1t. The officer walked off and left the colonel swapping war "reminiscences on the Ladies Bench"
 Some time around 1880 two men sat in the smoking car of train bound from Phila- delphia to Harrisburg. There were both big, stout men. It was night time; they were alone, and the desire for conversation seemed to strike each of them at the same time, for they arose simultaneously.
 T was about to remark" said the first man, that my name is Stone, and I come from Allegheny"
 And I was about to remark" said the other, "that my name is Hastings and that I hail from Center"
 Soon after that Stone became United States district attorney for Western Penn sylvania and Hastings became adiutant general of the state. Then later still they became governor-that is, one at a. time.
 A writer in the New York Press says of Hugh J. Grant, ex-mayor of New York, and Ulysses s. Grant, Jr.: It is not a bit odd that they should have been chums at
 
 One day, long after they had cut their political. eye teeth, after Hugh was sheriff, Buck said, as they strolled down Broad way: "Hugh, why is it you are so mod est?' With sly twinkle the future mayor replied: "Modesty doesn't do a man any harm in politics." Hugh Grant may have an "easy'' look about his face, but he can hold his own with the shrewdest. Naturai- ly warm-hearted, he is as cold at business as Russell Sage. At poker he is recog- nized postmaster. I have yet to see the man who can outhold him, lay 'em down quicker when he's beat, bet 'em harder when he's got 'em. and gather in the pot with more regretful air. His skin being clear and his blood clean he can blush like a sensitive girl still tied to mothers apron strings. But, brethren, don't let that blush fool you!
 Robert Barr, the novelist, is a great joker. l.. F. Austin, English writer, tells how Barr worried waiter. He says: 'I was finishing breakfast one morning about luncheon time al table in the pleasantest window. He saw me from the doorway and said to waiter: "I want that table for some frinds who are coming to lunch at once. Who's the sitting there? I'll turn him out," So he strode up to me with a fierce expression, followed by the protest ing waiter, and said: Look here, you've ashamed to be breakfasting at this hour?" The terrified servant evidently expected bloodshed. Perhaps he a dlligent reader of my friends tales and thought he was going to see one of them transacted in real life with the assistance of a corpse and serviettes all over gore" A niece of Attorney General Griggs, Miss Elizabeth A. Curtis, is one of the latest translators of Omar Khayyam. At a re- cent reception given in her honor by her uncle she overheard one prominent society was. "Oh!' replied the woman addressed. "He is a new colored poet like Paul Dunbar"
 EVEN DEWEY COULDN'T From the Youths Companion. Possibly the following is an old story in