Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-14

has received into the left-hand side pocket
OF his sack coat, and as soon as he gets
into cab or car he begins pulling them
out. reading them one by one and transfer
ring them carefully to his right-hand side
pocket as fast as they are read. In thus
utilizing his spare time for the perusal of
his clippings he keeps much closer tab on
the comments made on himself and his acts
than almost any other man now In the pub
lie eye.
It might be added that he generally
laughs long and heartily at the frequent
gibes due to his story telling and jokes, but
faith sometimes causes him considerable
discomfort.
Widener Can't Ride on His Trolley
Cars.
P. A. B. Widener, who owns and operates
thousands of miles Of street railways in a
score of American cities, never rides in a
trolley car when he can avoid it. For some
peculiar reason the motion of an electrical
car nauseates him. and, If persisted in, pro-
duces the same disastrous effect as a sea
voyage on the average transatlantic trav-
eler
to conquer this feeling.
In company with his partner, William L.
Elkins, he got on suburban car at his
country home in Elkins determined to stick
Philadelphia. 1t happens that by trolley
Mr.. Widener's Office is just twelve miles
distant from his residence. The car, ac-
cording to Mr.. Elkins, who frequently tells
the story, had scarcely got started on the
first mile when he noticed that his friend
was beginning to look white about the lips
and shifted uneasily in his seat.
Whats the matter?" asked Mr.. Elkins.
''Oh-h, no-nothing," said Mr. Widener.
"a few minutes later" says Mr. Elkins,
Peter clapped a hand over his mouth and
rushed wildly for the door. The conductor,
taking in the situation, wildly signaled the
motorman, who, thinking some one had
jumped from the car. suddenly stopped it.
with the result that Peter was thrown into
my arms. Tenderly / helped him to the
ground, and some time after he had found
his legs he turned to me and said, plain
lively:
''Rill, why can't man, when he's able
to buy up trolley system, enjoy ride on
it, too?"
hasn't tried a second time to reach his
Office by trolley.
Flowers Are W. L. Elkins' Hobby
Mr. Elkins experiences no discomfort In a
trolley car, but he is miserable when his
valet forgets to place a flaming red carna-
ton or an orchid of the same color in his
coat lapel every morning. It is said that
such an untoward event has not happened
SlHCS CeItdlI udS, ScFcIdl years ago,
when a new valet inadvertently forgot this
most important duty, with disastrous re-
suits to hi ,self.
By reason of this hobby Mr.. Elkins is a
marked man whenever he walks Philadel-
phia's streets, and many a promoter, unable
to gain entrance into the financier's private
office, has waited for him at the foot of the
elevator, spotted him by the flower, and i'm
portuned him in public to take up with this
scheme or that
Mr.. Elkins' passion for these two flowers
in particular, and all flowers in general, Is
SO strong that at his beautiful country home
in Elkins-a picturesque Philadelphia SUBJ
urb which bears his name, and has been
developed by him-he has no less than a
dozen big green houses filled with all sorts
of blooming plants. His favorite flower for
his dinner table is the American Beauty
rose and costly vases filled with selected
buds are always to be found in the great
dining room.
Schwab No Mean Musician.
Charles M. Schwab. as a musician, is not
very well known to the world at large, but
among his intimate associates the president
of the United States Steel Corporation is
considered singer and a pianist Of no
mean ability.
Mr.. Schwab as a boy in Loretto, the lit
tie Pennsylvania mountain town from
which he went into the world to make his
fortune, was taught music by the Sisters of
Mercy, who have a convent at that place.