Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-03-12
NATIONAL HALL OF FAME
How IL Happened that the National
Capital Has n Room Memorial
20 Great Americans.

When one of the eastern colleges ON adj
vertising bent set up a circus and called
1t Hall Of Fame, the cynical were dis
posed to sneer, and even the thoughtful
to look askance. 1t might better have been
christened an Avenue OF Publicity, be-
cause, whilst the skeptics have found their
justification, the advertisers also have had
reason to rejoice in scheme at once more
original and enduring, as well as more sat
ipfying in its returns than tragicai ath-
letics or freak concert tours. The tcono-
clast. too, has had his innings, several
promising candidates for Immortality hav-
ing got their quietus at the hands of the
committee, and Valhaila itself the black
est OF black eyes from it's self-constituted
guardians.
When the wings of the capitol at Wash
ington had been completed, and the senate
and house of representatives had moved
to the commodious quarters newly provided
for them, the old senate chamber seemed
exactly suited for the uses Of the supreme
court, which hitherto had occupied Ia 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 question. This was set
tied. like many another matter of moment,
| by the merest triviality.
There CHANGED to be a venerable hanger
on about the capitol, turning his hand to
such odd Jobs as the sergeant-at-arms and
! doorkeepers might find for him, and very
well known and very mach esteemed by
everybody, OF the name OF Dade-''John w.
Dade of Virginia. sub, and don't you forget
| it, Colonel Dade had a nose for good
thing. Indeed, he had something on a his
tory. Sprung from an excellent family, he
had been classmate to John Tyler at col
lege, the intimacy being so close that they
we're commonly referred to as '"The Two
Jacks" and, in 1871. when Harrison and
! Tyler had come in. Dade repaired Ia
Washington. Four weeks later Harrison
died and Tyler was president. Now,
said Dade I'm fixed" and straightway
I called at the White house, when some
thing like the following passed.
"Iullo. Jack" said the president. What
brought you here?'
IAN Office" said Dade, laconically,
what kind of an ofrce?"
"A sine-cu-ree," Dade replied. still as la
conically: 'big pay and no work"
well" said Tyler, you know / am
president now Jack. and ] must be care
full. Before / appoint man to office
must be able to give the public some evil
dence OF his qualifications. Have you any
letters OF recommendation from people who
know you where you live; any proof Of
your character and htness-in short, do yo'
bring the president any petition or lettel
az credit?'
"The best in the world" said Dade.
Let me see 4" said Tyler
Thereupon Dade put his hand in his IN
side pocket and drew thence a bulky piece
Of writing detailing at length his mann
virtues. The writer declared that the on
thing in the world which would make hi
happiness complete would be the appoint
ment OF his lifelong and dear friend
Colonel John d. Dade. to whatever plac
he might apply for. It was addressed Il
william Henry Harrison, President o
the United States" and was signed. "Johi
Tyler.
The president read It deliberately 70 IN
end. turned without word 10 bis secretar
\ and ordered o commission 10 be made pa
for John W Dade OF Virginia. rs keeper q
; the Federal prison then. and still locate
IN the District of Columbia. There. Jack.
! said he. that's the nearest to a sine
cu-ree' l know o.
Dade took the oath 90 office, assume
his new post Of honor and duty, and IN
the prisoners summoned into tho prise
, yard. before him. Ladies ana gentlemen,
. he said. II have boon appointed by IN
president OF the United States TO pres. i
over this honorable institution. In the be
= ginning, 1 want to inform you that 1 sha
treat each and every one OF you as O. Vii
Finia gentleman should treat body G
ladies and gentlemen. ard tho first gog-o'
a-gun that departs from that calling SIN
be turned away from the governments be
: and board and oom9elled TO work for hi
: living
! The story goes thai Colonel Dade mad