The Washington times., 1921-03-20
NOSTNG 'ROUND WASHINGTON
Ro..e
OyRODcrCCOTCcS HOllludy

the apartment. on a mantel a plas-
ter cast OF q humorous Uncle Sam
in dress COAT holding sloft an
American flag and flanked by =
turkeyned looking eagle.
tCONGREGATION pressed close
~ about the table. behind which
in a swivel chair sat In a relaxed
and rather pensive attitude an an
gular fgure, swinging leisurely
looking legs which terminated in
very white sox and low-cut shoes.
A rather thick thatch of grayirs
hair, large aQuiline features, a
rather melancholy east OF express
sion. clothes not recently presss.l
and which no one would be IN
ciiped to call. dapper, Mr.. Christian
in general effect suggested a good
deal ones impression of a some
what dusty reference librarian" at
the information desk of the New
York Public Library being De-
sieged by an unusually large num-
Der of questioners.
"well. gentlemen he uttered
very quietly and slowly, what have
you got on your mind?"
George" asked figure with
pad and pencil in hand, what
about this?" Mr.. Christian appear
ed to ponder the matter good
while, and the upshot OF his cogita.
tion appeared to be that there
wasn't much of anything about it.
"And what is there to that?" in
auired another. Well. at length
there didn't seem to be much to
that either. A few items OF infor-
nation were given. And the audi
eDce briefly closed.
When We had filed out with the
company from the room my friend
and took seats in the corridor. He
had given his letter to the doorman.
A couple of soldiers in uniform. a
group OF very spruce. robust and
cheery-looking Catholic priests, an
elderly individual of very detected
pose. and a miscellaneous assort-
ment of humanity also were wait
ing. The doorman was being con-
tinually accosted. "Just want to
shake hands with him. that's ALL"
and "Just want to say how de do"
were solicitations frequently over
heard.
THE doorman beck oned to us and
told us to go into an apartment
which he indicated and take a
seat" Probably my friend didn't
hear that instruction, as he
marched straight up to Mr..
Christian directly upon entering the
room flooded with afternoon light
pouring through an imposing row
of tall and beautiful windows. Mr..
Christian slowly arose from his
desk, coming gradually to his full
height, and yielded a cautious hand
TO my friend. He looked at the
bright and somewhat flustered
countenance OF my friend rather
sadly, as IL seemed. Though at
some sally of my friends abou. the
pronunciation of his name he
smiled with considerable natural
human warmth. Then very gravely
he stated that with so many ap-
pointments at present to be made,
and with the multitudinous labors
now upon him, and so forth and
so on, II was hardly possible that
be could just now arrange for my
friend to have a word with, as he
said-"the Senator"
My friend was obviously, a bit
taken absck by the term as his
mind had been careering along with
visions OF his seeing no less a person
than the President But there was
no doubt that both he and Mr.. Chris
ton were referring TO tive same gentle
man.
should add that my friends self
imposed mission Of shaking hands
with Mr.. Harding and writing an
article about his impre ssions of him
before the President had yet given an
audience to the accredited representa-
.tives of the press was more or less
audacious. And I should add still
further that Mr.. Christian seemed gen.
timely reluctant to dismiss my friend
without ray OF hope, and suggested
that he call again after a few days
Suggestion was at Mr.. Christians own
volition
As we turned to leave the room
we saw that the bevy of Catholic
fathers and several other persons had
also been admitted, and were all
beaming with bland. cheerful con-
fidence.
WE strolled along the driveway
w leading by the front en-
trance to the White House. The
baggy looking policeman lazily sun
ming himself beside the portico re-
called to my mind with amusing
contrast the snappy redcoats who
briskly pace back and forth before
Buckingham Palace. They are su-
perbly naughty and disdainful be-
ings. A charmingly democratic
character this policeman. AT
fierce cloud over there" he observed
to us as we paused near by.
A splendid looking army officer
together with capped naval com
mander emerged with springy step
from the White House door, both
carrying an air of high elation. A
snmptuous car rolled up and halted
beneath the driveway. From 1t
lady leaned out extending a card.
Ovt pranced cleaning negro
hunky to receive 1t with bows Of
elaborate courtliness. As he turned
to re-enter the White House 1t
struck me that I did not believe I
had ever seen a happier looking
human being. Also. In his beauti-
full dark blue tail coat with bright
silver buttons and delicately striped