Evening star., 1922-10-20
BY w. H. CLAGETT.

Dear Folks
The other day UP at the Kiwanis
Club William Mather Lewis had just
conclooded a most 'illuminative talk
on education in general and children's
needs In particular when a feller
news-lizard turned to the rest Of us
at the press table and said: That
bird can cover more ground and make
his point in a shorter space of time
than any public speaker Ia the Dis
trict Of Columbia! to which we all
sdded. AYE. Aver
Now the incident Is not recalled to
court favor with Mr.. Lewis. as the
United States Chamber Of Commerce
season of the year. but more to tip
off the many local expounderS who,
OWN to the ever-increas' n number Of
conventions bein' staged in our ia r
city. may be called upon to crate
durin' the comm winter!
If brevity is the spice of wit. then
take it from the popular vote Of all
newspapers reporters. it's the very
icin' of speechmakin'! Some may
question the reporters quail fications
to pass judgment on s;ch ma ters but
there are none in any callin' who hear
.
"All-NIghters" Hard to Stop.
o. course, many up-to-the- -minuke e
organizations won't tolerate long-dis-
tance speechmakers, no matter who
thew be. and all kinds Of devices are
resorted to choke, off "all-nighters."
but even at that sometimes they wig
gle through and gum the proceedin's!
FIR instance: few years back the
Washington chapter of the American
e ins n
its annual banquet on Washington's 8
birthday, which fell on Saturday!
Edward j. McQuade of the Liberty
National Bank was chairman Of the
entertainment committee, and the
popular cashier had worked night
takin', as q big crowd had been in
vited!
Strollin' into the Liberty on
the mornin' of the affair. Mr..
McQuade beckoned me. over to his
desk and showed me his program!
my eye fell on the name of Ger.
tain government official. who did
yeoman service durin' President Will
sons administration, but who was
only a fair speaker at best and a
time-consumer from wayback!
Nice outlay" l chirped as ! handed
back the entries. But why announce
dancin'?"
"Why announce dancing!" snapped
the amazed banker. why. dancing is
going to be the outstanding feature!.
"No it amt. Mister McQuade." l
snickered with a grin. Not If old
Mister B ever gets to that rostrum!'
Bets Against TOastmnster.
Well, it was too late to make
changes, and as l left the bank the
chairman of the entertainment COM
mittee was assurin' me with all KINDS
,, of gestures that way would De
found to limit the speaker In question
| to his allotted three minutes!
III you do it III pay for the blow
out ~ l chortled, and went on my
| rounds!
That night the grand ballroom at the
Moo Willald Hotel was blaze of CORY
Five hundred fair wimmin and hand-
some men, all dolled out in their finer
\ les, laughed, joked and waited patiently
| for the bugle call that would send them
off dancin'!
The toa stmaster done all In his power
| to keep things a-movin'! He shooed
two speakers from the Platform in rec
i qualities of the government ofhclal,
! shouted at the top Of his voice. when
it come to his turn: Ladies and gen.
| tlemen, i now take great pleasure in
, introdoocin' that sterlin' old westerner.
| Mr.. B, who will address you for
4
1t was then 10 O'Clock, and as l set
next to George O'Connor l asked the
little singer to call me at IL! Mister
, McQuade was perspirin'!
West" saluted the flag and cut loose for
Virginia! He started at the cradle OF
| the great Father OF Our Country, never
left him once durin' his boyhood days,
dwelt at some length on the cherry tree
! incident. sent him surveyin'. out to
| fight Indians, and detailed his every
action prior to the revolt of the colo
nis:s!
Gulpin' a few sips of water he then
placed the immortal leader at the head
of the continental army, stood by him
through many Of his battles. crossed the
| Delaware. suffered at Valley Forge. PIC
tured him at Yorktown, read his fare
well address, inaugurated him Presi-
dent twic., described mis- last hours on
earth and fi,a'lv buried h'-r,
! 1t was exactly II o'clock when he
| dramatically exclaimed: "Firstt 1