The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-03-13
BANANAS IN ERIN.
Dick Croker Plays Practical Jokes On
His Friends.

They don't have any more fun al
politics." said Richard Croker the 9th
er day, mo fun at all.
when L was young man we had
all sorts Of fun. The newspapers had
any number of funny stories of the
pranks Of the politicians. Even up to
a few years ago there was many fun
ny story in Democratic and Republican
politics in New York city.
Now everybody seems to be so
deadly in earnest Either they take
themselves very seriously or they tax
the world--very seriously. don't know
how to explain it. But there is ND
more fun in politics, and you seldom
read funny story concerning the
practical jokes of politicians on one
another:
Mr.. Croker, with group Of
friends about him, told with great rel
ish how he entertained Eugene D..
Woods of Albany on one occasion and
Supreme Court Justice Marley Plat
EEK of New York on another at his
house near Dublin. Gene Woods and
Mr.. Croker have not always agreed,
and at one time there was a severe
break between them; but a couple OF
years ago Woods was in London and
telegraphed to Croker that he was
a nf1t ia %~
him at Glencairn.
The day came for Woods arrival
and Croker heartily greeted him. Al
ter drive in the afternoon. they re-
turned to the house and Croker and
Woods were, in the smoking room.
quietly and without apparent reason
Croker left Woods and walked into 4
reception room adjoining and in d
moment the sweetest strains of music
came from the piano. There were no
women in the house, as Woods knew,
and he couldn't make out where the
music came from. -
Who's that playing the piano?" In
CURED Woods Of the butler. ~
1.-The MASTER" was the soft spoken
response. ~ 49, s..y,s--
MIR. Croker play the .piano2' re-
piled Woods. with the keencst sur.
prise; sa"Im going in there to hear
him, n.t...sIg!t :a-t. y,,;'is ~. q. s.,5%a \
mo, please. SIR, said the butler,
just peek in through the curtains and
listen to him. He doesn't like people
to enter the room while he is play
irg." .:,, II, !
Gene Woods peered through .. tie
curtains, and there was Mr.. Croker
evidently playing like Handel. or a
Mozart or a Paderewski. Deity and
delicately Cookers big right hand
touched the treble keys and the biz
left was in rhythmic union on the
bass.
Suddenly to Woods surprise Crokec
crossed hands and threw in few
with the ease of a professor
Of: music at the Parish Conservatory
Woods eyes were bullying, and turning
to the butler, who was in. rapt atten-
tlon, Woods whispered: @
It'll have a devil of story to tell
in New York, and where in the devil
did he become professor of music
like that? How did he learn?"
From necturne to r!lapsodie Croker
and when he turned to the
Ave Maria" and then to Mendelssohn's
Songs Without Words" Gen. Woods
was beside himself with wonderment,
and he chuckled as he thought of the
great story he would have to tell 81.
Croker's masterful piano playing ac-.
CURED during his absence from New
York City. !
Suddenly Croker stopped and re-
joined woods in the smoking room.
Where the devil did you learn to
play the piano?" demanded Woods.
"oh, I've had little leisure time.
replied Croker, land Of course there
are great professors OF music in Dub,
lin, and it comes easy"
+ why, you're over sixty years old.
cried Woods, "and know 1t diin't
come easy with you. But you're a;
dandy player just the same, and IN
tell all the boys about 1t when II get
back"
Croker never cracked smile. He
had the same grim visage that is SO
familiar hereabout as he told Woods
that 1t, was time for dinner. Is
Woods stopped over. night and be-.
fore closing his eyes that night he se-5
came a little suspicious. He knew
Croker was celebrated for his practi-
cal jokes in the old days He climbed
out Of bed early the next morning and
tiptoed down into the reception room
and touched the. keys Of the piano.
No sound came. s5
He was II amazed. He hustled all
around the piano and looked into 1t
!, -