Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-05-16

than either of these was one that was
told about a conversation between
Spring Rice, the British ambassador,
and Capt. Earts, who. at the time, was
superintendent of buildings and grounds,
Spring Rice had Visited the president
and. following his visit, was being
shown some of the white house portraits
by Capt, Harts.
As the British anbp ador departed
he turned to Capt. Harts and asked
him:
What is the White House mhde Off
virginia sandstone" answered the
captain.
but / didn't know Virginia sand
stone was ,,hite." said Sprlng-Rice
"Nor is it, the captain replied You
see we had 20 paint the stones"
Paint them? Why in the world
would you have TO paint good REQ sand
stone?'' exclaimed the astonished dip,o-
mat.
ITO cover up the black places that
remained after the burning of the build
ing Capt Harts explained.
"Ah, so the building was burned. was
It? And what caused the fire." inquir-
ed the British ambassador.
The British" said Capt. Harts
ON. SAID spring. -fNlce.
An incident happened in the Navy
Department shortly before the World
War began. of which this story reminds
me.
Sir Robert Hadfield, an English ex
pert in ordnance. was waiting TO see
me about projectiles, and my aide was
showing him the trophies which adorn
The office OF the secretary of the navy
~ tt,at fe Inv far the
finest in Washington. and finer than
any government office / saw in Europe.
Among the trophies displayed were the
beautiful silver gifts which had been
presented to Commodore Hull for mis-
eminent service. My aid pointed 10
these with much pride.
"Ha Did the English
Hull? Hull?" unused Sir Robert.
Name sounds familiar. but l confess l
can not recall what he did, and he
turned to the naval officer for eniignt-
eminent. 1t came promptly.
He did the English. Sir Robert, "
| answered my aid.
The British ordnance expert saw the
point and laughed heartily.
In the DAYS when the President was
| trying TO straighten out the Mexican
L
| ing" so much misunderstood and so
| frequently misrepresented. provided the
| paragraphers and jokasmith9 with ma
1 terial which they worked and over
| worked.
The criticism and ridicule to which
his program was subjected 10y his
| political opponents did not disturb him
He had certain aims uAr which his
| purpose was definitely 1T He was
resolved that his policy should be free
| from selfish interests, either national OF
/ individual, and that he would not per-
/ nit the United States TO aid HCerta in
| making government by assassination
/ a success
| Criticized by "Interests.'
The President was sharply criticized
/ oy the interests behind HIeria lie.
cause IF their appointment over hi.
refusal TO recognize the ASA ssin. Later
he was criticized because he gave tn,
/ Nexicans a chance to control their owr
government, unhindered and Unindu.
eRced by interests, British or An1eri.
can, which We're eager TO exploit Mexi
car resources.
IL is my own opinion, offered here or
| the side. that il Mexico possessed nC
oil or mineral wealth 20 excite the Gu.
/ pidity of outsiders she would long age
have been able TO obtain a stable gov.
/ arnlnent.
The president was patier. with Mexico
He wrote several notes-state paper.
| they were and will hold their pIac,
/ among the great documents OF Ameri
can diplomacy-in the hope Of reachius
an amicable adjustment of differences
| But his critics made fun Of the not,
| writing, and one day, after he had reat
| TO US one of Nhese letters. a member o
| the cabinet said TO him:
Mr.. President do you think your let
ters viii produce the desired result?"
Tells Chicken Story.
The President s sense of humor wa
quite equal TO enjoying joke at his ov-l
expense. He could laugh at himself II
was satisfied he was doing the righ
thing, hut he was not absolutely certain
il would bring the results he sought. II
could get the viewpoint Of the public an
of his critics on the series Of notes h
had addressed to Mexico. So he met tn
question of the cabinet member witt
the following story:
"once upon a time a gentleman VIII
had q garden was greatly annoyed be
cause his neighbors chickens would II
over the fence and eat or scratch up hi
young vegetables. He told his neighbo
of the bad behavior of his chickens. an,
received the promise that it should no
happen again. But it did happen agai
and again. and finally, in a resolve {
protect his vegetables, he wrote a shar-
note TO the neighbor demanding tina
his garden be protected from maraudin
chick s. The -slibor was distresse.
and wrote in reply promising that IN
garden would no more be rnolested b
the chickens.
''The very next day after receiving tn
written pr mise Of protection. the neigh
Dor saw his garden being literally de
voured by the neighbor's chickens. Pa
thence had ceased TO a virtue /
. righteous wrath he strode over TO hi
neighbor's house and demanded to kno,
why he had not kept his promise.
Neighbor is Shocked.
You don't. say. answered the neis h
Dor, that my chickens are in your gar
den again, do you?'
Come nd see. said the now irat
owner. And there were the chicken
busy destroying the garden.
Well. never was so surprised i
my life said the owner of the chickens
To show you my determination 10 pro
tect your garden, when I received you
letter / called all my chickens togethe
and read them your letter and solemn
charged them not to go into your sarda