Evening star., 1922-11-20
THE LANTERN
BY DON MARQUIS.

Sammie the Bootlegger was in to
see US yesterday-a social call, II
was. and not q professional visit.
We asked Sammie several ques-
tions:
@. Do you wish, Sammie, to see
the iniquitous corner saloon, with all
its woe and wretchedness, return?
A. No.
Q. Do you wish, Sammie, to see
Constitution repealed. so that the un-
righteous traffic in hearts and souls
and homes will once more again be
legalized?
A. No! No!
Q. Do you wish. Sammie. that the
wicked people who still want to pour
liquid damnation down their viii
famous throats should be allowed to
concoct in their own homes wines
and beers and WHISTLES from the
damnable plant life that still insists
on fermenting?
A. No! No! No!
@. Do you wish. Sammie. to see
some modification Of the Volstead act
which will permit an enjoyment of
wines and beers on the part Of those
who are SO sunken In iniquity that
devil?
A. Oh, no! No, no, Never.
Q. What is it that you wish for,
Sammie?
A. Kid. I'm perfectly satisfied with
things as they is.
A New Jersey preacher announces
as the theme for common sermon:
(which Shall 1t Be-God or Golf?'
Personally. We do not see why a
man cannot have both. But, then,
we know little of golf.
We have several friends who, II
they are compelled to choose, will
not hesitate an instant
No one welcomes NJ Georges
CIemenceau to America with more
genuine fervor than Capt. Peter
Fitzurse. Clemenceau was. in his
day. a famous duelist. and Capt.
Fitzurse claims to be the person who
taught him that terrible thrust with
the sword which discounted SO many
Of THE Tigers" political foes.
will you recall yourself to NJ.
Clemenceau?" We asked the captain.
NO." said the captain, It shall not
seek him out. He may have forgot
ten me. He did not know me under
the name of Fitzurse."
We said nothing. We were not SO
indiscreet as TO ask the captain how
| it happened that he had laid aside
the proud name Of Fitzurse, even
not question the captain concerning
| such matters. One waits and some
times ones patience is rewarded.
II was in Paris said the captain,
clearing his throat. ION Il delicate
and dangerous mission. undertaken
as favor to great emperor, when
first met NJ. Clemenceau. AS the
great emperor is now dead. I see no
. harm in limiting that he was Il mem
ber of the celebrated Romanoff
family.
THE mission had for its object the
recovery of some letters written by
an infatuated grand duke to an un-
scrupulous woman who had taken
| advantage of the dukes youth and
innocence. Naturally, ! operated un-
der an assumed name-1 gave myself
out AZ a maitre darmes and opened
| a fencing school in Paris. NJ Glenn
enceau was one of my promising
pupils.
III Georges cares to seek out his
old master-the man who made him
| what he is. for his political rise in
| its early stages was based upon his
cleverness and coolness as a duelist
that is one thing. But shall not
seek him out"
But were you successful in your
mission in Paris?" We asked.
The captain took a little gold case
from his waistcoat pocket and drew
! from it a silver collar button.
Il am entitled to wear that il !
choose" he said proudly. II was
| successful. and the car, as my re-
| ward. made me a grand commander
| in the Order of the Silver Collar But
| ton-perhaps the most exclusive or
der in the world. Few PEOPLE know
that the order exists. and there are
less than a dozen men alive who
know why it exists. NJ. Clemenceau
himself does not have this order"
The captain was silent for a mo-
ment. and then he added, with a sigh
1T think, on the whole, 1 may say
that I earned that silver collar but
ton. l recovered the letters, but ]
lost three fingers from my right hand
in doing it"
The complete autobiography OF