Evening star., 1923-12-27
TALKS and TALES
With and About
CAPITALS GUESTS

Just before former Vice PreSldent
Thomas r. Marshall left his apart
ments In the Lee House two weeks
go for the banks of the Wabash far
away he told the writer he might
be back during the Christmas holi-
days, in which event he would release
u little scoop.
Up to going to press the noted In
dianian has not returned to Wash
ington nor has the scoop materialized.
but rocent trip to the hotel in search
of both resulted in bit of informa-
tion being obtained about the Hoosier
statesman that will probably never
appear in any of his own writings.
The day room clerk at the Lee
House at present is none other than
Michael ]. McKenna. author of the
work ''The Passing Throng as a
Bellboy Sees It," and for the past
seventeen years one of the best
known bellmen in the United States.
y little chat with McKenna, who be-
gan as bellboy at the Adams House,
old, and has since served in hotels
from coast to coast in the north and
south, ELECTED some interesting side
lights on the peculiarities of many
men and women who have occupied
the spot"
After presenting reasons to sub
stantiate his claim that bellmen and
belIboys are the greatest Crouch
dispellers in the world. because of
their opportunity to study and cater
to the whims of humanity, McKenna
let drop enough pertaining to his old
vocation to permit one to form the
following conclusions::
That a wise bellboy knows that the
former Vice President has to be
handled gingerly early in the morn
i,rrr In, nil nf h StATp a
nature it's not safe to cross his path
before he has his coffee. Let him
have his breakfast. however. and he's
an entirely different man.
George Christian has the reputation
for being hard to handle at hotels.
such is not the case. if properly
treated. by a bellboy on leaving his
10 feel right on arrival George is
nice business" for a. bellboy there
after.
That former President Wilson is
one of the most pleasant men that
hotel employees lfave ever handled.
The same is true of John d.
Rockefeller, who wears a smile from
morning until night. From bell
boys viewpoint the only cause for
complaint with the oil king is his
eternal 10-cent tip.
That women are much easier to
satisfy than men, and hotel DONG
business Win women eNCluSlNelS StIS
along with half the number of bell
hoya necessary in house catering
to men.
The essential qualifications for a
live. reppery. on-the-trigger hellboy
today. according to Michael j.. Nc
Hcnna, are diplomacy. quick think
ing and never-failing Willingness to
make guests feel at home. Here.
hoy.
Judged by the flock of newly weds
now registered at the Hotel Raleigh.
the happy Yuletide season must be
trying to steal a march on that other
noted mating period-the dee -lightful
month of June-for no less than
eleven couples. -hailing from every
section of these United States, are
stopping at the house and ehdeavor-
ing to appear natural.
You know, it's always been some
what of mystery why those having
just entered the enhancing state go
to so much trouble to elude detec-
ton. When commenting on the
actions of a newly married pair folks
generally speak as if both parties to
the contract were responsible for the
behavior-well. it's not true.
Really. it's not. For two straight
hours close study was made Of these
particular eleven couples at the Ra-
leigh, and at no time was it at all
evident that the female of the species
cared one tinker's hurrah whether a
cross-eyed world knew she was wed
or not-but. oh, the nervous little
br1degroomS.
Without exception every grain of
rice that fell to the office floor
dropped from the coat of the sterner
OF some duo; every failure to write
and wife" on the register was due
TO bungling carelesSness of a male
at the counter, and all the flip banter
about marriage to the clerks was
crude stuff released by some mascu-
line member. Just why a herman
should work himself to such a state
while away on his honeymoon is
quite inexplainable. for if ever an
uninteresting character slipped into
The limelight it's the average heavy
that plays opposite charming little
bride.
That Henry Ford displayed the same
keen judgment for which he is noted in
abandoning the idea of entering the
presidential race. is the opinion of Capt
E. B. Van Wrinkle. jr.. of New York, for
a number Of years architect for many
of the Ford buildings erected in differ
mt sections of the country, including
the one here.
When seen at the Hotel Washington.
Capt. Van Wrinkle, who with Mrs Van
Wrinkle, will return to Washington for
two-month stay after visiting Florida
said the action of the Detroit manufac-
turer eliminated much unnecessary con-
fusion that would have resulted had a
third candidate entered the race and
was another wise move on the part-of
his old boss.
X x < X
Judged from my observation as one
in no way connected with politics. I
would say that the race between Presi-
dent Coolidge and Senator Hiram john
son for the republican nomination in
Illinois will be a bitter fight to the fin
ish," was the reply of Prof James w.
Bell of Northwestern University, Evans
Vile, when asked for an opinion on the
political situation in his state at the
New Willard Hotel.
Prof. Bell had just arrived to at
tend the convention of the American
Economic Association, and laughed
heartily when questioned about pol
itics.
Now. what in the world would my
opinion count for?- know only what
l read and hear, and from that there
is a regular fight going on. Yes. Nc
Adoo, too, is making the dust fly, in
Illinois. 1t seems that things have
started a little early~t this campaign,
and when l left Chicago politics APP
peared to be the chief topic of con-
versation.
The educator was palpably delight
ed over the two large donations Just
given Northwestern University by
Mrs. Montgomery Ward and Mrs.