Evening journal., 1913-07-14
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Amusing Popularity Of
Two Distinguished Persons
BY ROLAND

When General Chester A. Arthur
went to Washington in March 1881,
TO begin service rs Vice-Presideit of
the United States he took rooms in
a lodging house in Fourteenth street.
block east Of the treasury depart
ment, and had for fellow lodger in
that house his intimate personal
friend Roscoe Conkling, then repre-
senting in part the New York State.
in the Federal Senate.
II was the Vice Presidents and tho
Senator's custom TO 90 jim company
from their lodgings TO the then IA
NOUS restaurant. no longer in CXi t-
once. established by the late John
Chamberlain. for breakfast. II was
observed by those who saw the Vice
President and the Senator on their
way 10 and from their breakfast that
one of them was accustomed TO walk
very close 70 the curb and the other
more than arms length away.
Somebody spoke 70 General Arthur
about this and he said laughingly.
"COnkling has ono peculiar idiOsyn-
cracy. He acknowledges it aud Gays
that he can't explain A. He hates 10
have any one brush up against him
or touch him. No ono could walk
with him side by side with elbows
touching. for Conkling would not per-
nit Il. He would certainly edge
away That is as true Of an intimate
friend as would beethe case were his
companion the mercst acquaintance
| would no sooner think of taking
Roscoe Conkling'c arm Nhan of en-
bracing tree. | have seen him edge
away many times from those who
came In close personal contact with
him All Of his friends know of this
pecularity and they govern them
selves accordingly"
A few years ago. when Goperal
Arthur was President and Roscoe
Conklne no longer a member Of the
Senate. called the attention Of
Charles A. Dana 10 the Fourteenth
street house as we We're driving by
saying that the house had been the
Washington house Of General Arthur
when he was Vice President. and of
Senator Conkling in the last years
Of his service I'm the Senate. Thcn !
told Mr. Dana what General Arthur
had said OF Conklings peculiar an
tipathy
Mr. Dana smiled and said That
reminds me OF something which used
TO amusc Edwin NJ Stanton when
he was secretary Of war
As Mr. Dana was assistant secre
tary OF war under stanton 7 was cor
tain that The incident he was- about
to relate had come under his per
sonal knowledge
stanton WIS so tremendously alb
sorhed in his responsibilities as score
tray Of war that he rarely permitted
himself 10 see the humorous side
Of life. 4 don't know that ! ever saw
him smile more than once or twice
But II used To tickle him immensely
10 see the secretary of the navy.
Gideon Welles. and General HaileCk
who was you know. Feneral-in chief
Of the United States army from 1867
10 1864. when they were I'm conference
"Halleok was an admirable soldier.
hut Of someW hat sluggish tcmpcrR
ment He usually carried q cigar.
often half smoked There was som"
thing about Halleck that went against
the grain of the secretary Of the navy.
and yet whenever their duties brought
them together Halleck inevitably
brushed up against Welles usually
with cigar between his fingers. no
having the slightest idea that he wa
annoying him
"Welles would draw off and then
Hallsck would approach him again
and rub elbows. II afforded Secre-
tary stanton intense amusement Tho
expression of annoyance which invari-
ably came TO Secrtary Wello face.
and OF which General Hallock WAS
unconscious. and the funny way
which Wclles had of brushing his
own coat sleeve after he had with
draw from Halleck. never failed 10
amuse Stanton. One day he came in
to tho war Office laughing and said
Haleck has been brushing elbows
against Welles and Wellcs has been
brushing the imperoeptihlc dust off %
Copyright 1913 by V. y. Edwards
All rights reservedl.
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell
! How tho Airbrake First Came Into