Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-01-25
WASHINGTON GOSSIP


cial Music lovers will be interested
In knowing that Congressman Nicholas
Longworth, the prospective son-in-law
OF President Roosevelt, is an accom-
plished musician and comes from a
family which has done much for mu-
sic. The President and Mrs. Roose-
welt are both unusually fond Of music,
Mrs. Roosevelt possessing considera-
BILE ability as musician Musicales
at the White House have been most
popular feature of the Roosevelt adj
ministration. Postmaster General
Cortelyou. himself q musician, and
we'll informed on musical matters,
while secretary to the President, had
charge Of arranging these musical pro-
grams and even yet gives his advice
to Secretary Loeb on occasions Of this
character. The Roosevelts have three
pianos in the White House, the one in
the east room being magnificent in
strument, presented to the White
House by prominent piano company
and costing, 1t is claimed, something
like $4,000. The other two pianos
are in the private apartments. Miss
Alice Roosevelt performs on the piano
with considerable ability and pos
sesses a pleasing voice. She makes
no pretense at being finished musi-
clan. having never seriously cultivat-
ed her talents.
Mr.. Longworth, when young man,
studied the violin for years and is
said to be able to play the Krutzer
| Sonata so as to please the most cap
tious critics. He was pupil Of the
famous artist Ysaye and possesses
several compositions with his indivi-
dual markings. Mr.. Longworth's aunt,
his fathers sister. now Mrs. Bellamy
Storer. was identified with the estab-
lishment of the college of music In
| Cincinnati and with the great opera
| festivals in that city through her first
husband. the late George Ward Mich
oils. of that city. 1t Is said that Mr..
Nichols gave about 100000 a year
for the Cincinnati festivals, and 1t
was through his interest and that of
Mr.. Longworth's sister, that Mr.. Long
worth became interested in music.
Among the noted figures in the Con-
gressional Press gallery is that Of O..
o. Steady, the Washington represent
tative Of the Louisville Courier-Jour-
nal For twenty or more years Mr..
i
of congress, mingling with the noted
lawmakers and studying their char
acteristics. The experience of those
twenty years he has embodied in q
A volumne that has Just come from the
press, and 1t is one Of the most enter
/ tanning books of the season, treating
as it does in free and easy manner
with the great legislative epochs since
/ ho hooopno VIC cbfy, ofp,, rorrocnorAz
emit, and Of the men who most promi-
nently figured therein.
When he first came to Washington,
Blaine and Conkling were the two
leading and shining lights OF the re-
publtcans, while John H. Carlisle and
Daniel w. Voorhees, marshalled the
hosts Of democracy There are not
many men now in congress who held
seats when Mr.. Steady begun to re-
port their proceedings, and in writing
Of the legislative and political history
of the last quarter of century he can
say "all of which saw, and part OF
which was" Garfield, Arthur, Cleve-
land, Harrison, Mckinley have all oc-
cupied the White House during the
years that Mr. Steady has represented
the Courier-Journal, and, perhaps,
there is no man in Washington as
well qualified to talk and write Of
them and the stirring scenes of their
administrations as Mr. Steady.
The book is entertaining because It
treats of matters within the memory
of the present generation, because 1t
is written in a free and easy style,
and because it gives the views and
impression of an eyewitness.
To his work the author has added
short, breezy, crisp sketches of many
of the noted men who have been in
congress during his day, written by
other members of the Press Gallery
who mingle with and intimately knew
the men Of whom they write These
character sketches are pen-drawings
by real artists, who, knowing their
subject, could write with intelligence
and fine discrimination The book Is
not biography, in the strict sense,
neither is it dull history, but 1t is
newsy, bright, and entertaining from
| beginning to finish. 1t is published
by the author. w. w. Smith.
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