Omaha daily bee., 1915-01-24
.Ou,e, Ra~11auA
om.d 9Nt1ustauS-s
~ vI0roR RosEwArBR.

4 FIND that this personal column OF mine is being
read more widely than anticipated. IL the number
OF those who in conversation with me make reference
to II ask questions about something / have said
affords any fair test n is natural that such mani
festaton Of interest tempts to keep at IT, but IL
overtax patience. / trust my friends will let me
know call a halt.
Specially to tho point have been several reminders
from out OF town While perhaps not intended for
publication, take the liberty Of printing letter just
received from Major f. c. Hardy, Tor many years
associated with my father as his chief editorial writer
and now spending his advanced years in retirement
In Chicago. This is what Major Hardy writes:
II want 10 tell you Of the great qualification
derived from reading. in your Views Reviews and
Interviews, the extract from your fathers diary
relative TO the unveling OF the Perry monument in
Cleveland September 10. 1850. l was there. Had
Just started a reporter on the Leader and OF
course was active and keen observer Of what
was going Some Of this the quotation from
the diary brings wildly to memory. II was some
what inclement day, l recall, rather gloomy and
chilly but this did not interfere In the least with
the popular enjoyment Of the historic occasion, as
graphically related by your father. l particularly
remember Governor Sprague OF Rhode Island and
the fine military company he brought with him.
accompanied by the then famous Dodsworth band
Of New York Sprague-a small mar physically
but reputed very wealthy, in fact he was-and
his encourage attracted more attention than any
other feature I'm the celebration. II I am not mis-
taken II this occasion that sprague first
met Kate Chase. tho handsome and brilliant
daughter of the distinguished statesman. Salmon
p. Chase. She became Mrs. Sprague and their
domestic life marTed by troubles that led 70
estrangement. The mock battle Lake Erie
briefly referred TO by your father, somewhat
of a farce. but the people enjoyed It, 1t was in
deed great occasion for Cleveland and IL Is easy
to understand that It made strong impression
UPON young Edward Rosewater. indicated by
his extended reference 20 II IN his diary.
well. feel that must tell you of the pleasure
the reading OF the extract gave and trust
have not bored you in doing The recalling OF
long past events in which one shared affords
qualification which in later years you will APP
preciate more than you at present"
Speaking of Major Hardy. or "Old Man Hardy -
used to call him. this letter is in the same
beautiful copperplate handwriting that distinguished
his copy when he first started to turn It in on The
Bee nearly thirty years ago, and as have doubt
II was before that when he furnished copy for the
Cleveland newspapers In my day have handled
all sorts OF manuscript but have never known n
man who could write evenly and regularly as
Major Hardy I could tell to exact precision just
how many words article of his contained by sim
ply counting the pages. l have never come in con-
tact with any one else Of whom could say the
This "anti-tipping bill introduced at Lincoln by
some thrifty rural lawmaker recalls little experience
1 had last winter while travelling with Mrs Rose
water In tho south We stopped at Gulfport,
Miss and soon made the discovery through pacards
in the hotel room. and inscriptions on the menu
cards, that anttpping law graces the OF
Mississippi threatening $50 fine upon who gives
offers soiicits receives tip for performing any
service about hotel other public place. We had
arrived late In the evening and having had a real
dinner at ordered very light supper for which
the bill footed exactly 81
Now. I'll whether this anti-tipping law is alive
or dead" exclaimed handed the waiter a IS
note. '1f he brings my money In dollars it will
tip. but II he returns It in small change It
will be an insidious invitation"
The colored waiter back in a moment with a
tray full OF nickes, dimes and quarlers,
wha h,,1 - ana n
should forget TO carry off some OF these coins"
And the smile that lit up the senegambian face was
all the reinsurance needed
You guessed right" remarked Mrs. Rosewater
later,
But on a par with Mississippi's antl-tippng law is
Nebraska law prohibiting the sale 81 cigarettes
II there serious attempt anywhere TO
force that law, have heard OF It. When Sec
rotary OF War Garrison was here about year ago
the reception committee and were com
ing out OF of the big office buildngs-not The
budlng-to us who were serving asl his escort
seemed suddenly to disappear. back and found
the secretary In front of cigar stand.
I'VE feared We had lost you. Mr.. Secretary"
oh said he, IT just wanted package OF cigar
cites and seeing this place just dropped back to buy
them"
"wen. then" 1 remarked, jokngly. you have
helped break one OF Nebraskas most solemn laws
"How's thatT' duizzealy.
why" answered. "our lawmakers have strictly
child in the state OF Nebraska"
THAT explains IT," was his retort; 81 thought the
girl looked at me rather critically when called for
cigarettes but she reached out the package without
asking any questions"
That Is just shining example Of the results OF
freak legislation. am wondering whether our law
makers will this time courage and conscience
enough to repeal fake anti-cgarette law that only
breeds law defiance
The recall OF young Mr.. Outright from mis- consular
post for foolishly writing letter recalls story
inforcing the moral This story, heard II, goes
back 20 the good old days when Church Howe and
Tom Majors fighting out their political feud
in Nemaha county. and compromising letter
which tom had written had been turned up. on
which Church" expatating before a school house
audience
Never write a letter" exclaimed Major Howe.
why. I'd rather travel thousand miles than write
a letter"
That's right Church" a voice from a far
corner ut costs two cents 20 write letter and you
travel on a pass"
II