Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-05
A CONSERVATIVE
CONVERSATlONALIST

One afternoon last week the City Discor-
erer was returning from one Of his long and
favorite rambles around the suburbs OF
Washington. VIXEN he came upon tall. dis
| misunderstanding elderly stranger who
was walking slowly along. his head bowed
| on his breast. an expression of meek and
| lowly resignation upon his intellectual
countenance
Good evening" said the City Discoverer
cheerily. ut has been pleasant and a
beautiful day. has It not?"
why. yes-that is I-er--suppose Ii
! would be considered a pleasant enough
day" replied the stranger
Goodness" thought the City Discoverer
as he glanced again at the elderly strangers
distinguished figure and Intellectual counte-
nance. but he certainly is the most con
servative man 1 ever met"
DO you stroll out this way very fire.
quen;iy?" inquired the Discoverer. after he
had walked AT the side OF the distinguished
elderly stranger for some distance.
Why. yes-no-that Is. sometimes I walk
out this way and sometimes 1 don't. /
couldn't really say that I am frequently
out this way. and yet"
IT'S of no consequence" said the City
Discoverer politely. and yet with some lit
tie irritation in his tones. And the two
walked on together for another block or
SO.
Terrible times they're having over In
Russia, suggested the City Discoverer.
after the silence had become intolerable to
his conversationaly-inc soul.
What times are you referring tor in
quired the tall distinguished stranger, In
accents meek and mild.
"Why-why." said the Discoverer In
bounded amazement. Il mean the terrible
times they're having the revolution.
you know-the shooting and the killing and
all that
The tall distinguished stranger raised his
hands a tribe tighter behind his back and
remained silent.
"Graciousr thought the Discoverer. ms
! he glanced again at the intellectual coun-
II possible that he doesn't know what II
going on in the world I'll try him on
something else.
Most astounding revelations I'm New
York. don't you think?'' the Discoverer
suggested after he tramped silently beside
the distinguished looking stranger for an
other block
Concerning what?'' inquired the strang-
er in accents 50 Wild that the Discoverer
involuntarily gasped with wonder.
why. concerning the big insurance COM
must have heard all about AcCurdy and
Mccall and the others and how they worked
their companies for all they could get. You
surely know all about 1t. don't your
merely pressed his lips together. frowned
of into the distance and remained silent.
Il wonder II IT Is ignorance or something
else" unused the Discoverer the two
tramped along. '.TI try him again
This Is a beautiful street were walking
on, don't you think" he inquired at length.
Quite" replied the distinguished looking
stranger. quite beautiful. or course IL is
not as beautiful as some. but still II is
more beautiful than others"
my goodness thought the Discoverer
hasn't any mind at all" And then deter
mined on drawing the stranger into CONVEX
sation. he inquired. blandly:
What do you think of the prospects for
rate legislation at the coming session OF
Congress-"
Congress? Rate legislation?" Inquired
the intellectual-looking stranger. What
do you mean
"Heavens," cried the Dlscoverer, you
don't mean to tell me you don't know any
thing about Congress and rate legislation
and all that?''
But the distlngus he'd looking stranger
only pursed his lips. elevated his eyebrows
and remained silent
IT'S quite cold tonight" suggested the
Discoverer after another interval OF silence.
Quite" admltted the ntellectual-lookfng
stranger. Not so cold as 1t is sometimes.
but colder than it is at other times
what an exasperating person." thought
the Discoverer he tramped along beside
the communicative stranger.
That was an awfully queer order issued
by President Roosevelt to his cabinet In re-
gard to secrecy; don't you think so?' asked
the Discoverer after a long interval of 81
lence."
Damn said the intellectual-looklng
stranger. with considerable emphasis
'I beg your pardon" cried the Discov-
erer.
Damn" said the Observation-Disclosures
stranger with more emphasis than before.
You said?" suggested the Discoverer
Damn" replied the tall. elderly, distin-
guished-lookfng stranger with still more
emphasis.
MY dear SIR said the Discoverer at
length. this conversation with you has
been as remarkable as It has been one
sided. Won't you tell me who you arer
The tall, elderly. distinguish looking
stranger with the intellectual countenance
bowed his head once more in mute and
lowly resignation. Sir" he said. II am a
member of the Presidents cabinet"
Goodness. gracious. Moses me," said the
Discoverer TO himself he walked swiftly
homeward after parting with the stranger
"A member of the Presidents cabinet, Who
would have thought ir?'