Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1924-07-19

said Governor Richie compassionate
ly, "but you have nothing on me. Pm
having stupid time, too"
AS matter of fact, we were both
having a splendid time: the Governor
because he was working, and l be-
cause 1 was loafng. / had settled
gratefully into the lowest of the
leather-covered armchairs - have
never giving up hope of finding a real
ly comfortable one with broken
spring! And was looking lazily out
over the low roofs Of the old colonial
town, past the golden dome Of the
Naval Academy, to the sunny blue
waters Of Chesapeake Bay. All a.
bout was history. The Capitol build
ing in which we sat was the sacred
place in which General George Wash
ington gave up his commission as
Commander-in-Ch Chief Of the Revolu-
tionary armies. The Senate Chamber
on the floor below remained as Wash
ington had left it; and the view from
the Capitol windows retained many Of
it's ancient aspects. For the great
mad world, in it's rush from Balti-
more to Washington, has left the lit
tie town of Annapolis unrailroaded
and untouched.
All this was in colorful contrast to
the brisk, busy room in which / now
sat, and to the brisk, busy man who
dominated it. He was tall, straight,
vigorously impressive: gray-haired
John Barrymore with eyeglasses; or
rather John Barrymore as he might
have looked if he had gone in for real
estate or automobiles instead OF
Shakespeare. He moved quickly and
spoke brightly, as if he were in the
advertising business. A little too
handsome, a little too slim-waisted-
and much too busy. But in spite of
all these things / liked him.
Richie had been clearing his desk
for gubernatorial action. And now,
I caught him in the ultra-modern act
of pressing button.
"The legislature adjourned last
night" the Governor said by way Of
explanation. 81 have four hundred
odd bills befoSo me which must be
signed or vez6ed between now and
Monday"
"And you wish I were in South
Bend or Kalamazoo
"Not at all-if you don't mind hav-
ing stupid time. I just wished to
explain that I have been dividing
these bills by counties and depart
ments-and expect to spend the day
and most of the night listening to re-
ports"
Gall right" I answered, "I'm ready
to hear the first report"
"Good for you'll" exclaimed Richie.
And then to his secretary who an
swered the bell: "Please tell Judge So
and So that am ready to see him. u
The Judge, a thoroughly likable
youngish man, brought in a bunch OF
bills that included everything from
soldiers relief to licensing dogs. The
Governor began with the soldiers.
TWENTY-FIVE thousand dollars fol
taking care of wounded veterans!
There" he said turning to me, "is
something governor is frequently
up against. l can't veto this bill. ]
can't refuse to spend the peoples
money to help disabled soldiers. But
what good will twenty-five thousand
dollars do?
"And here's bill for exterminat-
ing mosquitoes. The State hasn't
any machinery for that work, nor any
money. Pm sure that it has any
right. And yet, when I veto such a
measure, I go on record as an enemy
of the health of the community.
"But," said the Governor, cheerful
ly, "things might be worse. This
same chap also wants us to license
dogs. Maybe, if we can't give him his
mosquitoes, we can let him have his
dogs. And anyhow, we're lot better
off than if he'd ask us to exterminate
dogs and license mosquitoes!"
The Governors smile changes him
utterly. Without it he a handsome
man; but his assortment of features
8 so conventionally perfect that he
is in danger of approaching the G:b-
son man, healthily bronzed, and gray
ed little by late hours and hard
work. With the smile, he is just as
good-looking-and lot more human
The heavy, dark eyebrows jazz mer-
rily; the Grecian nose unbends; and
the pinch goes out of the pince-nez
wished that he would keep right on
smiling.
But
The telephone rang. eyes, this is