The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1909-02-24
POSTUM IN
A G|LDED CAGE
FOR Mr.. TAFT
Curious Throng Sees Col.
Potts Bear Gift to House
and Back Again.

Col, Potts, OF Roanoke, Va, Col. John
Breckenridge Potts. sab, made spec
/ tacular effort to present President.
elect Taft we possum at noon to-day.
Alas! Col Potts failed In his kindly
mission.
Twas as plump possum as ever
possumed, and Col, Potts captured 1t In
Its native wallow somewhere on the
wooded rim OF the famous Potts es-
tate. He brought the little animal all
the way from Roanoke in handsome
gilt parrots cage, and. after having 1t
carefully combed and manicured, he
set out with It this morning from the
Broadway Central Hotel.
With naughty dignity Col. Potts saun.
tered out OF the lobby with the Gagged
possum in his hand. He left the hotel
via the bar 10 avoid the gaze OF the
vulgarly interested persons were trail
Ing his heels as he navigated the thick
fog OF Broadway and hailed a passing
taxicab.
Distaneed the Crowd.
Into the taxi Col. Potts crowded his
three hundred pounds Of dignity and
his 'possum. first giving the chauf-
feur instructions to proceed at all pos
sible speed to the mansion OF Henry
w. Taft, at No. SO West Forty-eighth
street One or two hundred of the
crowd pursued the taxicab for half a
dozen blocks, but then gave up the
chase
Presently the green horseless hack
drew up before the aristocratic resi-
dence OF Banker Taft. A dozen or so re-
porters were grouped about on the pave
ment, and they greeted the appearance
OF Col. Potts with high glee, affairs
being mighty dull with them at the time.
Col. Potts delayed getting out Of the
cab while he combed his handsome
goatee and set his Stetson at proper
raksh angle. Then he got out grace
fully, drew on his gloves and reached In
for the cage. In the darkness OF the
cabs interior he inadvertently poked his
finger too far in the cage, withdrawing
II suddenly with a choice flow OF
Roanoke cxpletlves.
Nlpped His Finger.
But Col. Potts swiftly recovered his
composure, chuckled in his beard The
little devil bit me-" lighted a match and
skilfully located the cage. Inserting his
thumb In the ring from which the cage
swung, Col. Potts lifted the capaclous
wire prison daintily aioft and proceeded
up the steps Of the Taft home with
slow and aristocratlc stride.
stopping to draw on his gloves, Col.
Potts pressed the doorbel with his
plnky, drew silk handkerchief from
the tall of.his frock coat and began
hopping his brow. When the butler
appeared at the door Col. Potts ad-
dressed him loftily:
"Sirrah, tell your master that Col.
Potts, Of Virginia John Brecken-
rluBe fOttS OF ftOdUohe, VA san uc-
sires to present to the Hon. william
Howard Taft live possum that the
Colonel captured with his own hands,
sah.'
MIR. Taft Is not receiving any Wild
animals to-day" said the butler lcIly,
whereupon the heavy bronze door
swung iorblddingly out upon Col. Potts
The naughty VrgInan went at the
bell again as II lie intended to push the
button through to the next house. He
announced publicly that there remained
only one strong desire In his soul-to
rend that insolent ilunky limb from
limb.
He ceased his discourse very sud
denly, however. when two secret ser
vice men opened the door and bored
him with suspicious looks.
"Esa, IT," Kissed ore OF the secret
service men, and Col. Potts beat 1t. lie
reached tie pINentn: below witGou,
touching sep. tu wEh tle Gagged
postum still cid. ched ligntly. Return
Ing tn the tiNlcab, he Ia.sed his Tisnt
hand and sad mournfLily:
y voted for that man. bu, never
again.