The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1903-11-12
WITHOUT THE SENSE OF HUMoR.
John Sherman Would Tell and Hear
the Funniest Things and
Never Crack a Smile.

NSVS9 t1oCA q Ru4AASs
Ex-senator Vest in the Saturday Evening Post.
John Sherman had no sense of hu-
NOR and was never known to laugh at
any story. no matter how humorous
it might be or how we'll it was told.
During severe spell of cold weather
In Washington, wher tie question OF
supplying the poor with fuel and food
became very serious, several Senators,
including Senator Sherman, were dis
cussing the proper way to dispense
charity, and MIR. Sherman argued
with much forcs that the matter should
he put under the control OF the Saliva
ton Army and other charitable assocl
atoms, so the imcosters could not abuse
the kindness of Individuals who were
charitably disposed. He said that his
brother, General William T. Sherman
who had been recently stationed at st.
Louis rs commander of the Depart
ment of Missouri, told him that his
wife, Mrs. Sherman, a most excellent
lady, Insisted upon going in person to
the slums and tenement houses OF st.
Louis in order to examine for herself
the condition of the poor, so as to de-
termine whether they needed and de-
served assistance. General Sherman
finding it impossible to prevent his
wife from continuing this practice, d.
rectei oneof bis staff to accompany
her each morning 80 as to protect the
kind hearted lady from insult or rob-
berry, One day she received letter
from woman living in a large tene-
ment house, stating that her husband
had Just died, and she had no money
with which to pay for his burial, and
was left with five little children utterly
destitute, without food or fuel. Mrs.
Sherman Immediately ordered her car
rage and went directly to the address
given IN the letter, accompanied by
member of the generals staff. They
ascended the stairs to the fifth story OF
the tenement house and found the
widow" and her five little ones in a
pit able condition, with the corpse OF
the husband covered by sheet, lying
upon the only bed in the apartment
Mrs. Sherman was so much affected
that she gave the woman all the
money she had brought with her,
amounting to more than twenty dol,
lars. On reaching the street she miss
ed one of he gloves and, thinking that
it had probably been dropped In the
chamber Of death, requested her escort
to 20 back and look for the missing
article. The officer, who was young
and active, quickly assembled the stairs
and, on entering the room Of the be.
reaved family, found the corpse sitting
up engaged in counting the money
given by Mrs. Sherman to his wife
Senator Sherman told this story with
out the consciousness OF its being al
all amusing or humorous. but gave il
in his cold, logical way as proof of hi.
being correct in regard to the matter
OF giving aims to the to poor.
On another occasion Senator Zet
Vance, OF North Carolina, famous re
coateur, told Senator Sherman and my
SCI o! his recently having purchased :
yoke Of oxen to be used in clearin,
his mountain farm, from which he hat
just come. II had some difficulty, >
a i Vance, SIN finding a pair of oxer
II, It suited me, but finally succeeded
in purchasing two oxen exactly match
ed ard thoroughly broken. After pay
ing for them, inquired of the selle
| What were their names and he replied
that the oxen were full brothers, ant
lid been raised by him. "The off OK,
lie said, II named Pete and l hay,
sever named his brother, because ht
d es exactly what is done by Pete, an,
W hen / speak to Pete they move tc
&. ther." "When 1 found this to be til,
case said Vance, II named the name
les OK myself and now call them Pet,
a::d Repeat"
Senator Sherman looked solemn,
ct Vance and said: Vance. Won hav
IL ade a mistake. These names are to-
il UGH alike and the oxen will be con
fused by the similarity OF sound"