Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-03
By Frederick Boyd Stevenson.

Copyright, 1907. by Frederick Boyd Stevenson)
~ you cool your heels in that cave of
dignity known to the little world that
percolates about Washington as the
IL visitors room in the Senate chamber,
while a page takes your card in to this
senator or that senator, you may study the
personnel of your man by the manner in
which he responds to your desire to see
him. Some will not receive you at all 9th
ers will receive you with their cheeks puffed
out like toy balloons and their chests ex-
banded like Mr.. Muldoon, the solid gentle
man. When Depew comes out you cannot
help but imagine that he has napkin
tucked under his chin and is impatient to
get back to his dinner. Plat looks as If
he might bite and scratch. Tillman takes
In both sides of the alley at once and seems
on the verge of fmaking a run for you.
Senator Morgan sends a boy. Knox comes
out inquiringly Lodge is worried. Spopnef
smiles. The others have their own Htffe
ways-some pleasant, some otherwise: IF n
be between sessions Vice President Fair
banks sends promptly for you to-meet- him
in his room. And one good look and five
minutes talk make you think you have a
pretty fair idea of Fairbanks. Have you?
The first thing that impresSes you when
you meet Fairbanks is that he is glad to
you. He talks as if he were and he
graSpS your hand as If he were. And some
how there is something in it all that makes
you believe he is in earnest: If his time
be limited he will say to you:
Now, let me see. After the Senate. adj
journS l have to meet so-and-so. Tonight
We give a reception to the senators-that S
at o'clock. III tell what Wen do. Can
you come up to the house at 9? Very
good. You come up at tonight and Wen
have a chance TO talk for an hour and a
half or So"
Never Breaks an Engagement.
4 he. fhn rod limo
and you find Mr.. Fairbanks there ready to
receive you There is a legend in ashing-
ton that he never broke engagement I'M
less 1t was practically impossible Il not
keep it, and in that event he always notifies
one in advance. Mr.. Fairbanks, while one
of the best known public men, is one of the
least understood. The man who has 1t in
his head that Fairbanks is chilly and dis
tant never made greater mistake in his
life. Fairbanks is not ELUSIVE He is care
full and conservative In his manner, but he
is cordial; never stiff. Fairbanks is SO seri-
Gus in everything that he undertakes that
he has little time left for humor. But there
is humor In him. He enjoys good story
as well as any one, and now and then-when
matters do not press him too hard-he tells
a story himself
Once / was campaigning in lowe. with
Gov. Gear" said Fairbanks. Zone night
Joe Blackburn of Kentucky was in the au-
dience for he happened to be making a
campaign for the other side in that locality.
After the meeting he met us He shook
hands with US and Immediately said:
We'll, gentlemen, isn't there some place
where we can get something to drink?
II was tired and thirsty after my fort
and the suggestion appealed to me, so /
pointed out a nearby restaurant When
we got into the place Blackburn sad to
Gear:
what will you have, governor
"'Gear thought minute. as If he were
trying to think of something good; then ne
replied slowly:
~ think I'll have glass of mineral wa
ter
'.Blackburn's face fell, but he managed
to cheer up and turning TO me with a
smile asked:
land what will you have. senator?
MY mind made up. l answered
promptly:
III have a glass of milk.
blackburn looked II he were about
TO step on the gallows l do not believe i
ever saw so gloomy a face. He was silent
30 long that the walter asked timidly:
What's yours. sir?
And Blackburn. without raising his
eyes said:
"'Oh. bring me a piece of pier
A Good Listener.
When a senator. while he never had the
reputation of being a brilliant speaker
Fairbanks was never dull. He always
knew his facts and he presented them
ed them out as II he were using an ak
But one thing about him was observable
he was the best listener and is today the
best listener in the Senate. He Is keen OF
vision and keen of hearing. he always
has his ear on the ground.
Now there are certain people who take
pleasure in digging down deep into the
early history of men. They like to know
IL a boy--now a great man-was red-head-
ed and freckled and went barefoot and
IL he had to work on the farm chasing
hens eggs and keeping the other boys from
making jack-o' lanterns out of father s
pumpkins in between the rows of corn
Nalks But as for the most of us-well, we
heel about like the Bellman felt when the
Baker started in:
my father and mother were honest though
poor"
..skfp ain that!' cried the Bellman in haste.
SIf II once becomes dark, there's no chance for q
Shark; go
We have hardly q minute to waste!'
" skin forty years." said the Baker, in tears,
and proceed without further remark
y the day when you took me aboard OF your shiT
TO help you In hunting the Shark.
And that Is the best way to do with this