South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-03-12
STATESMEN
REAL AND NEAR
BY FRED C. KELLY.

BlNld-d DOllSn laced illlie man WITH
short gray hair and a slight stoop-
was the judge who presided at the
trial OF young Henry Clay Beatty,
charged with numbering his wife.
case that attracted nationwide atten-
ton two or three years ago.
But that is only one Of a number OF
things that make Congressman Wat
son noteworthy.
To start with, he was for years
from early boyhood clear into mature
manhoOd-the foremost practical
joker OF Nottoway county. Virginia.
Inventiveness at practical jokes was
a gift he had inherited from his faith
er. who had been the leading joker in
his company when he served in the
army. But with the father the gift
had been only rudimentary whereas
the son had taken il and developed il
TO high degree Of perfection.
Young Watson's specially was play
ing ghost. He used TO Turk about the
country graveyards and silently step
forth at the edge Of the highway to
startle the unwary traveller.
There was a young man Whereabouts
who used TO ride horse back 10 the
home OF one of the bellies of the coun-
sryside. Wheu il was reported that
the two were about 10 be married,
| Watson felt that he ought to test
the young mans mettle and ascertain
if he were a sturdy enough spirit to
take up the responsibilities of the
welded state.
He got. a sheet that he kept in his
room for such purposes and waited in
the silent cemetery until the young
man came lightheartedly riding along.
Not a word was spoken, but when
the rider saw the white figure ap
preaching. his one thought seemed 10
be to get somewhere else. He whip
ped up his horse, and what made II
all the funnier TO Watson was the
as he got farther away, indicating
that the victim was becoming more
frightened all the while.
That was more than 80 years ago.
and neither Watson nor the other
man ever spoke Of the joke. About
two weeks ago the man dropped into
Washington. He and Watson had a
( long conversation and Watson had it
on his tongues end several times to
speak about the little prank. But he
didn't.
One of the best jokes Watson ever
played was a fake duel. There was
an old eX-COnfederate army officer
down that way, who was commonly
I believed to possess much less bravery
than he claimed for himself Watson
got him to be his second in a duel.
When the duel took place. the guns
were loaded with blank cartridges
and Watson shot and killed-as it ap-
peared-his opponent. Whereupon
the dead duelist's second took after
Watson's second with a gun and
chased him DER hill and dale for two
or three miles. And it was generally
! regarded as thoroughly comic sit
/ uation.
Watson might still be a leading
+ practical Joker except for one thing
\ He narrowly escaped being killed one
/ night, shortly after he began practic-
/ ing law, right in the midst of highly
amusing prank. and that led him TO
abandon his hobby forever and ever.
In accordance with his custom. he
! grabbed up a sheet one night and set
/ out in search of recreation. Some play
/ cards for amusement, others play
\ lawn tennis; Watson played ghost.
A lone traveller came along the road
1 past the cemetery where Watson sat
/ patiently awaiting victim. This
\ traveller CHANGED TO be carrying a re-
volver. Watson believed he was in
no danger of being shot, because of
/ the following reasons:
(a) The man probably did not
1 have any revolver. CD If he did
use it. (c) If he was not too scared
/ to shoot he would at least know the
/ futility of trying TO shoot a spirit.
But somehow Watson's hyDothe~
/ failed to make good. The joke vic
4 tim not only had a revolver, but it
was loaded and he shot it.
Watson heard a bullet go zing-g,
1.
/ effort TO maintain ghost-like dignity
and ran to shelter himself behind a
tombstone.
And he gave up ghosting from that
/ day on,
When Senator Elihu Root was a
4 young man he was a great crony of
the late Charles A. Dana. One win
! ter they had a little time hanging on
their hands and desired TO do some
/ thing a bit skittish. So what do you
suppose?
They set 10 work and studied the
| Icelandic language.
Their theory was that if they should
ever make a stay in Iceland it might
be extremely embarrassing 10 drop in
I TO a shop or a hotel and be unable 10
make their wants known.
Root can speak snatches of Ice
landic even yet.
Uncle Henry Barnhart, member of
/ congress from Indiana, stood beaming
on the gay scene at a big formal
white house reception a little while
ago.
Some party isn't ito" somebody
suggested.
Yes. it's a nice affair" admitted
/ Uncle Henry. but after all it's a good
deal like we have out in Rochester.
/ Ind. and points therea bouts The
main difference is that this is a re-
\ ception and we call 'em 'sOciables' "
/ Copyright. 1914. by Fred c. Kelly.
All rights reserved.)