Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-08

81
One was that the finest furniture of to-
day is veneered. We like to think that our
mahogany is solid and we often talk Of ov
solid mahogany dining tables, .sideboards
and bed room SETS The truth Is there Is
mighty little such stuff in the markets and
the yeneered furniture Is far more beauti-
full than any solid article could be. The
reason is that In veneering a section or
wood which has beautiful grain can De
so cut UP into sheets that 1t will cover
large space. The sheets are just about as
thick ones big toe nail. but one log may
make several hundred OF them and when
they are properly glued to cheaper woods
the two are as solid though they had
grown together. The machinery here Is
such that skins of this fine wood can be
be pasted around column or follow the
curves of an arm chair or the scroll-line
-rell Of bedstead. The mahogany Is put
on rough and Is carved smoothed and pol
ished in such way that one could not
but imagine that every piece Is solid.
I found a great deal Of original work
going on in the factory. One room was de-
voted to designers who were planning new
furniture and in another skilled carvers
We're working the wood out according to
designs piece by piece. There was also
large Photographic room where the finished
furniture is photographed to show the trade
the coming styles.
A Senator in Prospective.
During my stay mere L nave seen SOEle-
thing of William Alden Smith. who for the
past dozen years or SO has been one Of the
most prominent of our republican members
of Congress and who promises to be the
next United States Senator from Michigan.
William Alden is enthusiastic over the fu-
ture of Grand Rapids. He has been one Of
the factors of it's growth. and In addition
to his prominence in political life, he Is the
proprietor of its leading newspaper, the
ND mid r m Ia no
wealthy but his first money was made. as
a newsboy, by selling the journal which he
now owns: and think there was some SEN
timent connected with his purchase. al
though the Herald Is fast becoming valu-
able property. Indeed. William Alden
Smith has had a remarkable career. He
was born just about forty-five years ago at
the euphonious town of Dowagiac. in SOUTH
western Michigan. not far from the lake
and little above the Indiana line Shortly
after he came with his parents as boy
of thirteen, to Grand Rapids. his father
died. and from then on he made his own
way. For time he acted as a telegraph
messenger and later was appointed page
in the Michigan house of representatives,
where he got his first taste Of politics.
After this he studied law and was admit
ted to the bar, and he has since practiced
in the intervals Of his political career.
William Alden is a self-educated man.
but he bears the marks of one who is col
lege bred The other day he and a congress
sional graduate Of Yale were dining at the
capital with Jcter u. fT1lcnarQ, VINO was
in the Senate from North Carolina and is
now one of the judges Of the United States
circuit court Pritchard Is an intelligent
man. but he has not had a college educa-
ton. After he left the Yale representative
said to William Alden Smith: That. man
Pritchard has ability. and I venture he
would have made much more OF himself II
he had had the educational advantages that
you and 1 have had" / understand that
William Alden smiled In his soul. but that
he did not tell the Yale graduate that his
only schools were those of experience and
self-help.
Our Congressional College
In my talk with Mr.. Smith referred to
his self-education. whereupon he remark
ed
1T is not right to say that have not
been to college During the past dozen
years or SO l have been going to school
in the University Of the House of Represen-
tatives, and there Is none better than that
The demands of Congress are continual
spur toward lettering ones self. One must
be careful of his language and be con-
tinually studying English. He has to prac-
tice how to think and speak quickly and
precisely: and the man who tries to do MS
duty must read and study along educa-
tional lines quite as hard as any student
Of our best colleges. Indeed, doubt
whether there is any place where the ac-
tive thinking student can improve more
rapidly than in our national House Of Rep
TeSentdtlVeS at w aSnlnStOn.
William Alden and the Kaiser.
As we chatted together. the subject of
Mr.. Smiths tour Of Europe last year came
up, and asked him as to his audience with
the Emperor Of Germany, saying that it was
strange thing for an ex-newsboy to be
talking Familiarity with one Of the chief rul-
ers Of the world mentioned an interview
which I once had with the late John
was presented to the French emperor, Louis
Napoleon, he wore pair of velvet knee
breeches and I asked William Alden how
he was dressed.
IT wore the plain black Of an American
Citizen" was the reply. land my dress was
conspicuous only by its simplicity. My au-
dience took place at the palace. and was
the only Of the party present who
was not in uniform. Ali the others were
diplomats or army officers, and they wore
gold braid and epaulettes. I had no Idea
that should be presented. and 1 suppose
I was indebted to Baron Sternburg, whom
knew as German ambassador at Wash
ington, for my audience. I only know that
when arrived in Berlin I received an invi.
tation that the kaiser would be glad to see
me-"
Did you have any conversation with his
majesty? / asked
Yes. He talked with me for about twen-
ty minutes. In meeting his own people he
had used moro or less ceremony and he
seemed to me rather stin than otherwise
When my turn came to be presented, how
ever. he greeted me just as any gentleman
would have greeted another in our coun-
try. He thrust out his hand. took 1t and
we shook, and his majesty seemed to put
himself on the same level with me- In. the
talk which followed he was animated and
interesting. We each said nice things to
the other. and his majesty proposed NUNS
Der OF subjects common to the two naS
lions. One Of these was the tarin. He re-
ferred to our protective duties and said that
he did not like them on the ground that
they prevented the increase OF German
trade. l replied that the Americans did not
like the German regulations for the same