Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-31
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II is not at every cabinet meeting that
the ponIerous and weighty wheels OF the
government revolve- 1t is frequently the
case that there is not much official busl-
ness of importance to consider and then
lighter matters are interestingly talked of
by the President and his advisers. Every
member of the cabinet likes a joke, and
sometimes each man has a good story TO
tell One of these was told the other day,
Secretary Long being credited with the
narrative.
The story is about Charles Page Bryan.
the American minister to Brazil, and
Brazilian cat There Is not a more affable
or courteous man in the government serv-
ice than Mr. Bryan. One day Mr.. Bryan
was at the home of Brazilian official, and
seeing a fine-looking Brazilian cat ex-
pressed admiration of it The Brazilian
official promptly turned it over to Mr.
Bryan WITH the assurance that 1t gave
him great pleasure to present it to a per
son held in such high esteem. Mr.. Bryan
delighted and could not do too much
for the cat when it was sent to his house
But in a few days there was a change.
The cat. a mixture of the domestic and
wild animal, proved an awful nuisance
There were times when he possessed the
aroma of Barnum's whole menagere- The
worst of all that he did mean things
tore up clothing, scratched furniture,
fought all the other pets and kept Mr.
Bryans home in turmoil.
\ week later the coast and geodetic sur
vey vessel. the Pathfinder, put in at Rio
JaneirO- OF course, all the officers called
on Mr.. Bryan The commander of the YES
sci admired the cat Mr. Bryan said 1t
gave him the greatest pleasure to present
it to his friend So the cat was installed on
the Pathfinder which started on its way up
the Pacific coast. Three days was all that
was needed to convince the Pathfinder and
its officers that the cat was the worst nui-
sance known They didn't know what TO do
with the animal. Stopping at another
South American port one day they found
United States warship in port. The officers
of the vessels exchanged visits. The naval
officials saw that cat and admired its con-
duct. Why. certainly they could have the
eat although they hated to part from such
a fine animal. Forthwith the cat was sent
on board the man-of-war and soon thereaf-
ter the fun began. The officers saw that
they didn't have a mascot. but they held
conference. and as they were going to Rio
Janeirp they knew what to do They would
just present the cat to friend So when
they put into port they called on Minister
Bryan, told him they had fine cat and
would send il To him a present. He ac-
cepted the present. but there IS said to have
ben funny twinkle in his eyes when the
naval people told him the officers of the
Pathfinder had given it to them
This Is a story which Representative
Eddy of Minnesota tells on himself. Mr..
Eddy not only enjoys the situation when
the laugh IS turned against him, but has
sense of humor which leads him to start the
laugh sometimes himself.
In making the campaign in my district
ore year" said Mr.. Eddy. L took along as
an attraction veteran of the war of ISL
and Of the civil war who was a famous
hand at beating the drum. He was a drum
mer from away back and could arouse a
whole township. Drum music is an incen-
I-s,4 hf ar11 he. llh
captains drumming was particularly STIR
ring
well. one night. after the captains drum
had given the usual overture. / commenced
my speech to the populace which had been
lUred 10 he scene by his drum l noticed
at the foot Of the -Ostrum, the same being
big dry goods box bright-eyed Mite
fellow about twelve years old. who sat
through The speech. following me with
great attention 1t pleased me very much.
Any fool can interest an audience of adults.
but il takes a genius to hold child
SO. after the speaking. 1 went down and
spoke To the little fellow. and after shaking
hands with him asked him how he liked my
speech.
Oh. it will do he said: but If 1 was
you l would keep the captain drummin
all the time
x x
People who were amused in the days of
Holman. at that great economists sugges-
ton that potatoes instead Of flowers might
be planted in the grounds around the public
buildings. may not be aware that Uncle
Sam has great garden of spring delicacies
around the Capitol building The first
garden deIfcaCies of the season are found
there. On the southern slope OF the lawn.
under the protection of the terrace and ex-
posed To the sun. the dandelions have begun
TO sprout and yesterday some old women
and children who know the secrets of the
soil out with their baskets gathering
these greens for the table. Mushrooms
E.-=r a. -an as LAM zlin
grow in great abundance on this broad
lawn, and il is source of supply of
greens or mushrooms almost from the
time snow disappears until winter comes
again
The death of ex-senator Sawyer brings to
mind a story told OF him by friend of his
in Washington. Sawyer was very gener-
Gus giver 9f charity and OF presents which
neither he nor the beneficiary would have
cared TO denOminate charity, though the
gifts amounted to much the same. He told
his friend one day that he was going to
turn over a new leaf and try to keep his
donations down TO limit that would not
exceed S1.ttO month Three months af-
ter he had announced this resolution his
friend asked how he had made out
I started out pretty We'll" he replied
and II hadn't given an old friend Of
mine in Wisconsin who had struck hard
luck 5000" last month 1 think 1 should
have kept within the limit"
1t must not be inferred from the fact
that Spooner and TiIlman cross swords in
the Senate that there is any hostility be-
tween them They are personally the best
OF friends. and indeed quite intimate
each seeing in the other much to admire
Spooner jests with the South Carolina SEN
ator about his attitude of suspicion toward
everybody and everything. and T1lInan as
sumed an attitude Of greater suspicion than
he probably feels. Tillman is able TO use
his left hand readily as he does his
right The other day he was writing a
letter with his left hand while at the
same time paying more or less attention TO
what was doing IN the chamber Some