The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-25
4 TriIliOnaire'S Christmas.
HOW PEACE ON EARTH FINALLY
CAME, TO NAN.

HOW PEACE ON EARTH FINALLY
CAME TO MAN
It was the morning before Christmas.
The American millionaire sat before the
real coal fire that was burning in his
library CRATE. and glanced over the
morning paper It was well past his
habit1al time for going to the office:
but he had remained at home for an
hour or so after breakfast, arranging
the details of his Christmas gifts. He
had dictated to his private secretary
the list of cities to which he intended to
give libraries and the list of cities to
which he intended to give hospitals; ne
had decided what universities he would
endow what art galleries he would con-
struct and what EurOpeon collections
OF old masters he would present to them.
But what satisfied him most of all, ne
had finally made up his mind that
morning to give the president OF the
Tinted States another term. and the
millionaire chuckled a the thought of
how the fellows eyes would sparkle
when he heard the good news.
In strict justice the president was not
entitled to reelection. but in the glad
season of good will toward men, the
millionaire had tempered justice with
much mercy The presidents last an
nual message TO congress had contain
ed three or four vague suggestions ana
settled the stock market If they had
been published; but fortunately the
millionaire learned of the blunder in
time, and ordered the telegraph COM
panies to transmit only the censored
message which they received from his
Washington Office. The president apol-
ogized profusely when he was censured
for his thoughtlessness- but his apollo
gies made the case none the better. The
presidency was no place for reckless
impetuoSity. and there could be no
economic stability if the business inter-
ests of the country were to be left az
the mercy of such man. However, the
president was genuinely repentant, and
had given solemn assurances that there
after he would submit his messages to
Wall street before sending them to con-
gress. On the whole, the millionaire
thought il would be only fair to give
the poor devil anothr chance. Any other
man in the presidency, whose faculties
had not been sharpened by practical
business training, might be quite as
thoughtless.
The millionaire was in an especially
amiable mood when he picked up his
morning paper; but the smile soor
changed to a froWn- In the first col
umn of the first page was diSpatcr
from London announcing that Great
Britain, France and Germany, after
vainly endeavoring to collect their joint
claim of 1910 000,0 against the repub-
lie of Titicaca in South America. hac
determined to make hostile demon
stratiOn Orders had already been SEM
to the commanders of their Caribbean
fleets and the ships of war were al
ready steaming in the direction of Gu
racoa where final instructions were tC
be Cabied.
The millionaire became furious as he
read the details of this 6amnable con-
spiracy against the stock market. Those
fool governments would make their hos
tile demonstration: the idiotc newspa-
pers would begin to discuss the Monroe
doctrine. the government in spite Of
the prepOnderance of conservative
stand-pat statesmen, would get uneasy
and C a. Consolidated Amalgama-
ted Merger-might slump half a dozer
points or more under the malign infiu-
ence of this cursed war talk. Little Won
der that the millionaire was angry, anC
pressing the button concealed under the
arm of his chair he summoned his pr
vate secretary
Call up Washington he sailnirrita-
bly, and tell the German. French and
British ambassadors that I want to sef
them in my office at > o'clock this after
noon without fail Tell them to cater
that HIS limited; but if they miss it
have special made up for them"
1t was Just two minutes to 5 wher
the three Diplomat lists walked into the
reception room of the triliiOnaire's Of
fee. and handed their cards to the he
Sphinx that eyed them suspiciously.
Send them in at once" came a grun
voice from the inner Office. Solemnly
and in single file the three ambassa
doris marched through the open door
The millionaire nodded coldly. and mo-
toned them to seats.
What's all this devlish nonsense
about a hostile demonstration? he
asked abruptly.
The ambassadors shifted uneasiiy in
their chairs.
You see began the British ambas-
Fador-he was the dean of the corps