The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-07-29
BISHOP POT7ER'S VIII
Amusing Experiences of Famous
EpiscopaIian Churchman.
AN EARLY JOB INTERRUPTED.

How He Was Called Down by a Walking
Oelegate-An Episode Of His Boy.
hood-Odd Experience on One Of His
Tours.
Bishop Henry G. Potter, the famous
Episcopalian divine, while visiting his
daughter, Mrs. Mason Davidge, at her
place in the A~dirondacks one summer,
got up early one morning, thinking to
give her a surprise and put in a prof
liable hour or SO by painting the barn,
a job which, to his daughters despair,
the local painter had promised and
procrastinated about for weeks. The
bishop donned an old suit Of overalls,
rugged up a scafolding and was 1901
absorbed in imparting the traditional
dull red spot to the rural landscape
when a voice. stentorian and peremp-
tory, assailed his ears with the in
Quiry:
"Hey! What are you doing up
there?"
Looking down and around, he found
that the question proceeded from an
important looking individual with
square jaw and thick mustache and
smoking a big cigar. Imputing the
question to neighborly interest the
bishop meekly answered:
"rm painting the barn. It's almost
finished"
"Well, you just drop that brush right
there" commanded the walking dele
gate, as he proved to be. Before you
hit the barn another lick I've got. to
see your card"
Still mystifed and a little embar-
raised at not being able to produce a
cardcase from his overalls pocket, the
amateur painter put on his eyeglasses
instead and, facing about, benignantly
said:
Sorry | haven't a card with me, but
my names Potter-Henry G. Potter.
I'm Mrs. Davidge's father, you know"
But the eyeglasses had already iden-
tilted him to the walking delegate, who,
uttering a prolonged "Gee!" magnani-
mously shook hands and exclaimed:
You can go ahead with your paint
ing. Bishop Potter's all right"
When the bishop was once laid up
with a sprained ankle, Mrs. Potter, with
wifely consideration, had ventured to
remind him that the injury might have
been intended to give him an opportu-
nifty to display the resignation Of spirit
he had long commended to others in
misfortune.
Madam, the mere fact that I have a
game Leg" he had retorted, gives
you no right to make game Of me-"
Turning then to several clergymen of
the diocese who We're present, he in
dulged himself in Renaissance:
something by way of diversion, gen.
tlemen. This leg reminds me of an cpl
sode of my boyhood. l went once to
visit a venerable relative, a farmer,
who had a fine COW, which it was my
delight to drive daily between pasture
and barn. l guess, though. l was fond
of my bed, and the old gentleman had
morning he aroused me thus: Get up:
get up quickly, Henry. The old COW is
on her last legs l jumped. hurried
into my clothing and tore down to the
b%arnyard. There stood the COW, being
MIXED and as fit as ever.
"'Thought you told me she was on
her last legsv I exclaimed.
rs l did, he drawled. DO YOU ex-
pect her eve to have any more?'"
Ambassador Joseph II. Choate met
Bishop Potter one day in New York
city. Mr.. Choate said:
"See here, Potter, you must wear
something to make yourself more cas-
lily distinguished. Why, a man just
met me and addressed me as Bishop
Potter. Awkward mistake, wasn't it?'
swell Choate, I do think there's
something of a resemblance-slight, you
know, for Of course you hardly travel
In that handsome class that I At In so
snugly."
Possibly. possibly" slowly replied
MI. Choate. Il confess there's som
resemblance, and possibly the mistake
was e%xcusable, for you must admit
o more like a clergyman than you
do"
During a recent visit to a western
city Bishop Potter was entertained sew.
eral days in the home Of a prominent
churchman. Hb room was prepared
and garlanded for the occasion. and
among other details his hostess ar.
ranged upon the dressing table an elab-
crate silver toilet set. The bishop on
seeing 1t carefully transferred it to a
drawer. replacing it with his own set.
The divine's visit over, the hostess
went to the room and was dismayed
to find her silver missing. She searched
everywhere in vain and questioned the
servants to no purpose. Finally she
summoned up courage to write a very
apologize letter to the bishop, asking
II by any chance he had found any Of
the articles among his luggage. There
was an immediate and characteristic
vi