The Washington herald., 1917-01-28
Roundabout the Capitol
By THE TATTLER.

Representative Schall, serving his first
term in the House from Minnesota, is
bind and has been for nearly ten
years. During this time he says he
has discovered that the seeing world
has strange ideas of the limitations of
the blind; that 1t seems to think be-
cause a man can't see he can neither
hear nor feel and is a strange. detach-
ed piece of human mechanism that is
not to be reckoned with directly but
through the master hand.
Not long ago Mr.. Schall returned
from his home in Minneapolis to Wash
ington. accompanied only by his g.
year-old son, Douglas. The first morn
ing that they appeared in the diner
the waiter assigned to their table in
quired of young Douglas: Son, what
does your Daddy want?'
why, ask him." quickly answered
the child. He knows what he wants.
AS for me. bring me pancakes and
sausage and chocolate"
The Representatives. wife, whose
eyes are sufficiently bright and active
enough for the whole family. is her
husbands constant guide and COM
panion. She, too. is hard put to It at
times to protect him from things
worse than public traffic. The other
night they stood in the receiving line
the guests present remarked audibly
to Mrs. Schall: Il can't believe your
husbands blind; why, he's looking
right at mer
Yes, madam, he is blind" replied Mrs
| Schall, but he isn't deaf"
| And once in the Congressman's home
town. where he has a law office. a client
of his partner was announced. The part
ner had gone out for an hour or so, and
CNIn H. 81
see II he couldn't help him. A tangled
criminal case was presented. with al
sorts Of proposed nefarious schemings
but after a little third-degree questioning
the bottom was reached and sound lega
advice given.
AS the client passed out through the
outer Office, he met the law partner Of
Mr.. Schall coming in. Who's that fel.
low back there who's been giving m,
such good advice?" he inquired.
That's Tom Schall," replied his part
ner.
! The blind Tom Schall?" cried the
client. why. what do you take me for
That's no blind man back there; he look
ed hole through me and then pulled the
inside out!"
Congressman Sumner, of Texas. vas
| taking a party of constituents through
| INC OF NOHSItsS. f1e was eX
| patiating on the satiny texture of the
marble stairway and pillars; explaining
the symbolic meaning of the variou.
| paintings. and otherwise showing of for
the benefit of the visitors. As he warmed
up to his subject, he noticed that q
strange man attached himself to the
party and refused to be separated, taking
as q matter Of course all the knowledge
that the Representative was dispensing
When the beauties of the magnificent
building had been exhausted and tn,
party was preparing to pass out Of the
| big bronze doors, the stranger came Ut
to Mr. Sumner and, placing in his hand
! a twenty-five cent piece, walked uncon'
/ cernedly down the steps and into the
"rubber-neck" sightseer waiting at the
| curb.
The supposed "hawker" stared at the
quarter for a moment, and then with g
laugh flung 1t with unfailing aim into
the rubberneck wagon. 1t fell at the
feet of the stranger, who. picking it up,
promptly returned it to his pocket
That's the trouble with these Wash
ington guys" he said unto himself
they're never satisfied with the tip.