The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1921-04-14
BY EDWARD q. CLARK

oy 6OWNHO b. CLARK.
Washington. Washington will miss
the Ma shalls the former vice-presl-
dent ana his wife.
One OF Ar. Marshalrs Quips which
is quoted constantly i'll Washington he
delivered himself Of in response To "a
question "rrning the duties OF the
Vice-prc l. He said:
The N,v-presldent Is like Il man
N cutnleptic hit. He knows every
ching that is going OH, but he can't
say word"
1t Is pleasant thing once in a
While to get away from partisan pol
itics and from all partisan endeavor,
and TO say something about the purely
personal side OF u man with whom
you may not agree entirely in Il marty
way. but with whom you entirely agree
In human way. So once again let
II be said Marshall will be missed.
No other vice-president, not even
Roosevelt during the time of his in
culnbency OF that office prior TO the
death OF Mckinley, has b l so In de-
nand rs All after-dnner peaker as
Thomas Riley Marshall. Some men
here say that he Is the best ofter-din-
ne. speaker In the United States. Be
this as it may once more than in
tiunted to Mr.. Marshall when | met
him at one of his own semi-oiticiul re-
ceptionS THAI having heard him speak
utter dinner "a Il dOHrn diIfer"nI oc-
customs. thought he was about tha
best ever ms what they call post
prundiUi' orator.
SIR. Marshall grinned, He said, "My
wife tells me that II l talk for five
minutes l am all right. but that If
talk for ten 1 am lost"
Mrs. Marshali's judgment in this case,
If She ever rendered it-for her hus.
band is a good deal of u Quizzer-ls
not accurate, as anybody who has ever
heard Marshall at his after dinner best
can testify. When he speaks and
shows symptoms OF thinking he has
said enough, the guests almost in
variably call for more, which is fairly
good proof that he can 20 beyond ten
minutes without running up against
any Snag OF opposition.
Has Spirit Of the Poet,
Marshall of Indiana has something
OF the poet in him. At Grldiron
dinner one night he told a little story
which better than anything else per-
haps shows the INNER, gentle and ap-
preciative nature OF the man. He said
that when he was governor Of Indiana
he stood one day In March looking
out of the state house window. 1t was
the first day when there were any
symptoms OF spring visible, He heard
bluebirds warhling note, and heard
woodpeckeT tapping, He said that he
drank i'll the sounds and loved them,
but Oh his calling another state Off
cial to the windoy to enjoy the blue
bird and the woodpeclBer with him, the
official turned away and said, "Oh, we
have plenty Of bluebirds and wood
peckerS; what's the use OF making a
fuss about them7"
Marshall said that he has never
liked that man since. The understand
Ing Is that the bluebird singing and
the wOOdpecker tapping as related by
Tom Marshall to Il HOosier poet gave
the inspiration for well-known poem.
John J.. Martin managed to secure
an interview with Mr.. Marshall for
the Evening Star OF this city few
days ago. Mr.. Marshall added some
thing to what no previously had said
concerning the Office of the vlce-pres-
dent, but he took care to let IL be
known In manner as we'll as In form
OF speech that he by no means in
tended to belttle the second Office OF
government.
His View OF the Office.
He said, The peculiar position OF
the ylce-president seems TO me to make
him the official diner-Out Of the adj
mlnistratiOn He is to an administra-
tiOn what charming and vivacious
wife Is to an ambitious husband. II
he Will beam and smile, manifest good
hUmor end accept all the Invitations
that he can to dinner parties, he cnn
at leust have the satisfaction Of know
Ing that II ne has been Of no use to
his party, hG has not been a stumbling
block in the path Of It's progress"
The foreign ambassadors and min
iSters on duty I'm Washington always
have made much Of the Mnrshalls. The
President OF the United States. BY
virtue OF his office and his manifold
Duties, rarely can dine out Mr.. and
Mrs. Marshall have given n number Of
s"mipUblic receptions on their own
account. The ambassadors almost all
ways attended them. because they
liked the receptions, and they Ike the
Mnrshclls. There always has been q
democratic spirit at these vice .prrSL
Dental affairs. The wonder Is if there
Is anything wrong in saying that or
dlnarily at these receptions Mr. Mar
shall ms worn n sack coat, Il bust
ness cont in other words, unless OF