Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-03
CITY DISCOVERER
Is MYSTIFIED

One afternoon last week the City Dis
coverer having a little time on his hands
between work and dinner. started out for a
brief stroll about the city. He had Travelled
only mile or SO and was walking slowly
along, his stout cane tapping the sidewalk
and his mild blue eyes looking here and
there, when he came upon elderly maa
with close cropped white beard and a
humorous eye. who was stroiling along in
the same direction. his hands in his pock-
cts and big cigar tip-tilted in his mouth.
Good afternoon" said the City Discov-
erer, eheerily
oooo afternoon replied the stranger,
accentuating the tilt of his cigar and smil-
ing genfally on the Discoverer
Well" said the Discoverer I'm an eff
fort to make conversation. after the two
mad walked side by side for awhile Con
gress VIII be here pretty soon. won't it?'
heard rumor To that effect" the
stranger assented, land L guess it can be
believed this time
The DISCOVERIES sense of humor not being
OF the tip-toe sort. he merely looked puz-
zied for moment and nodded
Well. said the Discoverer, after another
pause, II understand that Congress is GO
ing to pass railroad rate law at this ses-
SION
Where do you get your secret Informal
out a suggestion of mirth
On, responded the Discoverer. highly
hattered Il have ways of finding things
out Don't you think such a law is
needed?"
We'll, replied the white-bearded stran-
ger dryly. up on the Mount once upon a
time man named Moses was given ten
simple rules for the government OF man
kino-Ihou shalt not steal thou shalt not
leland so forth. But people have been ly-
Ing and stealing and doing everything else
that is forbidden in those laws ever since.
l guess IL those commandments had been
a Thousand instead of ten II would have
been just the same"
But" suggested the Discoyerer turning
his mild and puzzled optics on the elderly
stranger. Il asked you'll was talking about
the railroad rate situation"
so was i. replied the stranger, with n
dry chuckle.
oh" said the Discoverer, as he lapsed
Into a strained silence.
Il guess there will be some tariff legis-
latfon this winter" he remarked after a
somewhat lengthy pause.
You must play long shots at the races"
the elderly stranger suggested.
Not at ALL. replied the Discoverer. II
never attend the races. What made YOU
| think so7''
Il don't know" answered the stranger.
with another cfSpckle.
There's a great deal of talk about tariff
revision, the Discoverer suggested.
Ever since the world began" the man
have been talking and fighting and swear
ing and cussing and doing a whole lot OF
other things, and IL all helps 10 keep tho
air in motion"
But l was talking about tariff revision
said the Discoverer impatiently.
so was t. replied the elderly stranger,
with another chuckle
Il understand great effort Is being made
to secure important committee places for
several new members OF Congress One or
| two of them are such big men that they
will get the best places there are"
You must believe in predestination." sug-
gested the elderly stranger.
why, not at ALL" cried the Discoverer.
What makes you think 500?
II don't know" chuckled the stranger.
This session of Congress is going to be
n very busy one, / unders tand." said the
Discoverer after they had covered another
block in silence, "and many important and
unexpected things are going to happen.
"Who is going to der inquired the ei-
Derby stranger in an interested Tone
"Why-I don't grasp-no one that know
Of" exclaimed the Discoverer, HIS mild
blue eyes starting from their sockets.
whats that got to do with it? I was
talking about unexpected things during
the session"
$50 was r. replied the stranger, with
another dry chuckle.
Then the Discoverer gave IL up.
MY dear SIR he said, in a rather Of
Tended tone, Il am sorry you do not talk
so that 1 can understand. But / suppose
that is your way. I hope You have been
have been able to give you about Con-
gress Won't you tell me your manner"
Cannon" replied the tall. elderly
stranger, with a gravity belied by tho
twinkle in his eye. Joseph G. Cannon.
Speaker of the House"
"Heavensi' said the Discoverer, in a
mortified tone, as he walked swiftly home
ward. WHO would have thought it7"