The Washington herald., 1913-12-19
Statesmen, Real and Near.
By FRED c. KELLY.

With Ragsdale hospitality is not only
q trait, but q mania. He dislikes to see
the sun set on day that has not seen
him buy some person or group OF per-
sons a costly meal II the meal was fol-
lowed by box party at some good thea
ter, then Ragsdale feels that the day
perhaps was not spent in vain.
Do not get the impression, either, that
Ragsdales generosity Is limited only to
a few intimate friends. He has conse-
Grated his life to making himself agree
able, and II matters not to him whether
he spends his money on associate or
stranger. Other statesmen may pass in
come tax and tariff measures to try to
equalize the lot of suffering humanity.
Ragsdale gets right at the heart OF the
trouble by less roundabout means. His
instruments Of relief are his check-book,
his knowledge Of Where to Dine Well,
and his large, high-prieed touring car,
BY these simple and practical means
Ragsdale confidently expects to brighten
the horizon for countless scores Of people,
from the humbIest Cabinet officer down
and up.
The average person on being intro
duced TO a stranger says:
Pleased to meet you. Pleasant wealth
er we're having" or some such bleak
generality as that.
Ragsdale has q different formula.
When he is introduced his opening re-
marks are something like this:
Happy to make your acquaintance and
may l not have the pleasure OF your
company at dinner tonight. After dinner
We might go TO the theater. The dinner
will be just q simple little anair Of
nine courses, so wear what you have
on"
You can judge for yourself IL Rags
dales system doesn't have more of q
tendency to place ample mortar between
the bricks OF the foundation of further
acquaintance There is absolutely moth
ing at all OF the crab or the recluse in
the mans makeup.
And the beauty OF It is that Ragsdale
doesn't stop to fnd out your Bradstrset
rating, ancestry, or political Affiliations.
The only qualification necessary is that
one look like reasonably good company.
Aside from all the good cheer Rags
dale is spreading among statesmen whose
lives heretofore were nothing. compare
lively speaking. but woe and desolation.
the man Is also going to smash the in
door and outdoor records formerly held
by former Representative Mckinley. the
multImtllionaire electric railway magnate
from Illinois. who used TO be regarded
as the greatest entertainer ever in
Congress.
Mckinley was known as the human
Christmas tree, But he confined his oper-
ations largely TO persons he knew. and
his generosities were tightwadIsh cru
dities compared with Ragsdale's. II Nc
Kinley was the human Christmas tree.
it Is not too much to hope that Rags
dale will gain recognition as the human
Horn of Plenty.
Next to the thought OF some congenial
group of people going hungry. nothing
will arouse Ragsdale to action quicker
than the sight of a Cabinet officer pro-
ceeding along the street afoot instead OF
in an automobile. His large, luxuriantly
equipped touring car is always at the
disposal of the Cabinet member who de-
sires to go from one place to another.
Just the other day, Ragsdale was driv-
ing down Pennsylvania avenue in his
big car carrying a cargo OF persons he
was about to buy a meal at one OF the
most expensive hotels in town. As the
party alighted, Ragsdale CHANGED to look
down street and noticed the figure of
Secretary Wilson, OF the Department of
Labor, going quietly on his way from
Some Place to Some Place Else. It was
too much for Rsgsdale.
Men," he said to his dinner party,
you wait right here a minute and III
be back. cannot. simply cannot, stand
by and see Cabinet officer wax"
So he bade his chauffeur dash down
the avenue and overtake Wilson.
Step right in here" ssaid Ragsdale to
Wilson, as he got out and motioned to a
seat in the richly appointed car. My
chauffeur will take you wherever you
wish to CO."
Now Wilson always walks because he
likes to walk. and Graves the exercise
There is nothing he cares less about
than riding in an automobile, but the
spontaneous hospitality OF this we'll
dressed. well-favored stranger was 50
captivating that he did not have the
heart to refuse.
Whenever a Cabinet officer wishes TO
take walk he will simply have TO KEEP
to the side streets or else keep weather
eye out for Ragsdale.
One afternoon Ragsdale sat in his
ONCE with a friend from South Carolina
wondering what he could do to add TO
the pleasure of the friends first visit to
the National Capital He went to the
telephone, called a certain number, and
asked Champ Clark when he might be
going home. Champ was starting In
about q minute.
'Tn send my car over for you." said
Ragsdale.
Champ has always declined to ride In
the car provided for the Speaker or the
House by a previous Congress, but he
could not refuse the kindness OF the
magnanimous and thoroughly charming
Ragsdale.
I'm sending friend out in my car"
said Ragsdale to the man from home.
you better go along for the ride"
The man went and had denghtful
conversation en- route with the big man
In the slouch hat.
When he returned to Ragsdale's once, |
he inquired:
Who was the pleasant old chap rode
cut within
"oh. friend Of mine-Champ Clark"
Ragsdale is said to have said, with q
yawn-
Good heavens" exclaimed the startled
friend. And he's talking about II yet
tCopyTisht. nI. b. Fred O Kelly. An nshn 70
VERMONT NEARING PORT.