Putnam patriot., 1913-04-18

EDITOR PATRIOT. ou hho" it iS the custom Of a class Of men when travelling by train long distances to promise themselves at the start 10 avoid conversation with strangers, and at the end oi the journey mention il as the correct thing to do.
 Let me give you my experience en route to Washington last week. l had secured reservation in the Federal ex- press-a lower berth-boarding the train at New London. A, young man passenger from Boston occupied seat in my apartment destined to use up per berth over mine.
 [ remembered the "custom" and stood him off for nearly an hour. He was bright appearing, well balanced young man Of early 40, and good pros pect from collar to hose. At last he broke the spell by suggesting we might retire when 1 admitted l was in no haste to do so. The ice broken we got on well, especially after we provided ourselves with the Joe Cannon decora- ton.
 It soon came out that my compan- ion was a Harvard graduate, repre- senting New York and Boston, most of his time in the South for his broker. age firm, dealers in cotton. Then 1t proved that he was the old friend Brooks who had travelled through this .sGa 4aA D ieson Brooks was 10 go ion to Balti- more, but as he could not leave till three o'clock 1t gave nearly five hours. He had friend and classmate at the Smithsonian Institute whom he de- sired to meet, when | said l would like to visit the Institute, and IL was so. We went together. When we found his friend he was assistant eu- rator of the United States National Museum, MT. Austin Clark, and while we protested that we had little time, Il was with difficulty we left, it was so interesting. It would be a long story to mention half we saw, but must mention in passing through the huge new building we came to a door marked "Closed.h MT. Clark said this has the groups of ex.President Roose. welt, and Is not open to the public, but can pass you and did. | may only say, all animals to be set up must first have form over which the skins are drawn, and consequently it is long cautious and especially particular pro. cess to complete the mounting. asked MT. Clark if they prized Roose- veltis collections, and he seemed very enthusiastic regarding them. l could have seen practically all of the coIlee- lions If l could have remained for month of continual seeing. 1 advise every one interested in such things and with the .time to spare, when in Washington to make sure of visit all from speaking with at first sight stranger.
 At the banquet of the Navy League of the United States given at the New Willard hotel, in Washington, D. C., April llth, the guest of honor was the Hon Joseph Daniels, Secretary of the Navy. The following were the speak CTS.
 General Horace Porter, President of the League, presiding
 Colonel Robert M Thompson, toast master.
 aThe President,n Vice President Thomas R. Marshall.
 "Greetings to China"
 "Fhe Navy lion. Josephus Dan- iels, Secretary Of the Navy.
 ',rhe Fleet, Rear Admiral Bradley A. fiske, U. s. \.
 sGommerce, Hon. William C. Red field.
 "The House of Representatives, !" Hon. John J Fitzgerald
 .sThe Outlook for Merchant Ma rine, Hon Joshua Alexander.
 The vice president spoke very pleas antly but firmly in the interest Of the President of the United States, refer ring to him as the foremost citizen and the real leader of his party.
 General Horace Porter, president of
 
 France, who was instrumental in transferring the body of Paul Jones from France to this country, is proba- hly the best after dinner speaker we have. He certainly kept the 800 aI the dinner in constant laughter. In way the speakers and the speaking was along the new administration lines.
 When the hour of twelve was near the Secretary of State was seen among group of his immediate friends. The secretary Of the league invited Mir. Bryan 10 join the speakers, and when called upon as the last speaker, after sent from China at the close of their second year as republic. In his buei address he said, ,"Nhiie you work hard for more battleships, shall work hard for the next four years 10 keep you from needing more battleships. 1 am sure his own family could not have been happier than when | heard thsl my friend Daniels was to be member Of the Presidents cabinet. l am ready to indorse in advance anything he may advocate, but may take some of the endorsement back if he should happen to want too many battleshiIs.n
 The Marine Band enlivened the evening with program of ten selec. tions. C. A. HAMMOND.