Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-06-16
As YOU LIKE IT.
Some Stray Leaves From . Reporter's Note Book.

Some Stray Leaves From Reporter's Note Book.
 The most spoken language is Chin. ese, but as there are so many dialects in the language, and as these differ so greatly in the confines of Mongolia and Thibet from those around Pekin, 1t is scarcely correct to say that the 362, 100000 Celestials all speak one language. Putting, therefore, Chinese aside the most spoken languages in the world are as follows. in millions: English, 120; German, 70; Russion, 6S; Spanish, A; Portuguese, B. If we were to measure these in ratio on q two-foot rule we should get the fol- lowing results: Portuguese inches: Spanish, 5h inches; Russian, Sla in ches; German, 8N inches; English, 1 foot and inches.
 The editor of Kansas country pa per has found a way of persuadlng the delinquent subscriber. It wns quite accidental. He had borrowed a I'rlfe recently. and he started up the main street of the town to return the | weapon to it's owner. The delinquent subscribers got 1t into their heads that he was on the warpath. and every one ne met insisted on paying what he owed him. One man wiped out n debt of ten years standing. On his return to his office he found load of hay fifteen bushels of corn, ten bushels i of potatoes, a load of wood and q bar. rel of turnips that had been brought in. All the country editors are now trying to borrow Winchesters.
 
 "Shoomaker's," that famous resort Tn Washington for statesmen, news paper men and visitors, known throughout the country as "Cobweb Hall, has had much free advertis- ing. but 1t is doubtful if 1t ever broke Into the records of congress until the other day when Judge s. H. Cowan or Texas brought it before the com mittee on agriculture of the house. Shoomaker's Is the birthplace of the famous "Rickey," which Is named after the man who first concocted it, the we'll known Colonel Joe Rickey. When congress is in session there are probably more distinguished men seen at Shoomaker's in the course of day than at any other resort in Washington. Established in 1840, there are pictures and bottles on the wall which have not been disturbed since that day and when Mir Munsey erected the magnificent office build- ing which goes under his name and which is next door to Shoomaker's the contractors gave a bond not to disturb the walls of Shoomaker's. President Roosevelt gets his salary the last day of each month. It is tnk- en to the White House by a messen- ger from the treasurer's office in the shape of a check and handed over to the official who had been directed to look after 1t. The presidents salary of $50,000 a year is divided into eight checks of S4.166.66 each and four checks of $4, ,166.67 each. Two months out of every three the presi- dents gets check for the smallest sum and the other month ht gets cent more on his check. This has been the custom for many years and mistake was never made but once. That was during the second adminis- tration of President Cleveland. Oie month when his check should have been $4,166.f7 the bookkeeper made it for only S4166.66. When the books were balanced at the end of the fiscal year 1t was found that the president was due cent by the government. The officials. with great solemnity. made out a check on the United States treasurer for this amount and forwarded 1t to the then president. Because 1t was the smallest sum a warrant was ever drawn for upon the government 1t was kept as souve- mir and was never presented If the ex-presldent desires to present it at any time 1t will be promptly cashed. President Roosevelt's checks are talk en to the White House by the same messenger each time. His name is William R. Padgett. and he is em- ployed In the treasurer's office He was for long time sergeant in Bat. tery A. 4th United States artillery. and served in the army at different points. He served in the marine corps prior to enlistlng in the army and went over the world His service to the government was honest and faith full throughout and his record. when he gave up his uniform. was good. He delights In going to the White House with the check of the presl- dent and takes as much care of 1t as if he We're handling as much cash