Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-07
the sands of the river turned to gold. which
was just good as Standard Oil stock in
those days.
Present the President Didn't Get.

Present the President Didn't Get.
Some weeks after Robert Skinner, our
envoy extraordinary to Abyssinia, returned
from his diplomatic mission with the mem
agerie which King Menelek sent to Presi-
dent Roosevelt with his compliments, the
citizens of certain town in New Mexico
talked a good deal about 1t and finally de-
cided to make Col Roosevelt a similar
present. They are all good fellows and
meant nothing but fun, but the postmaster
didn't see it from their point of view. He
is a Jacksonian democrat from Virginia. a
hold-over from the Cleveland administra-
ton, and had been kept in office because
of his good record in the first place, and
because the only candidate against him
was q saloon keeper. 1t is against the
policy of the administration to appoint sa-
loon keepers to office. There was a good
deal of discussion for several months, until
few weeks after the presidential election
cat, beautifully marked, and as lively as
cricket. The carpenter made a cage that
fitted the animal exactly, and the school
master wrote a letter to the President,
Which was considered remarkable exam
pie of wit and humor. But the postmaster,
regarding himself as the representative of
the administration, declared that it would
be nothing less than an insult to Col.
Roosevelt to send him such a present The
boys declared that other people were send
ing him wild animals, and some one re-
membered that Kit Carson had sent live
bear to Gen. Grant But the postmaster
insisted that that did not signify anything,
turned out the lights and started home.
The Presidents admirers were non-pluss-
ed and adjourned to the nearest poor
mans club" to talk over the situation. The
schoolmaster was seized with brilliant
idea, which was unanimously approved and
adopted He argued that everybody would
have the laugh on them if they kept the
wild cat after making so many prepara-
lions, and it might turn out badly If they
shipped it to Washington against the post
masters protest. He proposed therefore,
that they throw the responsibility entirely
upon that official by addressing the animal
to the President, sticking lot of postage
stamps on the cage and leaving it at the
post office to be sent by mail. He explain
ed that their duty would then be perform
ed and the postmaster would be tangled up
in a dilemma. If he didn't forward the
beast to Washington it would be viola
ton of the postal regulations and render
him liable to fine and imprisonment for OBJ
structing the United States mails; while II
he did send it the responsibility would be
all on him in case fuss was made.
The next day they sent the boy that
works in the grocery to the post office to
buy five dollars worth of stamps, which
they proceeded to stick on the cage in an
artistic manner. working out design II.
r. Then the schoclmaster read the letter
of transmittal:
His Honor, Theodore Roosevelt President
of the United States.
Your friends and supporters in this
county captured a democrat at the late
election and send him to you by this mail
as souvenir. He is a little lively on his
legs for a plaything. but you will know
what to do with him when he comes Every
white man in this county is for Theodore
Roosevelt every time. With compliments
and regards,
Your Friends and Admirers.
"P S.-If he don't come write to the post
master and ask why"
The letter was stamped and mailed, and
two innocent and unsuspecting Pueblo In
dams were directed to take the wild beast
to the back door of the post office. The
postmaster ordered them to carry 1t back
where 1t came from but, obeying their in
structions, they left the case on the floor
BIZ ok of the row of boxes in his private
office and retired in haste
The postmaster seized the cage and huri-
ed it after them with all of his strength,
which relieved the situation for it lit on
one of its corners and two of the Stats gave
way The wild cat seized the opportunity
and escaped, and Postmaster General Cor
telyou has ever since had before him foT
Investigation a letter signed by six citizens
of an enterprising town in New Mexico
charging their postmaster with neglect OF
duty and disrespect to the President of the
United States.