New-York tribune., 1910-06-29
THE SMILE.

Not since some one of distinct inSurgen'
proclivities-or was he "stand-pat" ?
exhibited an envelope postmarked Mai
robi. or some other jungle postofhce, has
anything nearly so authentic and sig
nificant been exhibited as the smile
which Senator La Toilette wore when
he departed from Sycamore Hill. Ali
the yeracious chronicles agree about the
smile. And for authenticity, what could
surpass a smile that was brought right
out of the colonel's study or library, OF
wherever he entertains visitors who come
to talk politics? And it was one Of those
smiles that won't come Off" for the
Wisconsin Senator still wore it conspicu-
ously upon his person when the train
bore him away from the reporters, after
he had intensified the impression aris-
ing from the smile by declaring that the
colonel was 1.-The greatest living Aperi-
can" and that he was 'in fine fighting
trim"
The smile went on the wires to all the
great nation which is waiting eagerly
for the seal Of silence to fall at the end
OF the appointed two months. If Sena-
tor La Toilette were not already great
man, the smile, the information that be
had talked with the colonel about the
legislative acts Of the recent session or
Congress from the standpoint Of those
members Of the Republican party
whom the newspapers are pleased to
"call insurgents" together with the
deeply significant words, HE is in fine
fighting TRIM" would have made him
great All Badgerdom and all Chautau-
Quadom would have thrilled at the
news, as, indeed, it will thrill at the
sight Of the smile, if the Senator can
keep it undisturbed on his features until
he reaches the West, which those who
know him best are confident ne can do.
And how much more convincing is
smile. one regarding which it is impos-
sible to prove an alibi, che carried right
out Of the Sycamore Sanctum, one which
by the faintest eXerion Of the magma
ton you can almost see Colonel Roose-
welt himself affixing upon his visitors
features-how much more authentic is
such a smile as this than a mere
Nairobi postmark, the latest index the
world had of the state of Mr.. Roose
velt's affections for the insurgents and
the ''stand-patters" A Nairobi postmark
might cover one Of those letters for
which the colonel is famous, placing its
recipient upon the waiting list of the
Ananias Club; but a smile-couid any
thing be more uneQuivocal: You do not
come into bruiSing contact with the Big
Stick and issue forth with q smile upon
your face. You do not feel the Spear
That Knows No Brother and wear
smile that won't come off"
To be sure, anything may happen It
is conceivable that in a day or two the
high priest of the 'stand-patters," Beel
Zebub, or even Uncle Joe" Cannon, may
turn up at Sycamore Hill, and, after
some counsel with the hunter, issue
forth with a smile upon his face which.
measured by the reportoriaI calipers,
viii prove TO be, TO the thfrty-second of
an inch. exactly as broad as Senator La
Follette'S. Perhaps the man of dark
ness may also declare with every indi-
cation Of profound emotion that the
colonel is ''the greatest living Ameri-
can" and that he is 'in fine fighting
trim" Two perfectly authentic smiles
Of contradictory import would be con-
fusing, but it would be only necessary
to remember that, authentic as smiles
are. in the nature Of the case the colonel
does not set his hand and seal to them,
and against everything not signed and
sealed the public has been duly warned.