Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-06-30
SHAW AS AN ENTERTAINER.

SHAW AS AN ENTERTAINER.
Secretary of Treasury is Host to a
Merry Yachting Party.
Washington, p. c., June 27 Especially.
Just as the United States revenue
cutter Window" was slipping up to
the dock, at the conclusion OF seven
hour trip down the Potomac and back,
the one hundred guests stood on the
hurricane deck and yelled themselves
hoarse declaring that SHAW is all
right" and in singing SHAW is a jolly
good fellow"
Once each summer and sometimes
oftener, Secretary Shaw chaperones a
party. always abnormally Iowan in its
composition, on a cruise down the Po-
tomac. Upon this occasion the guests
numbered about one hundred, includ-
Ing many congressman and high gov
eminent officials Secretary Shaw
stood at the gang plank and personally
welcomed everybody aboard. He
knew everybody and gave them hear
ty greeting and informally gave them
the ship which moves at his command
Secretary Shaw has never yet re-
corded failure in any place in which
he has been stationed on land, but to
get glimpse of Shaw at his best one
must go to sea with him. Treading
the deck Of one of Uncle Sans scouts
ploughing the main (Potomac) Secre-
tary Shaw becomes another character
Dull care, politics, perplexing prob
lens of finance were literally thrown
to the Winds Shaw was again a boy
lmpromptu Program.
Among the guests were number Of
artists in their respective roles. Con-
gresham Julius Kahn, of San Francis
co, was formerly an actor, and good
one. He had not forgotten some Of
his lines. Mrs. E. W. Roberts, wife Of
the Massachusetts congressman, Is an
1mpersonator of rare ability; Chief
Wilkte, of the secret service, is a wiz
ard with deck Of cards; Miss Bent
ley sings sweetly and as story teller
there is no one throughout the length
and breadth of the land unless it is
Judge Smith. of Council Bluffs, who
can hold candle to Secretary Shaw.
Here was combination of talent
mat made your ordinary vaudeville
seem like parlor recitation from
Shakespeare The secretary did a few
stunts in music and elocution on the
side, to make a full measure CT the
days enjoyment. Shaw was every
where. He wore the most ordinary
type>of attire, as did everybody else ex-
cept General Keifer, of Ohio, former
speaker of the house of representa-
tives, who never appears anywhere
morning, noon or night except clad in
the regular "claw-hammer" coat Gen
eral Keifer says the best it not any too
good for him every hour in the day.
From the top-most of the "Windom"
fiuttered the flag Of the secretary of
the treasury, the shield, with key at
each side. over two anchNs. in
white, on a background of
blue, with a circle Of stars
surrounding the design, the flag Of the
commander in chief of the revenue
cutter service. Various craft met or
passed. respectfully dipped their flags
as the Window" swept on its course.
Secretary Shaw wore the same
brown SLOUGH hat that has done him
good service for at least year. 1t
was Immediately suggested that this
would not do and that he must don
| the regulation cap of the highest Of
| ticer in the service. This head gear
was produced from within the cap
tain's cabin and thereafter Secretary
Shaw wore the cap of his official posi-
ton while at sea.
All Have Good Time.
Shaw Is postmaster in the art of
entertainment, at least at sea. No
peared to be isolated the secretary
sought them out, and soon he was the
center of the biggest group on deck.
OF course 1t was not long until some
thing reminded Shaw of a story and It
was told. 1t was always good story.
If Secretary Shaw should ever become
separated from sufficient of this
worlds goods to provide necessary
food and raiment and shelter, we will
guarantee him all Of them If he will
publish a book entitled Stories by
Shaw" A few hours and relay of
stenographers would do the business;
he knows stories by the millions; the
best stories that We're ever told, and ne
knows how to tell them. When there
was lull anywhere the secretary was
Immediately reminded Of story.
Refreshments were served about 6
o'clock in the evening as the Potomac
was getting ready to develop into
Chesapeake Bay. Secretary Shaw paid
for the spread" out of his own pock-
ct. Soon afterward the PROV of the
ship suddenly turned to the right and
maintained that position until 1t again
pointed toward Washington. At nine
o'clock at night after a 100 mile trip
the scene was enacted referred to in
the opening paragraph. The secretary
was brought to the deck and a speech
was called for. He responded by say
ing merely, that he was glad if every
body enjoyed the trip.
An Iowa Boat.
A word concerning the window
cannot fail to interest every Iowan
| The craft was built by the Iowa Iron
Works Of Dubuque about a dozen
years ago. I said to the engineer:
How does the Window perform? p
Just as you see here today was the
reply. t'It is notorious throughout the
service, and in fact among marine
men everywhere, that another such a
ship does not exist. In point of stead
mess and the perfection of the oper-