The Savannah morning news., 1903-10-25

There goes the humorist of the
Episcopal Church at large" said re-
cent Minneapolis visitor to New York,
as Bishop Henry Goldman Potter. the
only head of the Episcopal Church in
America who has a coadjutor for other
reasons than that of actual bodily In
trinity, passed by. He's got just as
much reputation for his wit in church
as he has by reason of his being the
head of our most important diocese.
my dear Bishop" a clergyman in
a hustling Western town is alleged to
have said to Bishop Potter on the
occasion of the latter's visit to the
formers parish to deliver lecture,
hem-you-ah-could manage to
keep from putting too much-ah-fun
into your talk tonight. Ny people
ah-take their religion seriously, real
ly, don't you know"
Bishop Potters reputation as hu-
morist is widespread; 1T is not limited
to the organization of which he is one
of the best known heads. This is due
to his ability to furnish his own joke
whenever it is necessary, and to store
away for future use, when 1t VIII be
pau any 6OCA 5NSAJ @-~ ~"AN@S
San Francisco is still repeating and
laughing over the bon mots which the
Bishop let drop on the occasion of his
visit to that city two years ago, to at
tend the Episcopal convention.
At that time the citizens were very
much astir because the famous East
ern Bishop was to be a visitor within
Their gates, and they We'd with one
another to honor their guest. The
Bishop was kept busy declining the
invitations that he had not time to
accept. But one invitation that he did
avail himself of was to occupy the
magnificent residence of the wealthy
William Crocker-one of the million
aire families of which Mrs. Francis
Burton Harrison and Mrs. Alexander
are Eastern representatives.
The house is a snowy one, situated
upon Mob Hill, where the early Cali
fornia millianaires built their homes,
so IT is a show place." it came to have
a double interest when it was occupied
by the Bishop. One day San Fran
ciscan was showing the group of resi-
dences to a friend who was visiting
in the city. AS they approached the
"Wm Croker" home he sprang the
treasured joke which he had been saw
ing for the right moment. This" said
he with a flourish, lis Mr.. Crocker's
Pottery"
He did not recognize the gentleman
who was at that moment descending
the steps. 1t was the Bishop, who
could not help overhearing, and who
had a twinkle in his eye. Il beg par
don for correcting you" he said, but
you are mistaken. This is Bishop Pot
ter's Crockery."
The Bishop and j. Pierpont Morgan
We're the most famous guests that San
Francisco had at the time, and they
were both besieged by the press.
Mr.. Morgan showed his customary
dissemination for all publicity. On the
day of arrival, when all the members
of the party were being conveyed from
the train to the city, the ferryboat was
crowded with photographers lying in
wait for them.
Mr. Morgan lodged here, there, ev-
erywhere, and was met by the per-
sistent camera fiends at every turn.
How shall / get away from them?"
he asked in dismay.
IN help YOU" said Bishop Potter,
and thereupon he began a defense of
his friend. Whenever a kodak appear
ed he would place himself in front of
the financier. and laugh back over his
shoulder at the baffled photographer.
Once he waved his arm just in time
to spoil plate that was being Surrep-
titiously exposed. He spread his coat
at the critical moment of another. On
every occasion he had his joke for the
disappointed man, so that the whole
army had to vote him a good fellow
in spite of the trouble he caused them
Mr.. Morgan positively refuses to
look pleasant this morning the Bish-
op affably told one man. "He must
be prporely coaxed to smile"
When the end of the twenty-minute
ferry trip was reached. the Bishop
crowded with the rest of the pas
sengers to the forward deck There he
found the customary chain suspended
across the stairs and the customary
sign reading. Passengers are forbid
den to go upon these stairs until the
boat stops"
Il want to go upon those stairs"
some one overheard Bishop Potter say.
"Why?" inquired Mr.. Morgan.
Because of that sign" answered the
right reverend gentleman.
81 have the same impulse" put in the
Bishop of Albany.
Come on" said Bishop Potter.
And the two of them ducked their
dignihed heads like two naughty boys
crawling under a circus tent and
sneaked under the chain, one ecclesias-
tical hat being badly disarranged by
the performance.
There's nothing interesting about
this lower deck" said the Bishop Of