The Washington herald., 1912-03-13
STATESMEN REAL AND NEAR.
BY FRED C. KELLY

So far as can be learned at the hour
OF this writing. after an assiduous in
vestigation. Robert E. Lee IL the only
man who ever rollerskated his way into
Congress
Lee strapped on a pair OF skates and
was translated from schuyIkfl County.
gress. thereby making all previous long
distance roller skating records seem as
inconspicuous as a third assistant book
keeper
A night or two before the last Con-
gressional election, Lee was billed to
speak at a carnival in a small town that
had long been a Republican stronghold.
As Lee is a Democrat. his friends told
him II wasn't much use to waste time
there. and he wist well that they were
right. but he went anyhow.
The meeting was held in the skating
rink. Up walked the leading practical
joker of the community and asked Lee
IL he wouldn't like TO try roller skating
once. Lee said he guessed not. but the
Joker was insistent and finally Lee, by
way OF making himself agreeable. began
to strap the things on.
Then Lees friends became actually
alarmed.
you'll go out there and fracture
shoulder or hip" they exclaimed. land
lose what little time you have left to
finish up campaign. Aw. demmytaIl, you
shouldn't have come here in the nrst
place.
but everybody else is skating. and
don't feel like refusing" replied Lee, as
he frightened a strap over his instep.
The practical joker and two or three
friends. with hands over their mouths
10 keep from laughing. tipped OF the
crowd that there was going to be some
fun.
Lee glided out upon the polished floor
Of the arena and opened his part Of the
entertainment by making an imaginary
outline OF a turtle dove in its nest with
out lifting his feet from the floor or COM
ing up for air. Then he made a few
parsbolas, corkscrews. and festoons, and
tendrils. and scallops. and wreaths, and
he gertiehonmanned over the whole
length and breadth of the rink without
once losing his balance Everybody look
ed on with mouths ajar.
When he had thus added a chapter
to fancy roller skating history, Lee
paused in the middle of the floor and
said:
when / was the champion fast and
fancy skater Of the county some years
ago, l was offered a large sum Of money
one night TO lie down and let the cham
pion OF New York State win over me
e. -. - 4
didn't do 1t, and some of you may re-
member how badly I beat him. For
years / represented you In roller skating
contests, and l represented you fairly
and souarly. Now I'm running for Con-
gress. and I'll represent you Just as
squarely in the halls OF Congress as a
legislator as 1 represented you on roller
skates"
It was a simple address, without flights
OF eIoquence or polished periods. but It
got Lee all but a mere handful OF the
300 or more Republican votes in the COM
and as his total plurality was
only 81 IL should be fairly obvious tn
one and all what would have happened
except for that chance exhibition Of fancy
work on roller skates
Lee started out as a blacksmith, or
rather he started out as a printer at the
age Of nine, and then worked up 20 black
smithinE. Tho foreman Of the shop
looked him over when he applied for
work.
"I'u give you a trial" the foreman
said. but I'll tell you this: You're too
slow in your movements 10 learn this
trade. You wouldn't be a good black
smith in a thousand years"
Lee started on his three-year appren-
ticeship, and at the end Of a year and
eight months was made boss of the
shop over the man who had hired him
while making the discouraging prophecy
on his future at the trade.
This blacksmith Congressman has been
4 champion in almost every known line
II athletic endeavor. Even now he can
skate a mile backward on ice in four min |
Ites He has a black name and ply |
.ique like a white hope. or the man in |
an advertisement OF a physical-culture |
ievice, and the muscles of his brawny |
srms are as solid as an old-fashioned |
ron dog.
Some years ago. Lee gave up black
imithing to start a grocery. and he so
,arefulIy refrained from weighing his
humb, or caressing an order on the !
'cale with his massive hand that people
rave dealt with him in great numbers
md he has grown rich.
As IL his record would otherwise be too
Representative Lee. when
hree years old. was picked up by detec-
ives for the lost Charlie Ross, and held
xyECT DN(H