The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-04
Oddities Of Big Men.
Little traits Of great men tell us
They are human creatures. too.

Ole and his information so varied thaL /
he is able to make himself 5nterestins
on almost any topic.
He is one of the charter members of
q certain swell dining club in Philadei-
phia. that town famous for such or
CARNATIONS whose methods though
vastly more interesting. remind one of
a progressive euchre party Every mem
Der must attend every dinner. or be
nned, and each must invite one guest
no more or less. There are p members.
and thus a fully attended dinner is al
ways served to ~. Often the number is
less. but the clubs round table is so
cunninNly devised that it can be made
Just large enough for whatever number
draws round it,
When all are seated. each guest is
placed between two members and each
member between two guests. At a GER
tain stage Of the dinner, on signal, the
members. who are charged not only to
entertain the guests, but also to bring
out whatever is in them, all change
places. so that nobody has a chance to
bore anybody else. This rnaneuver is
repeated several times during the even
ing There is no formal speaking but
the dinners are so interesting quite apart
from the menu. that it is well worth
scheming long time ahead to win ais
invitation to attend one. At one of
them the members and guests present
included the most famous nerve special
ist in the United States, a general in tho
army the governor Of state, an eX-
piorer fresh from Strange lands, a great
shlpbutlder, titled foreigner, q world
FAMOUS unancler. etc. but Casa it's was
the most interesting personality about
the table. He talked like an expert
about hackneys. runners. trOtters. As
syrian ANTIQUITIES. German operas. iIri
Eatlon- nervous diseases. Yhibetan goats.
automobiles. pictures. statuary. ecclesi-
astlcal architecture. and in fact every
topic nc was approached upon, except
ing railroading. Concerning this he did
nor seem anxious to exploit his knOWi.
edge. and his demeanOr was as unas-
Stunning as his Information was encylo-
aeElc-
The most curious thing about Senator
Chauncey Mitchell Depew is his devo-
ron to the newspaper clipping, Nearly
every man in public life today sub
scrlbes to one or other of the many
clipping bureaus, for that is much the
easiest way to learn what the neWspa-
pers say about him, but Depew keeps
good supply of his clippings constant
ly by him, so that he can consult them
w henever he has spare moment
w hen he leaves his Office in New York
or MS committee room in Washington,
he sticks a handful of the latest cuttings
he has received into the lefthand side
pocket of his sack coat and as soon as
he gets into a cal or car he begins
pulling them out, reading them one by
one and transferring them carefully to
MS lighthand side pocket IS 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
most any other man now in the public
eye.
1t might be added that he generally
laughs long and heartily at the frequent
gibes due to his story telling and Jokes
but a serious criticism by paper of his
own faith sometimes causes him con-
siderable discomfort
f. A. B. Widener, who owns and
operates thousands of miles of street
railways in a score of American cities
never rides in trolley car when he can
avoid It, For some peculiar reason the
motion of an electrical car nauseates
him, and, if persisted i'm, produces the
same disastrous effect as a sea voyage
ON the average transatlantic traveller
Mr.. Midener once made brave at
tempt to conquer this feeling.
In company with his partner William
ElKins. he got on Il suburban car at his
country home in EllSins. determined to
stick it out until he had reached his
Office I'm Philadelphia. 1t happens that
by trolley Mr.. Widener's Office is lust
twelve miles distant from his residence
The car, according to Mr.. Elkins. who
frequently tells the story. had scarcely
got started on the first mile when he
noticed his friend was beginning to look
white about the lips and shifted UNI
easily in his seat.
What's the matter2" asked Mr.. FL
lins.
-oh-h, no-nothing." says Mr.. wild
"A few minutes later" saws Mr. FL
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 re-
suit that Peter was thrown into nv
arms Ienderly I helped him to the
ground, and some time after he had
round MS legs he turned to me and said
Bill why can't a man. when he's
aDie 20 nuy UP a trolley system enjoy
ride on it, too?"
1t IS needless to add that Mr. Wild
ener hasn't tried a second time TO
reach his office by trolley.
Mr. Elkins experiences no discom-
tort IN a trolley car, but he is rnisera-
bic when his valet forgets to place a
flaming red carnation or an orchid of
the same color in his coat lapel every
morning IT is said that such an I'M
toward event has not not happened
since a certain Gay, several years ago
when new valet inadvertently for
got this most important duty, with dis
astrous results to himself
BY reason Of this hobby Mr.. Elkins
is marked man whenever he walks
Philadelphia streets. and MANY a
promoter, unable to gain entrance into
lne unanclers private office. has
awaited for him a the foot of the ele-
Vator. spotted him by the flowers. and
importuned him in public to take up
with this scheme or that.
Mr. Elkins' passion for these two
movers IN particular, and all flowers in
general, is so strong that at his beau
tiful country home In Elkins-a pic
turesque Philadelphia suburb which
bears his name. and has been develop
ed by him-he has no less than dozen
big green houses filled with all sorts
OF blooming plants. His favOrite flow
err for his dinner table is the American
Beauty rose and costly vases filed
with selected buds are always to be
found i'm the great dining room.
Charles NJ. SchWab, as a musician.
is not very well known to the world
ait large, but among his intimate as
sQciates the president of the United
States Steel corporation is considered
y sLngar and 2 nlanist Of no nnaan