South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-06-26
STA ESMEN
REAL AND NEAR
BY FRED c. KELLY.

A member of Pres. Wilson's fam
lily had occasion TO buy trunk not
long ago, and when itw as sent up
to the White House with the initials
neatly stenciled on one end some one
was reminded of the story of another
piece of baggage that was sent to the
White House in another democratic
administration.
The hero of this trunk story was
and is Clarence l. Cullen, who is best
known today as delightful writer
of short stories and who has had
about as many experience of some
one kind and another as any man
alive. Cullen first broke into fame
as the author of a book called Tales
of the EXTanks," a collection OF hard
luck stories, and most of the advent
ures in the book had befallen him
personally, tbs said Hhe probably
holds the worlds record for being
broke in more places in this coun-
try and all other countries than any
body, and he also is the undisputed
champion for having held more boy
Jobs and more different kinds Of boy
jobs-jobs with the emoluments rang
ing from 50 to $3.50 a week-than
any human now sentient and breath
ing.
One of these jobs that Cullen held
was in a Washington trunk store. He
was ten years old when he accepted
the position and was anxious TO
make good. His employer was
kind and patient man up TO the point
at which an employer must stop be-
ing that way, and he spent three days
teaching young Cullen how 10 stem
Gil initials or names on the sides or
trunks and suitcaSes.
On the morning of the fourth day
president of the United States en-
tered the store and bought himself a
| handsome and expensive Gladstone
bag. The president of the United
States directed that the initials "G.
/ c." should be stenciled on the bag.
after which it was to be delivered
| 10 the White House. This job of
stenciling fell TO Cullen.
! Now little Cullen approved of that
president He liked him. In fact
| he felt affectiOnate toward him He
thought that president was just about
all right. And the more he revolved
/ the thing in his mind the more he
/ became convinced that those mere
| initials &c. c." stenciled on the travel
ing bag of so distinguished and es-
| Unable a chief magistrate would
have a cold and unfeeling look. 1t
was needed, Cullen believed, was
something that would indicate tasty
and at a glance the real warmth of
the feeling of that trunk establish
ment toward the distinguished pur-
! chaser.
So with painstaking care he stem
ciled Grover on the big-just that
and nothing more, giving much the
/ same jaunty effect as the name
Elsie" painted on the bow of canoe.
/ The bag was sent them right up to
the White House without the prOprie-
tor Of the trunk store having a chance
70 look at the stenciling.
Obviously the bag came back Ac-
companying IL we're some written re-
marks-caustic remarks-signed Dan
/ iel Lamont. who at that time was
the Presidents secretary. There then
/ occurred a really remarkabl syn
/ chronizatiOn between the return of
/ the bag from the White House and
Cullen's departure from the trunk
shop The proprietor looked rather
confused and chagrined when he saw
the name on the bag. But this con-
fusion Ovid not cause any muscular
paralysis on his part, as young Cullen
rapidly found out.
Thus are good intentions miscon-
strued.
! Two men we're riding in the OBJ
! servation car Of a train between New
York and Philadelphia a while ago
and CHANGED 10 fall into conversation.
| They discussed the state of the Vege-
/ tation along the railroads right of
way and other topics and finally be-
/ came friendly enough TO inquire each
others names. One said his name
was Woodruff and that he hailed from
/ Michigan. The others name was
| Donovan. and his home was in Con-
necticut.
WHATS your line?" asked Dono-
van
"Oh. I'm a member of congress. -
/ replied Woodruff. And you-?"
I'm a member of congress, too"
| said Donovan.
Then each looked at the other for
a moment as If he thought he was
\ looking into the face of a goond Off
/ hand liar.
But each had told the truth. Both
are in congress. but each had been
so busy with his duties that he had
not taken time TO study the faces of
his mates
We'll. I'm glad 10 have met you, 4"
said Donovan, when they separated ;
If you ever get over on my side of
\ the house look me up"
I Senator Isaac Stephenson. Of Wis
consin, was eighty-five years old on
June IS. On the morning OF that day
he picked up a list OF food supplies
that the cooks at his big lumber COM
/ panys camps may draw on. The
list Included: Evaporated apples
spices, baking powder. fresh beef
corn beef. beets, crackers. cabbage