The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1910-09-16
1HE CABINET LAUGH.

il as much depends upon mans
laugh, or his lack Of laughter us has
been asserted by distinguished
French scientist, President Taft, who
lis himself the father OF particular
brand OF uproarous mirth.sound, has
an odd assortment Of men whom he
has placed in office to run the affairs
of the executive end Of the govern.
ment, says a Washington authority
on laughing. When the President
was Secretary OF War, the heavy ma
hogany doors OF the War Department
were not sufficient to shut out the
sound that Issued forth despite these
barriers when he saw something that
struck him as funny. And he saw
many things In this humorous light.
He laughed more than he has since
although from the executive Office
there still issues forth now and then
the echo Of q great and sonorous
laugh, a big-man kind OF laugh, be
speaking good digestion. and good
lungs. 1t is doubtful whether Presl.
dent Taft has selected single man
who can duplicate his laugh or even
come anywhere near it. When Roose-
welt was president he was no mean
second in the matter OF laughter TO
his Secretary Of War. 1t wasn't tho
sonorous, easy going, complacent sor
such as President Tafts but 1t had
rare. qualities. 1t had the effect Of
making everyone who heard 1t laugh
too, or at least smile. 1t was eN
\ ubranto, choppy, II you like; irregular,
boylsh ut times. rising 10 a treble as
IL Its creator was having tho time Of
his life ut the moment OF its utterance.
Many are the times that the secretar-
les passing his door stopped to smile.
at thi medley of merrlment and 1t is
: sued forth most often Just at the
time when one thought that the Col
onel was in the highest corner, held
at bay by his enemies. Former Gov
ernor Guild, of Massachusetts, took
occasion the other day before leaving
for Mexico with the American delcga-
ton which is to attend the Centen.
ialf Celebration at Mexico City, TO call
upon Beekman Winthrop, assistant
Secretary OF the Navy. The result
was a perfect flow of laughter. Guild
has q mellow, club-fellow laugh. II
Is all of good humor, comfort, en-
joyment OF the moment. WinthrOps
= laugh Is an utterly wild, unrestrained
sort that ripples and splashes, about
y as II the survivor OF the tennis cab
met didn't care q rap for anything
and proposed to amuse himself as he
chose. Winthrop has hard time
carrying on the traditions OF the for
mer ADMINISTRATION. Secretary Knox,
President Tait's premier, likes n laugh
now and then-but mostly then. The
lips of the Secretary OF State, seldom
- emit ripple except when the moment
IS a most stimulating one. More FIRE.
qpently he. sits and smiles, and his
eyes do not laugh at all. They fix
s themselves on whomsoever is near.
est as though the leyity Of the occasion
were merely bait TO draw out the
other person while the eyes scruu-
nized Whatever secrets OF countenance
might be unveiled by the flash OF mer-
rimenh Secretary. Of War Dickerson
has q .rane ouse sort OF laugh although
VI It lis not especially distinctive. 1t Is
much the same as that OF any big
man who can take pleasure in a fun
: ny story but 1t does not always indi.
cate mirthful temperament. Score,
tary OF the Navy Meyer is not a man
OF mirth. His laugh is quiet one
such as would not cause any head
to turn IN. the best ordered drawing
Z room, but he has the power OF emit
ting IL at the proper moment. He can
lean back in his chair from the knot
test problem .unwrinlle his forehead
{ and give mirthful, amiable, yelyety
little ripple which quite suits the oc
casion. Uncle Jim Wilson, Secretary
OF Agriculture. and grandfather o.
the cabinep' has a nice, well defined
western Iowa laugh when the idea
strikes him II IS a very character
lstIc sort OF uneuphonious utterance
II comes forth unbidden by circum
stances, Is snotavery loud and depends
entirely upon the secretary's inwart
2. nlnlA III .hnlhf, IIn. lhAinhn ltrl,iti III