The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-20

and although he has a fine standing in the army and is the military aide at the White House he is just the same good sort he was when he was chasing up and down the Row, with a string of southern papers to which he imparted such burning thoughts concerning the scandalous doings of the republican ma jority as he happened to think of when he wasn't in cahoots with some of those scoundrelly republicans themselves.
 Archie was live wire in his newspaper days He accumulated newspaper after newspaper on his string until he was serving about 16. A northern representa- tive, who knew him, went for a trip in the south and struck lot of cities where Archie had papers. When he came back he said: 'In every city I visited l found dispatches from Washington signed "A. ". B. until l became impressed with the idea that those letters "A. W. B. bear about the same relation to southern journalism that the letters 'F. o. B. do to bills of lading."
 i Silk hats and frock coats were not so l common as articles of attire in those days l as they are now, but it so happened that Archie had a set, and so did Howard Thompson, now the Paris correspondent of the Associated Press. So, when an in- vitation came along for a garden party at the White House. Archie and Howard rigged themselves up like horses and buggies and went over
 1 They were the admired of all admirers, 1 and, along about o'clock, dropped into l the old National Press club for bite of l dinner. The company was pleasant, work ft rIa+ 1 inquire the time-made for slaves, you 1 llnow-until 1t was in the neighborhood of a. m. Then Archie and Howard de- cided they would go home, and started up l the street in all the glory of their un- wonted regala.
 Why wouldn't it be a good plan to get a little breakfast?" suggested Thompson tentatively as they neared a lunch count ] CT of local repute.
 Finer assented Butt.
 Well" said Thompson, "Fll go in and 1 have cup of coffee and a roll with you, then"
 1 With mel" inquired Archie. "On what, 1 pray?"
 Thompson stopped. Do you mean to insinuate,' he inquired coldly, that you l have no money?'
 T have 10 cents left" said Archie.
 "Heavens!" shouted Thompson, T thought you had some, and I starving | here In the streets of Washington. 1 | have but nickel myself"
 It was a depressing situation. How l ever Archie was equal to the emer-
 gency. Give me your nickel" he said,
 "and we will go in here and get two cups of coffee. That will be 10 cents. Then we can buy sandwich for the | other nickel and split it, which will hold us until we can get something at i the boarding house."
 Before the transfer was made a l ragged, dirty, emaciated tramp came
 up. Gentlemen" he whined, for the l love of heaven give me a few cents to | get something to eat I haven't had a
 mouthful for three days, and I am
 faint. Only a few cents"
 Archie reached into his pocket and | gave the man his 10 cents. That's all
 I've got" he confessed, but you are
 welcome to it." Not to be outdone
 Thompson handed over his nickel.
 That's all I've got, too,' he said and
 we were just going in here to. get a
 cup of coffee each, but I reckon you l need 1t more than we do.'
 "Getns," spoke up the tramp, take
 back your money. 1 didn't know you { were in the same line as myself. Here S I half-dollaFAfor you. Go in and get | a good breakfast" And he slouched
 away.
 | We'll 1t wasn't long after that that | the Spanish war started and Archie, al- | ways with warm spot for the service, | thought he would be soldier. He had l an idea of getting into the marine
 corps, but President Mckinley made
 him captain and quartermaster of | volunteers. In due course he went to
 the Philippines, and when he was leav- | ing the general commanding sent word
 back: of you havc-any more quarter
 masters over there good os Butt 1 put a cord or two on a transport and
 ship tn em over"
 He served in Cuba and wherever duty
 called him, counting mules or doing | whatever came his way with the bully
 spirit and the enthusiasm that made | him a success as correspondent, and
 then came the time to make change
 in the aides at the White House. Two
 or three friends of Archie's went up to
 see President Roosevelt. If you want
 a real one" they said, "get Archie l Butt.'
 T. R. was looking for real ones, and
 he got Butt Wherefore, he soon
 thanked the advising friends, for there
 was no stunt T. R. could propose that
 did not find Archie fit and willing. 1t
 made no difference to the captain
 whether 1t was an 1S-mile walk, a | 90-mile ride, a balloon ascension or a
 descent in diving Butt was on
 the spot. If President Roosevelt | wanted to wade creek when the ice
 was running Archie waded first and. looking back from the farther shore, asked of his chief. What detained