Smyrna times., 1901-11-13
AN AWFUL
TEST OF
GRATITUDE
BY Jobp n. Rafferty,.

bine and old Newt Stuart was for twen-
ty years one of the many anomalies
and one of the few edifying conditions
that distinguished the social life of the
capital. Newton Stuart was a news
paper respOndent-nObOdy knew how
old, but the dean of the press gallery,
beloved and undisputed. Senator Har-
bine held similar position in that eX-
elusive, clublike organization known as
the United States senate. Old Newt
hailed from Louisiana, and his senatori-
al friend was from Ohio, SO that as far
as an exchange of official favOrs might |
go there was no apparent reason for |
their unfaltering affection for each 9th |
er. Newt couldn't boost Harbine if !
he wanted to and had never stopped to |
accept patronage of any kind from the
Louisiana legislators who had come
and gone during his long career as
Washington correspondent.
So far as any outsider knew, there
were only three grounds for the mu-
tual admiration between Newt and the
cid senator-v!z, fishing, terrapin and
mint julep. Outside of Washington
such paltry matters will probably never
be regarded as adequate motives for
great and lasting friendship, but in
Washington the three delights named
are sometimes of vaster moment than
the making of treaties or the establish
ment of national policies. Newt was
the champion terrapin chef of Wash
ington for a generation. Harbine's mint
julepS were the wonder and envy of all
comers. Bartenders made their repu-
tations by advertising 'the Harbine
julep." and restaurants, cafes and hO-
tells won patronage by announcing "ter-
rapin la Newt Stuart"
But when it came to fishing neither
the senator nor the reporter would
yinld the palm. For dozen years they
had gone fishing together. AS many
times had they come home in raging
debate as to which had caught the
greatest weight of fish, which had cast
fly or bait the farthest or which was
most dexterCus in playing a line. Fish
ing was the one rock upon which they
split necessarily, and once the subject
came up between them they would
rail and boast at one another till blows
seemed the only argument left. One
day Newt and the senator, sitting in a
circle of most potent, grave and wor-
thy lawmakers at the Shoreham, chal-
lenged one another to a final test of
their prowess as bait casters. The idea
tickled the audience, though it was
midwinter. Cases of wine and boxes
of cigars were freely wagered, and
finally each contestant went for rod
and tackle. and the whole party trudg-
ed through the snow across to Lafa-
yette square for the duel.
The distances were measured off. a
dangling pine cone was selected as the
object to cast at, and each contestant
using his own rod and reel, was tC
have five chances, the decision to go tC
the caster who missed the least. Il
was a walkover for the senator. for he
whipped his fly across the cone five
times successfully. while poor ole
Newt missed his second shot and cas-
wide on the last. He paid the wage
and swore that it was the reel tina
beat him.
81 bet fifty can beat you right nov
with that there gosh burned Meek rec
o. yournw sputtered Newt.
But the senator said it was time 70
a julep, wagged his head in triumph
and led the party back to the hotel.
81 can beat you at bait casting wit
any kind of reel" Newt used to boas
after that. ''but that there Meek sizzle
you've got amt a reel at all; it's q liz
in. breathin'. conscious piecA O. 1itcl
craftw
1t was about two months after th
that Newt intrenched himself forevt
in old Senator Harbine's loving hear
The latter's son was the scOurge of h
life. He had been expelled from We
Point, discharged from half a doZe
government positions and arrested
dozen times. Finally letter from Mr.
Harbine came from Cincinnati a
nouncing that Dick had broke loo'
there on a wild debauch that threa
ened to end disastrously for the your
man himself and for the fair name
his fathers family.
Senator Harbine handed the letter
old Newt.
"Newt, you like my boy, know"
growled. "He thinks more O. you th
he does O. his own father. If you'll r.
down to Cincinnati and stop him,
give or get you anything in reasC
I'm rich. and I'm strong with the q
ministration. Honest, now, Newt,
know you never cared for money, a
you have no family, but if you'll st
this Cincinnati jag O. Dicks I'll gi
you a house and lot or--or-anythi
you want"
Newt started for Cincinnati IL
night. Nobody ever knew just what
said or did to Dick Harbine, but il
week they came back, Newt silent a