The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-07-24


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CAPT. J. WALTER MITCHELL.
standing advertisement in the Repub-
lican.
While we were conversing his as
sistants were arranging large tub
with cracked ice and several varie-
ties of bottled JOY.
SEEKING a white coat that was
hanging on the wall. l said:
IN wear this coat and white
cap and go In as your assistant In
charge of the booze department"
Travels With Tub.
The little Frenchman consented
and hanging my own coat and hat
on a peg in his establishment, /
donned the habiliments, of a caterers
assistant, and Selling one handle of
the tub / assisted him to load it into
his wagon. We made a quick trip
to the Waite house an dthe tub was
deposited in the rear basement at the
foot of the stairs leading one flight
to the banquet room. In terse broken
English I was instructed to take
charge of the liquor department. My
duty was to stand over the tub filled
with cracked ice and various brands
Of drinkables and look wise
could hear the justices upstairs
az they catered the banquet room,
and all set for the "feast OF reason,
flow Of soul" and other things
Head Waiter Mellow"
While standing at attention over
the LIQUID refreshments 1 cultivated
the acquaintance of the head waiter
and he sympathfxed with my ambi-
tons as a law student. treated him
several times to Cognac and he mel
lowed" up and promised to give me
the chance I desired to hear and
see the big judges.
After the last course had been served
the head waiter beckoped from the
head of the stairs for me to come up.
I mounted the steps two at a time
and, standing just inside the door of
the banquet room, witnessed picture
will never forget. The erstwhfie dig
nifiod justices forgot for the nonce
of the greatest courts in the world and
time turned back in its flight They
were boys against just for the night"
Lord Chief Justice Coleridge was
relating q funny story as entered
the room / realized II would be fatal
to draw forth any copy paper, 50,
using the stump of lead pencil,
stuck my hand in the front of my
white coat and made notes on the
starched front of my white shirt
After exhausting all the space on the
shirt bosom / utilized my cuffs as
copy paper.
Chief Justice White, after laughing
heartily at Lord Coleridge's story,
came back with another.
II was nearing / o'clock a m. when
the Justices adjourned to the smoking
room to discuss more serious subjects,
perhaps. / was anxious to be on my
way back to the editorial rooms with
warm threecolumn story and a
scoop" on the world. After the last
justice had departed from the dining
hall I surveyed the handsomely deco
rated tables. The floral display was
elaborate and at the cover OF each
guest was a card specially engraved at
the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
hearing the name of the distinguished
diner.
The head waiter informed me that
before I came into the dining room
Justice Harlan had related an icnident
which he said illustrated a great, great
principle. 1t was that the one thing
that is greater than the law Is public
opinion"
II note Justice Harlan added. shat
there are no gentlemen of the press
present. I would like to tell them what
a wonderful power they WELD"
watched an opportunity to make a
quiet exit from the Waite home
still wore the white walters coat and
chefs cap, and leaving the house by
the basement beat It" to the old
Arlington Hotel. about two blocks
distant regardless Of my nondescrtpt
costume. A drowsy night-liner with
a wheezy old cab made as fast time
as his ancient nag was capable on my
promise to pay him double fare, and
soon reached the Republican build
ing at Tenth and d streets. Manag-
ing Editor Snowden. Al. Cunningham,
news editor, and VIII Nicholas, city
editor, were awaiting my return
did you get the story7 Mr..
Snowden exclaimed
"I certainly did" was my reply as
peeled off the white coat and hat.
How much do you want Of itr~
It was getting near press time, but
Mr.. Snowden said write 1t in full. My
copy was quickly edited and rushed
to the composing room one page at a
time While concluding thu story the
Associated Press man came In on his
last rounds.
asked.
zone Of the biggest stories OF recent
years has broken, and we are printing
three columns of It," Mr.. Snowden
said, with an amused smile.
Soon the Republican was out, and
II carried my story with scare
head" as such heads were known
then.
Mitchell, you get weeks leave
with pay" announced Mr. Snowden.
Later in the morning Postmaster
General Hatton was called on the
phone by Chief Justice Waite, who
was anxious to learn now the Repub-
lican had gotten the details of the ex-
elusive function. Whether Mr.. Hat
ton enlightened him l did not hear.
The caterer, when he learned the
| truth about the law student, sent my
coat and hat TO me. and the Republi
can gave him without cost a six
months ad., besides the mention 1