The Washington herald., 1907-03-24
THE DIET OF STATESMEN.
sociological aud Political signin-
canee of corteIyou's Luncheon.

coEAGfOEtCaA aus HutAthSAt StAHfH-
cance of CorteIyoa's Luncheon.
From tia Boston Transcript.
Neither the sOciol0gist nor the politi-
clan will dismiss as unworthy Of earnest
thought and subtle speculation the an
neuneement that Secretary Corseiyou
snatehes a hasty luncheon OF pie and
half-and-balf at a restaurant across the
street from the Treasury Building. The
soeiologist will see in the Secretary of
the Treasury's practice allegiance to ''t!1e
simple life.' for h6if-and-half In Wash
!ngton parlance means not the malt com
pound familiar TO the bibulous OF the rest
OF the Union. but a pleasing and innocu-
ous blend of cream and milk. The poll
tlcian viii not forget that to Vice Presi-
dent Fairbanks is attributed a phenOme-
nal appetite for buttermilk The latter
beverage enjoys bucolic favor TO an ex-
tent that makes its comparative political
potency as against cider q theme for
speculation which is beyond the reach
of the statlstician
Mr. Cortelyou Is held by many in
Washington to be a Presidential possi-
bility Vice President Fairbanks Is re-
garded by an even larger number Of
observers as THE coming man" As such
his habits have been closely seritinized
Is those who give much weight TO the
daily ways of the available" Even
when he was a simple Senator it was
noted that his hshtual luncheon was
apples and milk. The judieious COM
mented on this fare, and reminded the
thOughtIess that there were millions Of
people who were partial 10 apples. and
probably as many who liked milk "
Only the event can show which lGncheoa,
that of Mr.. Cortelyou or that OF Mr, Fair
banks. is the more appealing 10 the public
sympathy Each has ingredients in COM
mon. and the conditions Of the two gen
tlemen are so different that the COM
munity Of bases so essential to ealeula-
ton does not exist. Mr. Cortelyou has
never taken q conspicuous share in the
social gayeties" of the capital He has
lived quietly much after the manner Of
the Old-time Cabinet officers who kept
very close TO their Official emoluments in
eOodlcting their household expenses. The
Vice President, while his entertainments
have always been governed by the good
taste and moderation to be expected Of a
cultivated man Of the world. has become
one of the amphitTyons of Washington.
Putting aside the personal equation and
bringing speculation down directly 10 die
tetics the student will not fail 10 note the
prominence Of pie IN Afr CoFtelyOu's 8
fare. There may be much in this appaF-
entity simple fact. Mr. Cortelyou is a
New Yorker by birth. but he received a
good share OF his education in New Eng
land In the most plastic period Of char
acter-formation he attended the Massa-
ehusetts Normal School at Westfeld. and
applied himself diligently to books that
must have reminded him that the pie
eaters Of New England wrought nightly
IN the field, ard followed the strenuous
life He cannot have failed TO be Inn
pressed with the farIs that a regiment Of
Marbleheaders covered the retreat from
Long Island and led the crossing Of the
Delaware. In Marblehead they are said
% eat clam pie for breakfast Washing
ton knew what he was about when he
put a regiment OF ple-eaters in the van
In an advance and In the rear guard in
q retreat Pie. progress, and promotion
ali begin with P.