Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-19

interest he may have in his mothers af-
fairs. say the Bookkeeper, he owns and
manages an extensive railroad system, is
president OF one bank and director of three
others and owns and conducts cattle
ranches and cotton plantations.
He even raises flowers and has the best
greenhouse with one exception in America.
This is not conducted for his personal
pleasure, but as an investment which has
become very profitable. Last YER he sold
$lGO.OM woth Of American Beauty rcses.
wholesale selling price.
When he went into Texas twenty wears
ago 1t was to look after his fathers in
terests. Now his attention is devoted AL
most exclusively to his own. At first he
hVed on a ranch, the headquarters of n
railroad, but he got tired OF country lifa
aud moved to Dallas, where he now lives.
o
Close View Of Cardinal Gibbon..
Cardinal Gibbons-the only cardinal .,
America and head of the Catholic church
IN this country--is the subject Of an inter-
estinG sketch by II. L. Mencken in ths
december American Magazine. Mr..
Mencken says:
Baltimore is one of the few American
cities stlll old-fashioned enough To nave .
HHNAfeAAdhNs II IunH over ThH
steep hills OF ancient Charles street. from
the big shops at Lexington street past
Old st. Paul's, the Walters art gallery ana
the washington monument to the northern
region or apartment houses and clubsN
Ihere the smart folks of the town show
themselves every afternoon-pretty little
debutantes with talcum in their noses.
stout old ladies' with dogs, dnshing young
DUCKS win rolling eyes, and men OF money
from South street on their way to tho
Maryland club, And there, too, between
four and five, rain or shine, winter or
summer, you will see a spare, tall old
gentleman in a straight-rimmed silk hat,
with a touch Of scarlet under its brlm--
TO wit, James. Cardinal Gibbons, the rank
ing churehmRn OF the United States. and
peer, by the law Of the Holy Roman En-
pire, Of princes OF the blood.
ITO Cardinal Gibbons that daily walk is
the most welcome. II not the most impor-
tant, act OF his life. 1t is not a leisurely
stroll, but a vigorous. swinging walk. 1t
takes him some days far out Charles
street to Mt. Royal avenue, with its string
Of monuments, and even to Druid Hin
park. The appalling grades OF Charles
street-it hasn't a foot OF level ground I'm
two mlles-do not worry him. He takes
them at a long, easy stride. brushing
through the crowd OF shoppers, idlers and
handles, and holding his pace steadily un-
til hts four or five miles have been accom-
plished. Now and then you will see 4
visiting bishop at his side. painting breath
lessly up the hills. but more often he is
alone. Publicans and sinners pass him the
time OF day. policemen salute; a friend
drops into a step for a block or two. The
greater the crowd the better he seems to
like II.
The cardinal was 70 last July, but there
is still many a hard day'sNwork in him.
Dinner time at the cardinals house
comes shortly after noon, There Is "a good
cook downstairs, and the chance guest en-
Joys the meal as well as the company, but
the head OF the house himself is no cpl
cure. The delicacies OF which Baltimore
boasts-the terrapin, the wild duck, the
soft crabs, and 30 on-are seldom on his
plate. Simple roasts content him, with
baked apple TO follow as dessert. In the
matter OF drinhables. his choice Is butter
milk. He drinks II daily, and ne agrees
with Prof. Metchnikoff that II makes the
old feel young. But the cardinal is no
rigid teetotaler. On occasion he Is not
averse TO a glass OF white wine.
Walking IL his tonic. Let him have his
daily tramp and he is content. When he
faces q city trip beyond walking distance,
he telephones to 3 livery stable for ..
public hackney coach. He Is the only arch
bishop in the world who has no carriage Of
his own"