The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-11


years Of such delay and so take things In their
own hand and then there's quick and summary
work.
The Mallard, Mimi, Call extends the
courtesies of the season to Mr.. Flanagan
of that town in the following neat and
happy local note:
When a rank outsider like Mike Flanagan, who
has not even felt the branding iron Of the Liars
club, comes along and. with wide-eyed, open
mouthed sincerity, tells us that he caught ;a1lg
thirty .fve-pou pfckerel in Anderson lake, We
draw the color line. That story has altogether
too dark hue to carry much weight with 1t IN
truth-loving community. There are some Dig
caught them weighing high as twenty pounds.
But not so much as thirty-hve pounds yet
1t is now "up to- Mr.. Flanagan to pro-
duce his whale.
At the time when Samuel Frosty Adams
was American minister to France during
the revolutionary war and when J3en]a-
min H. Franklin, the man who invented
lightning had been sent to Paris as spe-
cial ambassador to obtain the aid OF Louis
XIV. against the British, was acting Tor
eign correspondent of the New YORK yell
low Intelligencer, with headquarters IN
Paris, in which city I had opportunity to
get at the bottom of what was going on
under the surface in the gay French cap
ital. Much Of the time l was acting as
private secretary to Mr.. Franklin and
was often in his confidence to an extent
that Is surprising, now that look back
upon it from a hale and hearty old age.
I well recall the day the Duchess OF
Pompadour and Madame de Remusat
came to his office to call on Franklin. The
philosopher was immensely taken with
the duchess and after bowling low and
carrying her fingers to his lips, the old
gallant held that beautiful hand much
longer than the requirements of interna-
tional politics demanded. Madame de
Remusat smiled behind her fan.
Your grace will pardon" said Franklin,
earnestly, 1.-The admiration of an old dip
lomat grown gray in his country's SER
vice, If he remarks that your grace is the
most beautiful woman in the world"
Her frolic grace laughed lightly.
''Ah,[ monsieur, you are one hattereur."
believe me, madam" said the philoso-
pher, II have never before seen a
| woman r -..
monsieur may have invented lightning,
but he did not invent ze--what you call
re polite feection, ze-langwidge of re
courtier, re small talk.
Madam, believe me-"
TIA, ha. I believe nozings. Ninon
d. Enclos, Camille and re beautiful Mad.
am de Maintenon have told me already
that re great Franklin, the man who
called down re thundair from, ciel, what
you call, squeezed their hands. Trai-
| tori"
Madam, it was before I saw the beau
| tiful Pompadour."
At this point cold "ahem" was heard
from the other corner of the room and
Samuel Icy Adams arose from behind his
desk in wrathy dignity. .s.-
Franklin" said he, in chilly, measured
tones, "how long Is this thoughtless per-
sifage to continue, when our country calls
for our services and our time? How car
I be expected to do any work here with
this rattle Of small talk going on?'
: 20, mon dieu," said the duchess, anc
she gathered her skirts and seized Mad
anne de Remusat by the arm. LET us be
going. Our country calls us. Monsieur (te
Franklin shall I see re great philosopher
tomorrow"
1 ITO morrow and every day your grace
permits said the old diplomat, bowling
smilingly. -
L After they had gone Adams grunted ant
dropped into his seat Franklin was toe
diplomatic to say anything openly, bu
when he saw me smiling he pointed ovel
This shoulder with his thumb at Adams
and ran his tongue out.