The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-12-28
LITERARY FELLERs. -


The old resident Of Washington has
been remarking q certain change in the
character of what may be called the r.
regular guests at the White House. Po-
HticiaRS are always there Of course. 70
waylay the president, but the chance
caller, the S-ayfarer at luncheon. the
extra plate at dinner. IS very apt. under
the present regime. 10 be d man known
for some sort OF attainment n art or
science, or. particularly. literature. says
the New York Evening Post. The mas
ter OF the house is himself author Of fif
teen volurnes-sone OF them. his admir-
ers say, and we can Well believe II. fair
IS hurled az "A stenographer by q kind
of Gatli1g-gun dictauon. ia the intervals
OF more pressing occupations At al
events, he has the ore touch Of literary
nature 70 make him feel his Kin with
writer's. and 10 render him less likely -
shy al the mention OF q book. less fright
ened at a quotation or alusiou. than some
Of his predecessors. He has even been
observed in the unprecedented act Of
reading in the " hite House library. and
it was suspected that the work IN his
hand was neither government report
or the seal fisheries nor n volume Of
orations by Senator Lodge. As the
most bookish president since Jefferson.
Mr.. Roosevelt has naturally given an es-
pecially hearty welcome to wandering
bookmen.
IN 50 far as this speaks only Of the
presidents personal tastes. IL calls for
no more than the passing comment OF the
smali-beer chrouieier. If Lord Carteret.
when Viceroy Of Ireland. liked 70 have a
scholar at each elbow and with them 20
make the talk embarrassing and unin-
telligible 10 whole table-fuu OF fine
gentlemen" the president az the United
States may surely indulge himself in
similar preferences. But the phenome-
non has its public aspects. Mr.. ROose-
velt's private practice. IN this matter Of
entertaining men of letters unawares. af-
fects his action in affairs Of state. For
one thing, IL clearly reveals IN him that
essential quality Of the successful states
man in a democracy sense OF humOr-
No merely solemn functionary would III
vite writers with a quick eye for the
ridiculous 10 share his salt. Consider
the significance OF Mr.. Dooley Al the
White House cheerfully seated at dinner
alongside the victim of that exquisite sa-
tire of his. Alone in Cuba Every
man Of sense VIII feel the country safer
in the hands OF an executive who thus
shows that he recognizes q good joke.
even when it is at his own expense.
This is reassuriHg enough. but what es-
pecially signalizes the intercourse Of
President Roosevelt with literary men IS
gets important information out Of them
If they know what's the matter with
Kansas. like Mr.. W. A. White, the presl-
dent gets them TO tell him what's the
matter with Kansas candidates for ap-
pointive office. IF a gentleman from IN
diana comes along in the person Of Mr..
Booth Harrington, with a strong sense Of
local color, Mr.. Roosevelt induces him
to give his views on local corruption. So
n q fnre -ar,.1 ant Frry f1rr
from other states who have enjoyed the
hospitality of the White House. Each
of them is appealed to for impartial and
realistic estimates Of the patriots whom
Senators and Representatives are press
ing upon executive favor.
The process really amounts 70 stroke
OF administrative genius. Few realize
how difficult Il is for a president TO OBJ
tain trustworthy knowledge of tho men
he is asked to appoint. According 10
their official hackers, they are. Of course.
angels with not one mOulted feather;
their opponents are equally sure that they
are barely escaped from the pit. How
badgered president to find out the truth?
Perhaps his greatest puzzles of the sort
confront him when a senator ostenta-
tiously brings IN "a hero from his state,
whom he effusiveiy endorses in public.
only to send a confidential note later ask
ing that nothing be done for the fellow.
so all your politicians wise
Dispatch the rogues by whom they rise"
In such circumstances, It IS little short
of an inspiration on President Rooseveit's
part TO control the experiment. as the
scientists say. by going behind the poll
ticians. and outside the ordinary sources
of information. for hrst-hand and I'M
prejudiced accounts of political condi-
lions and political candidates in various
localities. The method has already prov
ed itself highly effective in his hands.
II has both resulted in the turning away
from the public crib Of some particularly
offensive cattle. and has shown senator's
the need Of new care IN making recon-
meudati0ns 10 n president who has his
own skilled and trusted reporters 10 pass
up or their prcteges. Such advice and
discriminating chsracter-sketches as
Swift was able 70 give 70 Sir William
Temple. as DR.. Johnson may have given
Burke. as Thackeray might have supplied
70 Lord Aberdeen OF Lord Palmerston,
would obviously be Of the greatest value
to a man in Rooseve!ts position: and he
has shown his administrative talent in no
more striking way than IN availing him
self Of what has been 70 most presidents.
a sealed fountain Of Knowledge. Suppose
Gen. Grant had been in the habit Of ask
ing LOwell's opinion OF some Of Ben But
ler's Massachusetts, aupointees: he might
have got for his private enjoyment the
epigram made public later
skilled to pull wires. he battles Natures
hope.
who sure intended him to stretch
rope
We are far from thinking that the peri
palette literary Teller is going 20 take
charge of President Roosevelt admins
trstion, or that il would be q good thing
If he could. Even the Youngest writer IS
not an infallihle judge Of men, and he IS
bound 10 have his political advice. Ike
his manuscripts. politely rejected. Lit
erature must not suppose that fl IS COM
ing wholly 70 its own IN the White House
Ii is enough for the present 70 know that
IL is allowed 10 bask occasionally IN exc
cutive sunshine. and not kept al the time
cooling its heels and gnashing its teeth
IN outer darkness
She Was Not a Gossip.
Ny belief ia the Oft-quoted statement
concerning the curiosity II women and