Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-03
Travelling with the President

Omaha chaps are a fine lot Of fellows. They
had us all parcelled out in advance and
the man who took me in tow was q reg
ular prince. From the moment I landed
at the depot till 1 got back to the train
he was right on the spot to help me get
everything In sight"
81 Just wish we stopped in Omaha for a
week instead OF only one night" added
still another. I'VE won't forget the Omaha
folks no matter how the other towns may
try to lay themselves out. I'd Just like to
take that club house rome with me-"
A little incident that happened at Des
Moines is worth relating. As the train
neared the town the word came forward
that for what is called "the daily minstrel
parade the president would he pleased
to have his company appear in frock coats
and silk hats. This announcement always
starts a lively commotion with a c~rossfre
Of remarks on this order:
where's my vest?"
Il wonder what happened to my haiti
looks as IL a cyclone had struck it."
This dressing and undressing is the
worst bore-why can't we wear our cow
boy hats all the timer"
Lightning change artists are not in It
with the presidential troupe. On this oc-
cssion the sky was overcast and the air
damp with rain, doubtless enhancing the
grumbling, and the four photographers
got together with an agreement that they
would all leave their cameras on the
train.
I'VE cant get anything in this place
anyway and its no use Juggling the things
along" was the argument that won.
No aoOuar vvaa fha drfya about naa
Moines completed and the speaking plat
form reached than the sunlight came
streaming plentifully forth aUl to cap the
climax the president, to make himself
better heard and seen, climbed upon a table
and made his address from its top. And
there right within ten feet Of the presi-
dent was a big camera manipulated by a
local photographer, who slid the plates In
and out as fast as he could feed them.
1t was a chance OF a life time-no one
could tell when such favorable conditions
would come to the photographer again.
On the return to the train the lamenta-
tions of the official camera men were long
and loud.
"what do you thing of such COMPOUNDED
luck?" shrieked Lazyboy. you needn't
talk-why l could have got 800 worth Of
stuff there in FIVE minutes" groaned Done
uOInlnB. NO use Crying over bpllleu mllhI
put In Lookpleasant. well, perhaps we've
learned something" said the consulate
strivemore. After this we take our cam
eras with us rain or shine"
1 must ada a little story that 1 picked
up at Grand Island, where the president
spent last Sunday. As part Of the pro-
gram he had insisted on a horseback ride
over a route Of twenty-five miles, and the
local people, to make the honors go round
as far as possible, selected a special COM
mittee to look after the ride entirely
separate from the reception committee
for the formal exercises the next day.
One OF the horse committee, to prevent
anything from going amiss and to make
sure he kept up with the procession, bor-
rowed a nag two weeks ahead OF time and
spent all his leisure hours practising in the
saddle so as to be in good condition. Later
word was received that the president would
like to attend church in the morning. Here
was a chance to distribute honors still
further, and another committee with dis
tinct membership was appointed to escort
the president to church. When all the
committeeman we're called together for final
consultation so nothing might be neglected,
one OF those present is said to have broken
out: II don't think this is a fair deal.
You appointed the horse committee two
weeks ago and gave Ross plenty OF time
to practice up on, now you put me on the
church committee with three days notice
and not time enough to practice even once.
I say that's taking a fellow like me at a
disadvantage" VICTOR RoSEWATER.