The Washington herald., 1912-05-02
STATESMEN, REAL AND NEAR.
By FRED C. KELLY.

I way TO British Guiana, where he once
served as American consul.
He had occasion to ride six or seven
blocks in hack. The driver said the
charge was &45.
"Oh. well. I simply won't pay it." de-
clared Wedemeyer. You know very we'll
that it's robbery. I'll pay whatever's Gus
tOmary, but I am an American citizen
and no man shall take more money from
me than I've got
Ask anybody" said the man. That's
the regular charge"
So Wedemeyer went into a hotel and
inquired.
Yes. that's the usual charge" the
clerk told him.
But $45 is an awful sight Of money"
stormed Wedemeyer. more money. in
fact. than have with me unless I cash
some more drafts"
"Oh. weH.'' said the clerk. of course
you must bear in mind that II takes NeO
Of the money down here to make 81 OF
American money"
The next day Wedemeyer- handed a
man a penny to pay his toll over a
bridge.
Don't forget your change" the man
yelled after him. And he gave wede-
meyer back enough money to fill one
pocket and part OF another one.
Senator Obadiah Gardner. the man
from Maine with the Mark Hanna fea-
lures. aspires TO gain recognition as one
OF the Leading baseball fans in the Sem
ate. He gets more enjoyment out OF a
ball game than a chauffeur does out OF
soaring pedestrians. \ few afternoons
ago. in the absence of a professional
game in town. Senator Gardner paused
on his way 10 the Senate to watch a
bunch OF boys playing on the Capitol
grounds
One little chap had Just muned a poo
fly that, II safely handled, would have
retired the other side. He had to stand
for many shouts OF derision and depre-
eating epithets, and was greatly casF
down.
Senator Gardner called him over to
him.
do you know" said the Senator. II
can remember, as II it were only last
week, a game l played in, at center
field. when l was about your age. and
how sore everybody got at me because
l kept muffing balls, always at the worst
possible time. In the last inning l came
to the bat with two runs against US and
knocked three-bagger that put US one
ahead. And all the boys that had been
making fun Of my fielding were the first
to hist me TO their shoulders and carry
me OF the field in a blaze Of glory. SO
' Ou can see now little sense theTe q De
in being cast down over a poor play, or
sEelled up over a good play. when peo-
pie are so quickly swayed by a streak
Of luck. If / were you l wouldn't care
a continental what they said about me.
You may lam out a home run the next
time up
And the boy seemed properly encour-
aged.
Senator Nixon dropped into Laramie.
wyo, late one night four or five years
ago, and was directed by a kiud-hearted
townsman TO the leading hotel
The assistant TO the proprietor, who
was acting as night clerk. took Nixon
to his room and flicked on the electric
light.
Now, 1 want to explain something to
you" said the man, in pleasant tone.
You see, this is modern hotel, and
YOU may not understand about this
lighting business. When you want your
room dark, you just turn this little thing
here. You can't blow that out. Same
way with this button over here. It's a
bell II you want me, just press that
You won't hear IL ring. but can hear
It downstairs
Sure is a modern hotel" remarked
Nixon. by the way, how long have
you been here?''
Going on to four years"
Well said Nixon. my advice 70
you would be to move to a larger field
You're wasting your time in this place
ICopyright, 49, By Pred O. Kelly, Al nghtl
rse1edl