The New York herald., 1922-07-24
Amiable Felix, Whom Mos
quitoes Sting, Not a Pres
ent From Murphy.
NOW REGARDING HEARST
'That's My Canary, Pete. Amt
He q Wonder2' Tweet-
Tweet- -Tweet.

The one time and maybe again Gov
sat comfortably on the back porch Of
his cottage on the point at Sea Gate
last night. his feet on the railing. his
gaze fixed upon the winking lights far
out at sea-. Soft noises OF the summer
night, largely the chorusing Of a good
Tammany mosquitoes that may have
followed "Al'' all the way from Oliver
street, soothed his meditations but did
not inspire him to loquacity when a
visitor kept pressing him to say
whether he wanted to be nominated
for Governor or Senator, or what he
would do II Hearst tried to break into
Tammany Hall, back door or front.
The Hon. Al turned 100 per cent. ex-
pressionless face upon the caller. then
leaned an ear toward the lawn. From
this smoothly shingled expanse came
clanlSing of chains, unmistakable
clanking Of unmistakable chains.
what th--?" the visitor remarked.
IT'S my turtle" said AL Smith. TITS
my turtle. Felix. The mosquitoes an
noy him probably. Must speak to the
kids about It."
Who gave him to you. Murphy"
'T'hat'Sa bum joke" said Mr. Smith,
coldly THAT turtle is q pet and has
TO political significance whatever. You
can quote me as saying SO, I got him
for, the kids. Somebody I know told
me in town that turtles have a yen for
mosquitoes. like to gobble 'em for din
ner. so I anchored Felix out in the
grass there with dog chain he couldn't
chew through. Now he's shaking his
chains and I'll bet the mosqueets are
singing the old bird. No? Well, you
don't know Sea Gate mosquitoes"
'Ha. ha." laughed the caller, politely.
"Ha. ha. As i was saying. Governor,
what do you think about"
The, successor to Caesar.
A cold something insinuated itself in
10 the hand of the interviewer. and this
was Immediately discovered to be the
nose of big and friendly police dog.
shepherd dog, as they say nowadays.
The former Governor let the horizon
take care of itself once more and turned
around to pat the big, wolflike fellow.
Hes the biggest baby in the whole
house." said AL Smith. you remember
Caesar, the big dog had In Oliver
street and Albany? Well. Caesar needed
a country vacation and so some time ago
we acquired this chap. Fine, isn't he?
"IIl say So" agreed the visitor with
cunning courtesy. "A number 1 dog, Al.
Now, as was saying, II Hearst-"
But there was that in full view which
checked Interrogation, for the former
Governor turned now toward the open
doorway of the cottage. and with ear
inclined as II to invisible harmonies was
pursing his lips In kind of soft whistle :
"Tweet- -tweet-tweet! !" and In half a min
ute out fitted kind Of ghost Of a bird
in that half light-a bird that should
have been tucked away In bed and snor-
ing by that hour, but which still was
awake and about. 1t sailed like 9 snow
flake straight to the outstretched finger
OF Mr.. Smith and there came to rest,
nuzzling Its underwing with a funny lit
tie bill.
That's my canary-Pete." AL ex-
planned amlably. "Ain't he a wonder?
Follows me around like a dog. Never
tries to beat It. Tweet-tweet-tweet."
That's really wonderful" said the
visitor earnestly and even honestly. In
the circumstances. But, while we're on
the subject. Governor. I'd like to have
sou say whether. II Hearst or Hylan----'
Something rubbed velvetlike against
the visitors leg and at the same time
"a shoft shape appeared from nowhere In
Al Smiths lap and turned upon the
visitor two big. shining emeralds. Al
put his hand protectlngly over the ca
nary. arose and went inside for minute
or two--obviously to put the canary into
the nay as 1T were. the company Of cats
being, no place for Pete-then returned.
laughing a little.
"See my cats?" he asked. "There are
only two of 'enn here. I suppose there
are four or eleven around somewhere
plenty OF 'em, anyway. Wife likes 'em.
Kids like 'em. So do I. long as they
keep away from Pete but we watch him
pretty carefully"
"well, Governor. you certainly are not
lonesome down here. It's nice TO see SO
many pets. But before go. now, what
will be your course IL Hearst or Hy-
Lam"
The Ex-Governor slapped his leg with
his hand. sound like a revolver shot in
the calm, and the caller started little. .
One More Exhibit.
THAT reminds me-" he said earnestly.
s'You must see my alligator before you
20. He's really pippin OF q gator
kindly. not mean streak In him, ap-
parently. and growing like cornstalk
He's somewhere around. Willie-Willie
-willie--where are you. Willie?"
II guess I've got to be going" said
the visitor. wholly convinced by this time
that politics had no chance whatever
again zoology. Would like to have n
word or two. though. from you about the
way the situation seems to be lining up
and"
"Sayr' said AL. eagerly, won't you
come In and see the goldfish before you
go?"
'Fraid ] can't replied the visitor
looking at his watch.
There's nothing private about them.
urged the former Governor. "C'mon In
WELL come down some other time. IL
show you the rest Of my pets. GOOD
night
m IL UvTNn