The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-05-02

Carrlngton Bellairs looked from Mary s
 sweet, flushed face to the countenance
 ot Qick Coiardin, whereon he read a glfnt of anger and annoyance. The beggar's torn with jealousy!" he
 told himself Such an obvious display oe that emotion was quite entertaining! The fellow must be very young, unversed
 in the way of social things.
 How are you feeling this evening, Miss Drew?" Darlington Bellairs advanced to-
 ward the girl with outstretched hand. "l
 was sorry to hear of your indisposition.
 Besides, we missed you in the office!'
 He turned smilingly to Dick Calardin.
 This little lady is valuable addition to
 oul staff, you know"
 "It-it was very good of you to call, '
 stammered the girl, embarrassed. Her
 employer had certainly chosen an awk-
 ward time to call. Social relations with
 him, too, were something Mary had not | previously tackled. She was uncertain | how to handle the situation. l But her own natural tact and good breeding came to her rescue. | q think that you'te met MT. Calardin
 before. She glanced toward Dick. 'He l very kindly called to cheer me up I've 1 been in bed all day with an appalling
 headache. This morning when I woke l couldn't really lift my head. l believe
 
 She did. 1 understood you weren t we'll Tonight 1 was in the neighborhood
 and I thought I'd call to inquire just how you were. Your landady informed
 me that you were up, dressed and sitting in her parlor. She told me to come in for a few moments. And so here am!"
 He took the chair that Mary offered. A complacent satisfied smile rested on his prematurely lined face. It was a strong, good d-looking, dominating face, though 1t held cruel possibilities. Subconsciously
 Dick Calardin realized all this. Darlington Belairs was man to be trifled with. He had worked his way up from nothing to a position of great wealth and power. He was respected in the business world-respected, but not liked!
 'I didn't know you had a caller, or l wouldn't have ntruded," he was saying
 now, suavely. His glance-half-am half-pa patronizing-rested on the younger
 man. And then he added, narrowing his eyes trifle:
 q was rather sorry, MT. Calardin, that you didn't see your way to make the investments we discussed" | Mary flushed. It was she-and no one
 else-who'd stopped Dick from any deal | ings with those rocky" Mexican mines. Darlington Bellairs would surely be | quite furious if he learned that fact!
 Dick bowed-in peculiarly distant manner.
 l Then he rose to go.
 Good evening, Miss Drew" His man.
 ner was quite formal II shall hope to
 see you very soon again. Take good care of yourself-don't overdo it." He shook
 Ter hand as though he and she were but casual acquaintances.
 And then he turned to Darlington Bel lairs.
 q expect to go down to the country tomorrow. No doubt we'll meet down there"
 That's splendidr' Bellairs held out a
 cordial hand. Let me see, what night will you promise to dine with us? Wed Christian eyes should go down in history
 with the Roosevelt teeth" and the Taft smile.''
 | Since the position now held by MT. Christian has been proposed to be changed from secretary to the President | to assistant to the President, it is given an added dignity and is unique. While none of the presidential powers can be taken over, MT. Christian is in every other sense an assistant. Even more than an assistant to cabinet offices. than an assistant to cabinet officer. can act during the absence of his chief.
 Even the assistant to the President can not always delegate his duties to his trained subordinates for they are too per-
 sonal and discretionary to make delega- ton possible The office cannot be put into commission, it must be personally exercised; otherwise it's functions are in abeyance.
 The secretary to the President is not only the channel through which the pup lie gets into touch with the President
 when this is possible, but it Is also the channel through which members of Con
 gress and even high officials are
 brought into present contact with the chief executive. He is the guardian not only of the time, but Of the strength and health of the President. | In any, mention of the important ana ir fluential part which the secretary to l the President plays-largely behind the scenes-in the actual work of carrying on the work of the government at Wash- l ington the careers of some of the notapie
 men, who held the position, recall them selves. John Hay and George B. Cortel- | you, for instance.
 | If it is true that an Ohio editors train l ing fits him for presidential duty, as | General Sherman once stated. the experl-
 ence as an Ohio political reporter will
 be valuable to the secretary of the Pres- | ident.
 | At dinner given in honor of the late Col. John A. .Cockrill in New York Tn 1889, General Sherman said that an ono editor of small city daily received the ideal training for governmental ser vice, because he was apt to become a correct judge of human nature. Besides
 Ohio, having been settled by people from the 13 original colonies. the general said, there was always 13 varieties of opinion prevailing, and if one understood Ohio he was sure to understand every other state in the union.
 I asked Col. Bob Gates, who has been
 studying secretaries to the President for
 30 years, his opinion of MT. Christian. "IIe is the finest fellow to go fishing
 with that I ever knew. Great fishermen are invariably great men," Col Frank Pierce Morgan, who has
 known all the secretaries from the ad- ministration of Franklin Pierce to the
 present time. indorses the opinion of Colonel Gates.
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