Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-25
THE TXAN
ON THE BOX
By
HAROLD MAC GRATH

clothe herself with smiles and laughter.
There are sorry enough things in the world
as 1t Is, without lachrymal, hypochon-
driacal truth poking her face in everywhere
Not many months ago, while seated on
the stone veranda in the rear of the Met
ropolitan Club In Washington q believe we
were discussing the merits of some very old
product. l recounted some of the nghter
chapters of this adventure.
"Eemposslble!" murmured the Russian at
tache. just IL the matter had not come
under his notice semi-officially.
/ presume that this exclamation disclosed
another side of diplomacy, which. stripped
of its fine clothes. means dexterity In ND
ing secrets and in negotiating lies. when
one diplomat believes what another says II
is time for the formers government to send
him packing. However. the Englishman at
my right gaZed smilingly into his partly
emptied glass and gently stirred the Ice
l admire the English diplomat; he never
wastes lie. He is frugal and saving
But the newspapers cried the Journal-
ist They never ran a line; and an exploit
like this would scarce have escaped them
IF l remember rightly, 1t was reported In
the regular police items of the day. said l.
Strange that the boys didn't look behind
the scenes"
"Oh. l don't know remarked the con-
gresham; lots of things happen Of which
you are all ignorant The public mustn't
know everything
But what's the hero's name?" asked the
journalist.
That's a secret" I answered. Besides
when it comes to the bottom of the mat
ter 1 had something to do with the sup
pressing of the police news. In case IKE
this suppression becomes a law not excelied
by that which governs self preservation
My friend has a brother in the war Depart
ment and together we worked wonders.
It's jolly droll story, however you look
al it," the Englishman admitted.
"Neverthe it had its tragic side; but
that is even more than ever secret.
The Englishman looked at me sharply,
even gravely: but the veranda is only dimly
Illuminated at night, and his scrutiny Went
unrewarded. ,
"Eh, wellv' said the Russian: your phil
osopher has observed that all mankind loves
a lover"
LAS all womankind loves a love story"
the Englishman added. You ought to be
very successful with the ladies' turning to
me.
Not Unfortunately; but I shall not fail to
repeat your epigram and l rose.
NV watch told me that it was half after
8; and one does not receive every day an in
vtation to a dinner-dance at the CheVy
Chase Club.
I dislike exceedingly to intrude my own
personality into this narrative, but as was
passively concerned do not see how can
avoid it. Besides, being a public man, l am
not wholly averse to publicity; first person,
singular perpendicular, as Thackeray had
it, in type looks rather agreeable to the eye.
And l rather believe that have moral to
point out and parable to expound.
NV appointment in Washington at that
time was extraordinary; that Is to say, 1
was a member of one of those commit
tees that are born frequently and SUDDEN
ly in Washington, and which ole al
most Immediately after registration in the
vital statistics of national politics. 1 had
been sent to Congress, dazzling halo over
my head, the pride and hope of my little
country town; had been defeated for sec
ond term: had been recommended to serve
on the committee aforesaid; served with
honor, got my name in the great newspa-
pers, and was sent back to Congress,
where 1 am still TODAY, waiting patiently 1or
a discerning President and vacancy in
the legal department Of the cabinet. That's