The Washington herald., 1908-03-02
MEN AND THINGS.

Hunter Sharp. the American consul AT
cobe. Japan. IS in this country on leave
Of absence. He has been IN the consular
service at Kobe, first as vice consul for
twenty-one years.
| 1t was while he was vice consul at
Kobe that Mr.. Sharp had a hair-raising
adventure with Secretary Taft, then the
governor general OF the Philippines. Mr..
Sharp is nearly six feet tall, broad
shouldered. and Will easily weigh over 200
pounds; still, he is quite good many
pounds lighter than the big War Secre-
tary
Governor General Taft" said Mr..
Sharp. In telling the story, was return
ing from the Philippines to the United
States. and his ship stopped at Kobe.
which, by the way, is one OF the princi-
pal seaports of Japan. The consul was
I'll. and I was assigned the pleasant duty
Of going 10 the steamer and doing the
honOrs to the governor general
''The consul told me 10 take his car
riage and go in state. Now, he had re-
Gently purchased pair of very spirited
horses, and / confess l was afraid Of
them. and / voiced my apprehension.
]
Is an experienced man and knows how
to handle them. There is no danger
/ got into the carriage with some mis-
giyings. nevertheless. and was much re-
lieved when I reached the wharf without
| accident I presented the cOnsuTs COM
] pliments TO Mr. Taft. He expressed a
desire 10 call on the consul.
after we were seated in the carriage.
1 told Mr.. Taft that I thought Il would
be wise 20 keep an eye on our driver;
! that the horses were spirited. and I be-
lieved the driver had beer taking a drop
too much Well, we arrived at the con-
sulate all right. Mr. Taft made his call.
and in = few minutes we were on our
way back TO the steamer. As nothing
/ had happened. we got careless: anyhow.
we became absorbed IN conversation ard
forgot all about the tipsy driver and his
horses.
Seems 10 me we are going a little
fast observed Mr.. Taft. glanolng
1 around
L jumped up. The driver had dropped
the reins. and the horses were running
away at top speed,
Neither Of us spoke. but each leaned
forward and grabbed a rein. Each be-
gan pulling on his respective line for all
he was worth. Mr.. Taft had the ad-
vantage Of me IN weight. or he must
have pulled the hardest. for the horse on
his side Veered around and we ran into
the sidewalk and up against lamppOst
The carriage was wrecked but fortu-
nately neither OF US was hurt 1t was
| about as close a call. however 70 death
as ] ever expect to have until receive
the final summons. ! have met Secre-
| tary Taft good many times since then,
and he never fails 70 recall our exciting
LID s~arfr -
that never can forget it."
F. II. Hartman. the railway magnate.
who has been more or less in the lime
light for the past few years, recently
figured in a new role-thdt OF a humor-
ist. He had managed 70 conceal this
Trait in his character from his most tnti-
mate friends and they were accordingly
( surprised when he revealed himself 10
them in that light
Mr.. Hartman. IL appears. was a week
end guest at a select house party al a
country place on Long Island just after
I the holidays. There were no formal
speeches az the dinner in the evening.
but number OF the guests told stories
OF more or less humorous nature
Finally Mr.. Hartman got Up on his
feet.
4 wish It to be distinctly understood. q"
he said. that what 7 am about 10 relate
is a truthful narrative"
Tne guests exchanged significant looks
Mr.. Harriman's face was perfectly grave
Several years ago" he went on. "a
/ friend invited me out TO his place to
shoot rabbits. / had never shot rab-
bit, nor anything else, for that matter:
but this invitation appealed 70 me- and
I accepted g. I had been thrilled. per
haps by the accounts Of the hunting ex-
ploits or a certain high official at Wash
lngtOn. and I thought I would Ike 20
take hand in the game myself. just to
see what It was like
My friend and / started out with dogs
and guns. prepared 70 slay all the jack
rabbits in Sullivan County. II was a
cold. raw day. with about half an inch
Of snow on the grOund-all the better for
tracking rabbits. my friend told me: but
Il didn't add any TO our comfort that
could see.
We'll. We hunted nearly all day. but 10
no purpose-nary rabbit could we scare
Up. Finally brilliant idea struck me.
got behind a tree and made a noise
Ike a turnip. and presently a whole
string of rabbits came trOt.ing up, and I
shot half dozen before thuE got away
MIR. Hartman" said his 1ost. ''if you
don't look out you viii be set down as a
nature faker"
In the basement Of the White House is
arranged the most interesting collection
OF china 10 be viewed on this continent.
The curiOs have been patiently gathered
by the present mistress OF the historic
mansion. and represent adequately the
tableware in vogue during every admins
tration from the Washingtons to the
Roosevelts The craze for historic china
is at it's height and there are frequent
requests for permission 10 copy certain
beautiful specimens OF Mrs. Roosevelt s
collection. These requests, il OF the seri-
Gus kind and properly conveyed, are
nearly always granted.
Hundreds OF dinner sets have been
planned after the ideas suggested by
Mrs. Roosevelts few specimens Of the
Jefferson table service. mainly some fish
dishes of Canton ware and a few berry
plates of French manufacture Rich New
Workers affect liking for the dishes of
/, Martin Van Buren. the first representa-
tive Of a Knickerbocker family 10 occu-
py the Presidential chair. Southerners
| find much 20 initiate IN the rich golden
! trimmed dishes which James X Polk
purchased. The Buckeye folks, deeply
offended as they were that the famous
sideboard presented 20 Mrs. Hayes should
have been sent TO auction. feel gratilca-
ton IN observing that no mistress Of the
White House has ever ordered handsomer
dishes than did the wife of Rutherford
b. Hayes. Mrs. Mckinley. though the
mistress OF the White House for over
four years. did not add TO the collection
: - china, but was satisfied with what re-