The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1909-06-25
TAFT AS A FUNMAKER
Practical Joke Played by Presl.
dent on Newspaper Man.
"GET UP, THERE!r he RoARE1
AbsentnnInded Correspondent Sat still
as a Thousand virsinians Rose &c
Honor Chief Exeeutive-sorry jim
Wasn't Among Journalistic He Made
Comfortable In His Private Car.

Honor Chief Exeeutive-sorry Jim
Wasn't Among Journalists He Made
Comfortable In His Private Car.
President Taft's humorous DISPOSE
ton is well known. but he came to
the front as practical joker on his
recent trip to Petersburg, Va. and
Charlotte, n. G. At Petersburg he had
luncheon on the veranda of beauti
full southern mansion. and In front of
him on the lawn were 1000 men of the
F. f. VS.. At the table nearest the
veranda We're the newspaper men of
the Taft party. most Of whom bad
been with him In the campaign, to
Panama and. one Of them, around the
world.
A picture was to be taken, and Pres.
ident Taft, accompanied by two gov.
errors, senators, several congressman
and lot of colonies of staff In gold
braid, ranged themselves on the steps
When the president stood all of the
1000 men on the lawn rose to their
feet except one newspaper man. He
was tired, had seen q lot of things
like that and was little bored Be-
sides. he was thinking about some.
thing else. The president, within ten
feet Of this first table, happened to see
the newspaper man sitting in his chair
and gazing disinterestedly about, and,
pointing commanding finger. he
shouted:
Get up, therer'
The newspaper man. recognizing the
familiar voice raised to riot call vol.
ume, looked about alertly for the
source Of trouble. He saw nothing to
cause alarm, but the next moment was
jerked to his feet by stout hand In.
serted IN his collar:
sect upw commanded voice In his
ear. "He's got right to order you
to standw
The newspaper man stood obedient.
ly, still held by the indignant Virginian
who had yanked him from the chair.
That night, leaving Petersburg to
go to Charlotte, the president discov-
cred that. while he had private car
and could sleep in comparative COM
fort all the way, any one trying to
keep up with him would have to
change cars twice in the night and
lose any seasonable chance to rest,
Captain Archibald Butt, his military
aid. discovered this fact and gave 1t
to the president Mr.. Taft at once
invited the newspaper men Of the
travelling party into his car.
There's no use IN you folks having
a hard night" he said. II don't know
how many extra berths we've got in
this carriage, but Archie" as the pres
ident calls his aid. will do the best
he can. BY the way, where's Jim"
Jim was the friend who had been
ordered to get up. He had gone on
to Charlotte by another route The
president sincerely expressed the hope
that he wasn't "sore" and said good
night.
1t was found that there were three
vacant berths In the presidents car,
so the six newspaper men drew lots,
and three Of them slept on mattresses
on the floor of the drawing room. 1t
was comfortable. and, more, important,
they were on time for the next days
work.
In the morning the man ordered to
get up. arriving on another train at
the same station. walked into the pres
ident's car. Mr.. Taft reached out his
hand and shouted
"Why. hello Jim! ] haven't seen
you for long time"
"You saw me all right yesterday.
Mr. President" said the newspaper
man.
"well," said the president with mock
severity. will you stand up when you
see me again?"
81 haven't been able to sit still
since," said the victim Of the Joke
gloomiiy.
The president spoke with earnest
ness Of his two days at Petersburg and
Charlotte. He felt, he said. that the
reception, not to him, but to the presi-
dent Of the United States, was sincere.
Washington Cor. New York World.