Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-04-01

that Office, and feel just as much out
side Of It at this moment as did be-
fore was elected to It. / feel just as
much outside Of 1t as / still feel out
side Of the government OF the United
States
mo man could imagine himself the
government Of the United States: but
he could understand that some part
OF his fellow citizens had told him TO
go ana run a certain part of II the best
he knew how.
That would not make him the gov
eminent itself or the thing itself. II
would just make him responsible for
running it the best he knew how.
Office so Great; Man So Small
THE machine is so much greater
than himself. the Office is so much
greater than himself; the Office is SO
much greater than he can ever be. and
the most he can do is TO look grave
enough and selfpossessed enough to
seem to fill IT,
Il can hardly refrain every now and
again from tipping the public the
wink. as much as to say, It is only
me that is inside this thing. / know
that / will have to get out presently.
lnow that then ! viii look just my
own proper size. and that for the time
being the proportions are somewhat
refracted and misrepresented to the
eye by the large thing | am inside Of.
from which ! am tipping you this
wink
For example, take matters of this
sort. will not say whether It is wise
or unwise; simple or grave. bat GER
tain precedents have been established
that in certain companies the presi-
dent must leave the room first and
people must give way to him. They
must not sit down II he is standing up.
Finds Customs Embarrassing.
1T is a very uncomfortable thing to
have to think of all the other people
every time / get up and sit down. and
all that sort OF thing. So when / get
guests In my own house and the pub
lie is shut out, / adjourn being pres
ident and take leave to be a gentle.
man. II they draw back and insist
upon my doing something first | firm
ly decline.
There are blessed intervals when
forget by one means or another that
am president Of the United States.
One means by which / forget is to get
a rattling good detective story. get
after some imaginary offender, and
chase him all over--preferably any
continent but this--because the vari.
Gus parts OF this continent are becom-
ing painfully suggestive to me.
The postofiices and many other
things which stir "reminiscences have
'sicklied them Ger with a pale cast
OF thought There are postofIices to
which wouldn't think of mailing a
letter. which | can't think of without
trembling with the knowledge of the
heartburnings of the struggle there
was in connection with getting some
body installed as postmaster.
Knows Little Of Capital Sights.
Nov. II l we're free, would come
not infrequently up TO these rooms.
You know never was In Washington
but very few hours until came last
year and never expect to see the
inside of the public buildings In Wash.
ington until my term is over.
The minute turn up anywhere,
am personally conducted to beat the
band. The curator, and the assistant
and every other blooming of.
fetal turns up, and they show me so
much attention that | don't see the
building. l would have to say, Stand
aside and lot me see what you are
showing me-.
Some day, after ! am through with
this office. ] am going to come back
to Washington and see IT, In the
meantime. ! am In the same category
as the National museum. the monu.
ment. the Smithsonian institution. or
the Congressional library. and every.
thing that comes down here has tc
be shown the president.
IF | only knew an exhibition ap
pearance to assume-apparent other
appearances that do not show what is
going on inside would like 10 have
1t pointed out, so that could practise
Il before the looking CLAUS and see Il
could not look like the monument.
Being regarded as national ex.
hibit, II would be much simpler than
being shaken hands with by the whole
United States.
Plain Citizen, His Ambition.
1T would be a great pleasure II, un.
served and unattended, could be
knocked arouna as have been accus.
toned TO be knocked around all my
life: II could resort to any delightful
quarter. to any place In Washington
that | chose have sometimes
thought of going to some costumer-
some theatrical costumer-and buying
an assortment of boards. rouge. color.
Ing, and all the known means OF dis.
guising myself. II 1t were not against
the law. You see. have scruple
as president against breaking the law
and Disgusting ones self is against
the law.
But il could disguise myself and
not get caught | would go out be a
free American citizen. once more. and
have jolly time might then meet
some Of you gentlemen and actually
tell you what | really thought"