New-York tribune., 1906-06-03
UNCLE JOE REFUSES.
Speaker Cannon Shoes the Door
to q WOuld-Be InterUiezcer.

Washington. June al tell you have nothing
to say You. You come in here for an interview.
and say know nothing care to say. Well
you say. talk along any way What mortal
man. ask you in justice, could cast of sparkling
nothings when he is held up and told TO begin?
Ny tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth
This apparently discouraging ultimatum was the
result of trying to get Speaker Cannon be inter
viewed. with special topic in view. He was
stalking up and down his parlor looking very fero-
cious
How can talk about things when you do not
tell me what you want?' he demanded. irateiy.
Have you never been interviewed by people who
just wanted you to chat awhile. without clipping
the wings of your soaring conversational fancy?
This great American public would like to know
what you have say when you allowed your
own choice for a topic I replied
II am familiar with every known brand OF inter
views' declared the Speaker. II have been inter
viewed when I had no idea of what was going on
and have read my morning paper 10 find myself
saying things 1 heard of before. Yes
fectively. Il have been interviewed when 1 never
knew it at all-but never before by somebody who
hadn't any questions ask.
Il do not know about the things that interest all
people" continued Mr.. Cannon. musingly, because
all the world is interested in love and getting
ried. too old for that"
Well to be too old for that must be tot
tering with senility,'' ventured-
u hatter myself that if I have got TOO Old 70
love-, he said. Il have at least got enough sense
not 10 bite off more than I chew. and I am
afraid that if got frisky around the girls would
get In too deep to wade comfortably
Mr.. Cannon had ceased walking around the room
with his hands behind him. and had sat down.
stli declaring he could grant me interview.
Ihfs newspaper business IS a great one. Now,
always thought l would make good society re-
porter Is that what you are?'
Il am not with superfuous emphasis
That seems TO me just the easiest thing in the
world OF course. everybody knows you don't need
facts in your business You sit down. with sheet
OF paper. and write: Miss Flora McFumsey was
at a party last night. and wore fine silk dress
embroidered with japanese embroidery And OF
course. you and would know that Miss Flora Nc
FIimsey was larky. pop-eyed girl. with brick
topped headpiece but when the report came out it
Juno Why. that's Just easy. And if you don't
Then what would you do when MISS Flora No.
day. with an afidayit that the dress She really
wore at least $50 better than the one she had
been accredited With l returned.
had never presented themselves to him before.
We'll then ehid, what do you do?
Norming interviews out of reluctant public SER
It's uphill work" he replied. because reluctant
public servants are old hands at the game. We
born. However, it's great thing to be young
hon would you Ike to have my extra years."
edge Of how TO live mako I'D for having less of
7 certainly saw anybody yet who wasn't
entirely willing to trade OF the experience for the
decades acd the laugh that had been threatening
us for some time suddenly grew up a fullhedsed
burst of glee, as Mr.. Cannon his mind around
among those of his acquaintance who had the ex-
periCrce. -
Il guess about the first half of everybody's life is
spent in wanting TO be older the rest in sighng to
go back the other way. Perhaps the middle should
suit them IL they have any appreciation of their
neSsihss, which nobody has. when they have a
begun TO pail. ~ ~
%Sw IS@E wbIE for eEsS C@s dqns propose old
So narJ ana l strut about. filling my lungs with good
a kitten, except on my off days ~
AS we reached the door. which Mr. Cannon
tinuous downpour. $500 ~
This kind of rain / do mind walking In /.
he announced. standing his doorstep ana 6sta11 1
ing TO the gentle patter. This just keeps nv com
pleXion nice. and my hair In curl
Tn sorry | can't give you an interview" ha
added as he closed the door. RUTH HALE
LOCUST TREES THE BEST FENCE POSTS