The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-02-09
WASHINGTON CHITCHAT
Gossip About Public Men at the
National Capital.
SPEAKER CANNON AT A RECEPTION
Uncle Joe,s Comment on what He
saw There-A New Ambassador-A
Lady Tells Why the President
Smiles-Chaplain Hale md His Con-

Smiles-Chaplafn Hale and His Con-
gregatiOn.
People in Washington who have
known Uncle Joe Cannon, the speaker.
for a number Of years have been sur
prised at the number of invitations he
accepted this winter, says the Chicago
Tribune's Washington correspondent.
In fact, he is quite a ladies' man. in
a way. At the presidents reception to
the diplomats at the White House re-
Gently Uncle Joe was accosted by a
lank westerner, and the two stood at
the north end of the east room in close
confab for some time. At last the west
erner said to Uncle Joe:
"Pretty scene this-color. lights, beau
hful women, dazzling costumes, gold
bedecked diplomats-a scene one must
long remember"
Eyes," replied Uncle Joe laconically,
inspecting the crowd for some brother
politician. But it was the first time
the westerner had ever been there, and
he went Magnificent place this.
Don't remember to have ever seen any
thing finer"
YES" replied Mr.. Cannon, ceasing
to roll his eyes after the retreating form
Of Senator Hopkins. whom he wished
to catch, and resting them on a batch
Of thin, uncovered spinsters a few
feet from him. 'this reminds one of a
boarding house and chicken pie with
the roof Off" a.
In the years he has passed in st.
Petersburg in the foreign service of the
United States Herbert r. D. Peirce, the
third assistant secretary of state, adopt
ed the Russian cap and fur coat as the
best protection against severe cold.
Since the cold weather reached Wash
ington a few weeks ago Mr.. Peirce has
been wearing furs which he brought
with him from Russia, says the New
York Tribune. The high round cap Of
mink and broad coat collar and cuffs Of
the same fur are an unusual sight in
Washington and have caused much
comment. Before Christmas small chill
dren called him Kriss Kringle, and he
has been taken for every foreign repre-
sentative in Washington.
A few days ago Mr.. Peirce walked
through the White lot wearing his furs.
A crowd Of Pennsylvania schoolteach-
ers was standing under the porte CO.
chere at the White House listening to
the descriptions a guide was giving Of
the government buildings which may
be seen from the executive mansion.
The women lost all interest in build
1ngs when Mr.. Peirce appeared. The
guides announcement, "And this man
you see coming up the walk is Count
Cassini, the Russian ambassador" set
half a dozen cameras at work.
By the way, a lady of the official cir
Gle claims she has made a discovery as
to the origin of one of the presidents
best known traits. says the Pittsburg
Posts Washington correspondent. 1t
Is the habit of keeping a smile or the
semblance of a smile on his face on all
occasions. IF you ever saw the presi-
dent when he was forced to Danish his
SMILE" this lady confided to a friend
the other day. you would understand
why it is he has acquired the habit of
wearing it on all possible occasions. l
eve saw him without it until the 9TH
er day at Mrs. Hoar's funeral, and l
give you my word l don't want to see
him without it again.
"No n would call his face hand
conoo n n nitro ofivo ovop whop ho looIc
his best and smiles his genialest. But
when his face is in absolute repose and
not only serious, but solemn-well, it's
enough to startle a timid person. It's
the most solemn human countenance
you eve saw. He probably found that
out long ago, and that's why he wears
the smile that doesn't come off. He is
entitled to YEA it."
The Rev. Edward Everett Hale, the
new chaplain Of the senate, is eighty
four years old. A day or two after he
began his duties he went into Senator
Hoar's committee room. says the New
York World. The senator was not
there, but his clerk was. Mr.. Eale
a WdAAC0 dAOu4O luC IOO" anu IOOk6u at
the pictures. Then he turned to the
clerk and said:
II thought the senators were old
men,"
sWell," said the clerk, most of them
are pretty old, are they not?"
.Old! snorted Mr.. Hale. 81 should
think not! There's Senator Pettus Of
Alabama, who is eighty-three and has
reached mature years. but the rest of
them are young fellows SO far as l can
rec"
Mr.. Hale calls the senate his congre-
cation. Somebody asked him how he
liked his place.
First rate" he said, "but there are
mornings when the congregation is
pretty thin. However," he added
cheerily, II am drumming them up,