The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-03-02
THAT HALL OF FAME.

and called it Hall of Fame, the Gym
ical were disposed to sneer and even
the thoughtful to look askance. IT
might better have been christened an
Avenue of Publicity, because, whilst
the skeptics have found their juris-
diction, the advertisers also have had
reason to rejoice in a scheme at once
more original and enduring, as Well
as more satisfying in its returns, than
tragical athletics, or freak concert
tours. The Iconoclast, too, has had
his innings, several promising candi-
dates for immortality having got their
quietus at the hands of The Commit
tee, and Valhalla itself the blacklist
OF black eyes from its self-constituted
guardians.
When the wings of the Capitol at
Washington had been completed, and
the Senate and House of Representa-
tives had moved to the commodious
quarters newly provided for them, the
old Senate Chamber seemed exactly
suited to the uses of the Supreme
Court, which hitherto had occupied a
bit of a hole-in- the wall below stairs;
but what to do with the gaping space
left by the exit of the Lower House
became for two or three years a ques-
ton. This was settled, like many an
other matter of moment by the mer-
est triviality.
There CHANGED to be a venerable
hanger-on about the Capitol, turning
his hand to such odd jobs as the Ser
geant-at-Arms and Doorkeepers might
find for him, and very well known and
very much esteemed by everybody, of
the name of Dade-"John w. Dade, of
Virginia, sub, and don't you forget
it," Col. Dade had a nose for a good
ching. Indeed, he had something Of
a history. Sprung from an excellent
family, he had been classmate to John
Tyler at college, the intimacy being so
close that they were commonly refer
red to as 1.-The Two Jacks" and, in
1S41, when Harrison and Tyler had
come in, Dade repaired to Washington.
Four weeks later Harrison died and
Tyler was President. "Now," said
Dade, I'm fixed" and straightway
called at the White House, when
something like the following passed:
"Hullo, Jack" said the President.
what brought you here?'
IAN Office" said Dade, laconically.
What kind of an Officer"
"A sine-cu-ree!" Dade replied, still
as laconically, "big pay and no work"
well" said Tyler, you know 1 am
President now Jack. and 1 must be
Office i must be able to give the pub
lie some evidence of his qualifications.
Have you any letters of recommends
ton from people who know you where
you live, any proof of your character
and fitness, in short do you bring the
President any petition, or letter of
credit"
"The best in the world" said Dade.
Let me see," said Tyler.
Thereupon Dade put his hand in his
inside pocket and drew thence a bulky
piece OF writing detailing at length
his many virtues. The writer declar-
ed that the one thing in the world
which would make his happiness COM
plete would be the appointment of his
lifelong and dear friend, Col. John w.
Dade, to whatever place he might ap-
ply for. 1t was addressed to Will
liam Henry Harrison, President of the
United States" and was signed, John
Tyler"
The President read it deliberately to
the end, turned without word to his
secretary, and ordered a commission
to be made out for John w. Dade, of
Virginia, as Keeper of the Federal
Prison then. and still, located in the
District Of Columbia. There, Jack"
said he, that's the nearest to "a sine
cu-ree' know Of"
Dade took the oath of office, as
sumed his new post of honor and duty,
and had the prisoners summoned into
the prison-yard before him. Ladies
and gentlemen" he said. Il have been
appointed by the President Of the
United States 10 preside over this hon
orable institution. In the beginning, l
want to inform you that shall treat
each and every one of you as a Vir-
ginia gentleman should treat body
of ladies and gentlemen, and the first
son-of~ a-gun that departs from that
calling shall be turned away from the
Governments bed and board and COM
PEELED to work for his living3
The story goes that Col Wade made
a most efficient and acceptable super
intendent.
Twenty yeas later, still wearing
knee-breeches and a ruffled shirt, the
last survivor OF the regime ancien, it
came into the resourceful mind of this