South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-03-08
Statesmen Real
and Near.
BY Fred c. Kelly

WASHINGTON, March s.-Just by
way of showing what strange things
can happen, we cite here the unfor-
tunate case of Bill Brigham, Wash
ington correspondent for the Boston
Transcript. Brigham invested one
dollar while ago in an alarm clock.
BY means of that clock he has
estranged himself from a number of
lifelong friends.
Brigham bought the clock in con-
sequence of an ambition 10 get up
each morning at $50 The first thing
he did after he got the clock home
was TO set the alarm for 1880. In
his eagerness to get the clock ready
for action he overlooked the fact that
1880 occures in the evening as we'll as
in the early morning. Promptly at
1870 that evening the clock began TO
ring. Instead Of being annoyed at
the sound. Brigham was rather pleas
ed for the bell had a distinct, matter
of-fact tone that he was sure would
get him out Of bed at 1880 in the
morning. He went and rewOund the
alarm. and returned to his evening
papers. But in a few minutes the
alarm sounded again. Bill went and
looked at the clock. It was still set
for go and the hour was 7:45. 1t
seemed altogether illogical that the
clock should have rung. IN five min
utes the bell again sounded its merry
lay. The thing was uncanny. Every
time Brigham went near the clock it
was quiet enough, but when he turn
ed his back ii was likely TO ring.
This sc-t Of thing went on for two
or three evenings and the mystery
grew. Even when the clock was not
wound at all, something would make
it ring.
one morning, while walking along
wondering what made the click act so
funny. Brigham passed an old friend
who nodded coldly
What's the natter" asked Brig
ham. "Whatter you acting so sour
abOut?'
"Oh, nothing" said the friend, with
dignity. 4 don't like to force myself
on people \ few nights ago my wife
and 1 went TO your house 10 call, and
you were at home, because we could
see you through the window We also
could hear the dOOrbell ring when we
pressed the button. But you made no
move to come and let US in. Instead.
you fastened to another part of the
house Now, my wife and 1 resent
that kind Of hospitality"
In the course OF the dav Brigham
met another friend who had suffered
a similar indignity
II seems lndl the alarm CLOCK DELL
and the dOorbell had precicsely the
same tone
In the days when BY Newton, as
sistant secretary of the treasury, was
aviation editor OF the New York Her
aid. he came 10 have a great venera-
tion for the Wright brothers. He liked
the Wrights personally and they were
fond of him. It was Newton who
got the Wrights 70 agree never 10
fly at the same time. so that If any
thing happened 20 their machine
there would be one Of the inventors
left
Newton was so enthusiastic over
his friends the Wrights that he used
10 say TO himself:
I'D give almost anything I possess
if I could just go 10 the Wrights'
town of Dayton, O., get q big assem-
hlage of people together and stand
up before them 10 tell them what I
think of the Wright brothers"
The dream came true. a while ago.
in the regular routine Of his present
job. Newton went TO Dayton 10 make
a sneech dedicating the new postoffice
I huildins. \ large assem- blage OF peO-
pie we're present, including Orville
Wright and his sister. and Newton
made a speech not about the new post
Office. BUT about The work 80 me
! Wright brothers