The Washington herald., 1908-06-20
AT THE HOTELS.

Col Klein Clement, Of Atlanta Ca,
who can make an automobile climb I'D
the side Of a room II he really wants 20.
was at the Raleigh last night, recalling
past experiences with the bubble wagon
and the bicycle.
Just about fifteen years ago" said the
colonel. I started out from Washington
on my way to the Worlds Fair at Chi
cago on a bicycle. I got Just beyond
Harpers Ferry and had crossed into Viz
ginia, when I met with a sad misfortune.
Running over the narrow mountain
road met an old farmer. There was on
one side high cliff and on the other a
deep ravine The farmer. driving a big
wagon, refused to bulge an inch, and
finally, instead Of my climbing over the
wagon. he drove deliberately toward me
and showed my wheel over the bluff.
After that came back 10 Washing
ton; walked all the way. because
couldn't very well walk clear 10 Chicago"
Col. Clement has had some exciting ex-
periences in late years. since the bicycle
has been replaced by the automobile Il
is related Of him that once upon a time
he started out from Atlanta 10 the North
in big 6O-horsepower machine, bound
10 break q record or the car.
Things were going well. everything
humming g beautiful tune and the pros
pect Of beating all previous performances
looked exceedingly golden. when suddenly
one Of the tires burst That was in the
days. not so very long ago. when even
careful sutomobilists didn't carry extra
tires. so the colonel thought he was I'D
against IL.
Suddenly a big yellow rattlesnaks
darted out into the road and stopped.
Kissing venOmously whatever that
means The colonel was. according 20 the
story, seized with a great idea. He jerked
the old tire OF the wheel. beat the poor
snake ever the head with IL, and then
began his work Of repair.
The only trouble with the rattlesngke
tre-for that is what he used the snake
for, the story says-was that every time
the machine passed any One-for he
started again immediately-the rattles
still attached to the snake began to buzz
and stand up straight, creating a sort OF
artificial bump that interfered with
speed.
But with the snake tire the run was
finished in good time. The colonel said
last night that the story must be true,
because friends OF his said Il was.
The colonel brought two machines
North with him. a big 60 horsepower and
a smaller one Of % horsepower. He won
some races IN Connecticut and several
since then, but was not allowed 10 par
ucpate, for technical reasons, In the
meet at Benning
He is going back 70 Georgia by ma
chine-he came North last time by boat
and expects 20 burn up some Of the roads
between here and Atlanta.
Chicago had her share Of crowds dur
ing the convention. although some Of the
hotels may have complained OF the dearth
Of visitors" said D. F. Stimson. OF Min
neapolis. al the New Willard. last night.
AT one OF the best hotels. one night
this week. a man, evidently from the
rural districts. but Of some Importance 70
himself and Of consequence somewhere.
shouldered up 10 the clerks desk 10 Sc
cure a room.
Ia like room with bath said he.
in his best rural voice
Sorry, sir, but I haven't a room with
bath left said the polite clerk.
Well. then, I'll take just an ordI-
nary room
Haven't a room left sir
Can't you fix me up in the parlorY
The parlor is all taken. sir
Can't I have one Of the bathroOmsY
All taken, sir
Well. how about a billiard tableg
Every billiard table Is bespoken for
after L o'clock said the clerk We
have absolutely nothing left anywhere
The stranger thought for a minute or
two, and then said;
You see. when I started for Chicago
I told the folks I would stop here al
this hotel, and I'm going 10 do ii. I don't
suppose you'd object il I hire a cab and
sleep in 1t in front Of your old hotel,
do your
The clerk didn't object and I guess
the man slept there"
Probably the leaders Of the Republican
party expect 10 win New York's electoral
vote by selecting Congressman Sherman
for the Vice Presidency. but II Is very
doubtful # they viii succeed" said
Charles G. Russell. OF Rochester. at the
Arlington Hotel last night.
New York IS never in the sure-to-be-
carried column. and never has been. al.
though II has gone Republican under the
influence OF President Roosevelt II IS
not so certain that because Nir. Sher-
man has been put on the Republican
ticket the 'favorite-son idea is to be re-
lied upon to bring a victory IN that State.
Mr.. Sherman may be a good man from
the point Of view Of the Republican lead
ers. but II IL is believed that ne VIII
strengthen the ticket. some one has made
a mistake. Mr. Sherman has enemies in
New York, and they are not going 20
sit idly by and permit him 10 carry or
the electoral vote in his pocket"
The clerks IN one Of the big hotels are
still laughing about this. or they were
last night for some time after 1t lap
pened:
woman. used apparently 20 the best
IN all things. came languidly up 20 the
desk yesterday, looking as II she We're
about ready TO drop. and as II the heat
had brought her as near 10 whiting as 1T IS
possible 70 get without becoming a mere
useless fact.
She signed the register with a bored
look. but with some complacence. TOO.
as if she were dreaming OF a rest from
the suns glare.
Room with bath?" inquired the clerk.
as she finished attaching her neat sigma
ture
NO" she said 7 want a room with
a bed"
The SimDI,1 Tunnel.
From the New Orleans States.