Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-04-14
WASHINGTON LETTER


coming a proud young rhymester who
likes to dwell on his poetical fancies.
1t was at the White House. and Sec
retary Shaw, as usual. was the first of
the cabinet to arrive for the semiweek-
ly council. Coming through the White
House grounds, he stopped to examine
the buds on the linden trees and to en-
joy the springlike air. When the sec
retary reached the top of the stairs
leading to the executive office. he
of newspaper men who were discussing
the recent order that cabinet officers
are not to divulge state affairs to the
press.
"Well Mr.. Secretary, what's new to-
dayT exclaimed one of the reporters
from force of habit and forgetting the
injunction.
Secretary Shaw paused a moment
and delivered himself as follows:
heard the woodpecker peck,
heard the sapsucker sing,
l turned to my window. and. 10 and
behold, 1t was spring.
Then he disappeared in the cabinet
room but not before acknowledging
the applause which greeted his effort.
Electric Baths For congressman.
To be literally sprayed with electric
ity from head to foot, rolled with an
electric roller, the wrinkles ironed out
of face and brow with an electric
glass bulb as a tlatiron and to have the
spark of life impaired to any particular
section of the anatomy through
wooden ball are some of the luXuries
which a senator or representative in
congress can enjoy by simply descend
ing in the elevator to the magnificent
marble bathrooms at either end of the
capitol. stepping on to zinc plate and
ordering Chief Electrical Engineer
Gliem to turn on his lightning"
The electrical adjunct to the legisla
tive baths is comparatively recent
addition. and as yet seemingly few
members have learned of its wonder
fully invigorating effect on tired leg
islator. Those who have, however, are
constant patrons, and the static ma
chine is creating for itself an enviable
reputation as next morning anti
dote. And for putting member into
condition for u speech in the senate or
house it has no equal.
Gambler. Poet and HunOrist.
Poet and humorst combined is Rep
resentative Gambler of Mississippi. The
burden of his song is the Tombigbee
river, not poetical name, but invested
by Gambler with all the attributes of
sweetness and light.
Mr.. Gambler besought the house to
spend a few dollars improving the
Tombigbee river. Not only is it one of
the Oldest rivers in the country. accord
ing to Gambler but it has been travel
ing the even tenor of its way evel
since it was discovered If it can only
be opened to commerce, there will be
no trouble to navigate it. for" accord
ing to Gambler, there will be no storms
to disturb, no ice to block. and the sill
very moon will light up the crystal
waves by night, and the dazzling sun
will lend its transcendcnt rays by
day"
river moves as when the red man trod
its banks and lies like the sleeping
beauty of old awaiting the magic touch
of improvement and progress to awak-
en- it to new life" Mr.. Gambler appeal.
ed for the magic touch, but the house
voted against him. and the crystal
waves of the Tombigbee will not dash
n;,,.. ~ La, .
Powers Maiden speech.
Sam Powers of Massachusetts,. the
wit of the new Republican contingent
and the president Of the Tantalus club.
has set the fashion for maiden speech
es. 1t is a short, crisp utterance, where
in you drive the point home with logic
and vivid work and then sit down.
ProliXity is tabooed.
Although he has shone at public
gatherings outside the house. Mr. Pow
ers did not essay the role of an orator
till very recently and then he chose as
his theme the rather exceptional topic
for an eastern Yankee of irrigation
He compressed his ideas into nine tart
paragraphs, each one of which was an
interesting argument carrying some in
formation. and resumed his seat. That
is the style of speaking by which Mr..
Powers captivates. 1t has made him
much in demand for 5anquets and 9TH
er political gatherings,
Not Up In Boundaries.
George Gilliland and George RouZer
are the secretaries respectively of Sen
ators Clark of Montana and Dryden of
New Jersey. Gilliland is from Ohio,
and Rouzer is a resident of the District.
Gil" said Rouzer recently. Il will
pay for your lunch if you will bound
the state of Montana"
'All right" said Gilliland. "On the
north by Canada, on the west by Idaho.
on the south by Wyoming and on the
east by-by-l think it is either Mime
sofa or one of the Dakotas. I'll pay for
the lunch"
- l..