The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-07
CHIT OF THE NATIONAL 6HPIThL.
Gossip of Washington. Political and Otherwise
Senator Quay's Case-Education of
Indians.

WASHINGTON. D. c., Jan. 6.-(Spe-
cial)-Once upon time, many years ago,
a now well known Washington CORE
spondent of a Western newspaper was
serving as an ordinary everyday report
er on an afternoon paper of Washington.
Today he ranks among the brightest and
best paid of Washington correspondents.
However. 1t was upon one New Year day
years ego that the gentleman in ques-
ton mate a record as most versatile re-
corder of passing events.
His particular assignment was to write
up the New Year reception at the Write
house Being an old hand at the bust
ness, and having reported numerous prior
functions of the kind, our friend did not
consider 1t necessary to go to the White
house at all. These functions are gen.
orally exceedingly stupid. and after one
has taken one Of them In, to crafty his
curiosity he rarely cares to go second
time, unless compelled to. 1t was thus
with the reporter. Having seen many
of these White house receptions at varl-
Gus times during his career as a reporter,
he conceived the idea of simply sitting
quietly down in the office Of a friend on
newspaper row and getting up his copy
in advance, and then when he finished
he concluded he would send 1t down to
the city editor piecemeal thus giving
that gentleman the impression that tho
reporter was grinding out his copy as
events proceeded at the White mouse.
This the reporter proceeded TO 90, ana
shortly thereafter several other congen-
ial spirits drifted In, just after the hrst
batch of copy had been dispatched. y
little game of poker was suggested, ana
cards and chips were produced and some
LIQUID refreshments ordered, and the
friends started the game. 1t was decided
ly a more pleasant way to while away
time than attending New Year reccp-
ton at the White house. The play vert
merFily on and no thought was given to
the reception, except that the reporter
concluded that every time a jack pos
rolled around 1t would be about the right
thing to send a messenger boy to the
office with copy, just to show the city ea
itor that he was on duty and WORKING
hard.
All would have been well but for the
sad fact that at the very outset OF the
reception the Japanese minister dropped
dead, almost at the feet of the chief OK
ecutive, and. Of course, all festivities
were naturally stopped. The poker play
ing reporter was, of course, entirely OBJ
ivious that anything out of the ordinary
had happened. He was too busy saying
"thats good" or saying nothing at all
but raking in the pot"
He kept right on sending down his re-
port. lust as though nothing had hap
pened. and had dispatched his last bunch
of copy to his office over an hour before
he heard Of the sudden demise OF the
minister and the fact that the reception
in reality did not come off at all.
OF course the press service of the paper
saved them from being Scooped.
Speaking of New Years reminds one
of the uuandary the "city fathers OF
Philadelphia and the citizens generally
of the Quaker City have been in during
the past week. 1t has all been brought
about by the fact that there Is no way
in which two ciphers can be struck on
the famous liberty bell, which hangs IN
Independence hall In the good city Oh
Philadelphia 1t has been the custom
for over a hundred years to usher IN
each new year by striking the great bell
q many times as there were years IN the
century. For example, last year the pel
was struck ninety-nine times. Inc Phli-
ade1phial newspapers, during the CHRIST
mas week, have printed columns on this
vexed question and all manner OF sug-
gestfons were put forward from every
conceivable source. 1t was reared tnae
the ancient custom would have to be