Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-21
AMONG THE PEAUEMAKERs.
sideliEhts on the Conference OF the
EnvOys ut POrtmouth.


sideiiEhts on the Conference OF the
EnvOys ut PortmOuth.
Sato, the vocalist Of the japanese mission
Is popular among the newspaper men,
readily chatting with them on every sub
ject but the doings of the conference. His
popularity is materially enhanced by a deli
cate thirst, for which highballs are the
favortte remedy. A count on one day
showed record OF nine highbalis taken
with the compliments OF the correspondents
The erect was sorely disappointing to the
hospitable newsgatherers. for Il was noted
that with each highbail Mr.. sato developed
to marked degree the characteristic OF a
clam.
In the late evening sessions about the
| hotel, when the bridge whist parties have
! retired TO the rear piazza for a niEhtcap OF
lemonade or the correspondents are taking a
goodnight drink after catching the wire,
Sato drifts along, picks UP a white ao-
duaintance, orders a rye highball and sits
down for talk. His curiosity is quiet but
inslstent.
"Cowpuncher-what is that7' ne asks
catching at phrase dropped by his VISA
Wis.
1t is explained that Il is only another
name for cowboy. Oh yes, he has heard
OF cowboys but he wants 10 know all about
them, even to their dress and the line fence
proposition.
When It Is up 20 him 10 talk ne will ro
ahead on any tack-poIitics, Japanese art.
the interior condition Of China, the latest
In hats, American women. Just touch IN
the tenth degree on ofncial business. how
ever, and the film drops over sato's eyes.
Sato' Takashita and Hanihara, the three
mixers OF the Japanese party, are at a big
taole with half dozen correspondents
Hanihara, who is the third assistant secre-
tary Of the japanese legation. figures as the
best looking OF his party. He is slight. re9-
ular OF feature, light In color aud has an at
tractive smile. He takes one hiRhbau at
the beginning Of the night session and
makes It last all the way through. It is not
the highban he cares for, Hanihara ex-
piains-it's the company. BY careful watch
ing ne manages to laugh at the American
jokes In the right place. He never forRets
any ones name and never takes the inItIa-
tive in any conversation. He appears 10 ba
watching all the time and taking notes on
| us.
Baron Rosen sits in the corner reading
an evening paper. He is about the hotel
good DEAL His newspaper is always with
| hl1n' and he prefers to sit alone and read
| rather than to mix In his hours OF ease
the paron always wears a crowned yacht
ing cap pulled over his eyes The tall
athletic Savarin is talking tennis. He has
got In two or three games since he has been
at the Wentworth. He plays with a rather
awkward but effective stroke. and his
| smashes are hard to handle. Last wAel,
he put down his name for the tournament
with Rye Beach, but the eSigencies OF pub-
lie business forced him to withdraw. Baroff
the Russian financial expert, is slipping
settlers and thinking. He is seen n good
deal about the hotel, but he rarely speaks
to any one except the members of his own
party. He wears his hair tight cropred ana
his beard long, and he has the air OF a
college professor.
A young woman of the hotel going for her
morning constitutional broke a branch from
a towering tree carried 1t with her to the
dining room and propped It into a small
pitcher in the center OF the table. Coming
out from luncheon. two Japanese CORES
| pondents passed. They stopped. started
very slightly and began to range about the
table, watching that branch. Not to seem
| tmpolite, they withdrew after a little. but
found an excuse to re-enter the dining
room ana TO pass that table twice After
them came an under secretary OF the lega-
tion. He stopped in his tracks, looked and
smiled. Then followed the correct Mr. Mat
sumoto of the Japanese Parliament. An
other stop. The correspondents on their
| second back trip met them. The four Japa-
nese stood smiling and talking in under
tones. The American girl who owned the
| Towering branch noticed the direction of
| their eyes.
would you like some OF the fowers?"
she asked, and reached her hand toward
the pitcher.
II beg you not to touch IT," said one of
the correspondents. ''You-you were taught
In Ja2an2'
| The American girl looked very puzzled
until another correspondent explained that
| quite by accident and by a natural eye for
beauty she had done pretty piece OF work
in the japanese art Of flower arrangement
which most children Of Nippon are taught
| in school. She insisted on giving the
>branch, arranged as It was, to the Japanese
party, and It stood on their table at din
| ner.
Twice a day, when there is a conference,