The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-08-03
BrayelY Recited Tale to the
President
HIS NARROW ESCAPE
Cautiously Said That Big Fish Do Not
Turn Over to Seize Prey, Then
He Trcmbied Until Roosevelt
Approved.

Oyster Bay, N. Y, Aug. s.--A diver
sion struck the village yesterday in the
form Of Judge B, S. Rodey OF New
Mexico and Porto Rico. The judge Ii
considered one Of the best story tellers
in the country, and he had scarcely step
ped off the train when he began delight
ing the natives with tales Of how he
fooled the >wise ones at Washington
when he was delegate from New
Mexico to Congress during the stirring
times Of the statehood bill fight.
The judge easily switched from Wash
ington stories to Porto Rican ones, and
when be came to telling about sharks
welli Oyster Bay just took holiday
and gathered around the amiable Judge
until one would have thought that the
President himself had come to the sta
ton. tie judge made a hit all rigat,
and ii he ever comes this way again he
will be given the freedom Of the town.
incidentally, the Judges arrival
brought to light d good illustration Of
the power OF mental telepathy. No
sooner had he began telling nature
stories than distress signals went up
at Sycamore Hill, three miles away.
The old-timers who knew the symp-
toms, explained that the agitation was
caused by the wact that the President
had received warning in some mystic
rious way that nature stories were be-
ing told IN his vicinity, and he wanted
to be in on them. The irreyerent ones
suggested that new instrument had
been installed at Sycamore Hill which
could detect with absolute precision
whenever a nature story was being told
within a radius of so miles The in
strment's, they said, was one Of the
Presidents own invention, and had given
wonderful satisfaction.
II works, they explained, on the prin-
ciple Of wireless telegraphy, but wave
thoughts instead Of sound vibrations
are recorded. However it happened, it
Is certain that Sycamore Hill became ap
praised in some marvellous way that
nature stories We're being told al the vii
lage depot, and a messenger was sent
hot haste TO invite the reconteur to go
AZ once to Sycamore Hill Judge Rodey
was in the middle az a tale about sharks
when the message reached him, and
without pausing TO finish he left inn
mediately for the Presidents home
He found Mr.. Roosevelt impatiently
awaiting him,
"Glad to sec you Judge" began the
President, II understand that you say
that sharks do not turn over to seize
their prey; is that rightf"
The Judge was on his guard at once,
and began sparring for wind before
committing himself
well, YOU see, Mr.. Roosevelt" he
began, Il have been shooting sharks
both hammerheads and the otaer kind,
for the past few months--er, that Is,
during my brief moments OF rest from
the exciting labors Of my once, you
understand"
aYes, yes. 70 on interrupted the
President, breathlessly.
And / have observed" continued the
Judge, cautiously That some species of
sharks do not turn over but simply seize
their prey By the chester, mean with
their fangs-oh, what the dickens am
sayingf ] mean they seize it with their
mouths"
eYou see" continued the unhappy
Judge, wiping his prespiring face, Il got
that story about the wolf which stirred
you up, you know, mixed up with the
sharks in my excitement"
For moment it looked TO be all up
with the Judge. just what position nc
was to occupy in the Ananias club
/ dashed through his mind, but he was
pleasantly disappointed by bearing the
President burst into an impulsiye laugh
and say:
Go on Judge, tell us al about it. But
wait first for Archie, be wants to learn
about the habits OF sharks"
Then the nudge let loose aud talked
sharks for the next half-hour without a
break. 1t was settled then and there
that the voraciOus sea tigers do not
turn over to seize their prey but rise
out Of the water and grab a man in
much the same manner that an ordinary
FISH swallows bait.
After the interview Judge Rodey re.
turned to the village and told more
warns until the train arrived.
He said he had spoat much time and
more ammunition while IN Porto Rico
shooting sharks in the harbor. The
sharks were feeding on oHal" he
said, "and noticed that they grabbed
their prey without turning over on their
backs, as they are supposed to do. !
told the president Of my observation,
and understood him 70 agree with me-
Archie got interested in the sharks and
I had to tell him all about shooting
them. I've no doubt that he viii be ont
in the sound tomorrow with his fathers
rifle trying TO make a record for him
self"
Come back again" every one yelled.
NO" said the Judge IN sad far
away voice. "not until have looked
over those sharks once more"
ra 49, ~.