Evening star., 1924-01-02
TALKS and TALES
With and about
CAPITALS GUESTS

the first day OF the year VIII pie"'e
rise. Gracious, that Is encouraging,
and simpIifes matters greatly, for
the yeriest dumb bell must see that IL
one day of firmness can develop such
will power. a full twelve month OF
steadfastness ought to evolve into a
veritabIe Gibraltar of strength! Keep
at it. folks. the longer you go. the
easier the task!
Anyhow, now that the noise has
ceased, the confetti swept up. and
work-a-day world returned TO i.s
job, with two red-hot political con-
ventions looming up in the oInns;;
the only sensible procedure for all
parties concerned is to stick to their
mutton" and keep on smiling.
While every now and then one
hears in a roundabout way mention
made of John W. Davis of West Vtr-
ginia as a dark horse possibility for
the demoncratic presidential nomfna-
ton, an out-and-out supporter OF the
former ambassador to Great Brit
ain was encountered in the lobby of
the Raleigh Hotel. who considers the
noted lawyer much more than pos
sibility.
thor, editor, educator and traveller, Is
the enthusiast in question. and ac-
cording to him a well-defined sentl-
ment is rapidly crystallizing for the
West Virginian not alone in the
south and middle west but in certain
sections of New ngland-Concord,
Mass, Mr.. Ruoffs home town espe-
cially.
It was Mr.. Ruoff who informed the
then American representative at the
court of ST. James that he was be-
ing mentioned prominently Tor the
high office at the last democratic
convention, and who, in reply to the
Concord mans question as to wheth- :
er or not he would accept the nomi-
nation. answered THE nomination for
the presidency of the United States
to refuse. At present, though. l am
trying to figure how l can return
home and make s5 grow where but
one used TO flourish"
Mr.. Ruoff spends considerable time
each winter in Washington, but at
the first signs of spring he hles
himself to his beautiful seven stars
farm, about two and half miles
from Concord. where, with his i'm
mediate neighbors.. Frederick -Du
Maine. president of the Amosk ca &
Mills: Charles Francis Admas, Sd. and
Daniel Wing. he gets back to nature
and becomes a dirt farmer. Bill
Brigham of the Boston Transcript,
president OF the Gridiron Club. is
another close friend who makes
flying trips to Concord.
= x !. x
At such a tempestuous period in
world affairs it's rather refreshing
10 hear Of Il town that never knows
depression. Grand Rapids is such a
place. and according to +. L. Hensen
president of the Hensen Electrical
-hn &c
at the Hotel Washington, unemploy
ment and dissatisfaction are un-
known quantities in the noted furni-
ture community.
NO. hard times are never per-
mitted entrance 10 our city; said
the publisher as he unpacked his be-
longings. Our folks are too busy
to allow labor troubles, strikes and
other disturbances to get under their
skin, and in consequence business de-
preston is unheard of. OF course.
furniture is our greatest industry,
but there are many other manufac-
tories fiourishing at present
The story of Mr.. Hensen's rise from
an obscure printer to originator and
organizer of the only establishment
of it's kind in the United States
concern that publishes all trade cat
alogues for members of the Electri-
cal Supply Jobbers Association
TeduS IKE Il 1dlTy ldlt
Ten years ago the head of the cat
alogUe company was doing fair
business in little printers shop in
Grand Rapids, when an electrical
irregular arrangement of display cuts
and price lists found in the copy left
by his customer, Hensen devised an
improved layout for same the sug-
gestion was accepted by the dealer
and in short time the conveniently
arranged booklet created so much
favorable comment among other cleo
trical distributors that orders began
to come in thick and fast to the de-
signer.
So popular did the Hensen cata-
logue become that several years ago
the national organization of cleo
trical supply jobbers voted that all
members of the association have a
sen. 1t was then that the former
printer incorporated the present COM
pany, which does business in every
state in the Union. His order book
is closed for 1924.
While a great admirer Of Henry
Ford, Mr.. Hensen said the wisest
thing the Detroit manufacturer ever
did was to give up all thought OF
running for President.
1T was big thing on his part
TO come out for President Coolidge
said the Grand Rapids man, but, then,
everything Henry Ford does is big.
Sentiment in our part Of the country
is strong for the present occupant of
the White House, and 1t is generally
felt that he will be nominated to
succeed himself"
!. X < IL
Inability to understand Spanish
nearly caused the writer much en-
barrassment during conversation
with one of the newly arrived dip
lomats to the United States from
Brazil
Spying Lieut.. Eugenio da Rosa
Ribeiro, acting naval attache to the
Brazilian embassy, just as he was
about to leave the Hotel La Fayette
for the New Year reception at the
White House. nothing would do bu,
inquiry be made. as to conditions In
his home city, Rio dc Janeiro.
After stating that business in gen
eral was fair, and that indications
pointed to a happy and prosperous
year for his people, Senior Ribeiro be-
came enthusiastic over the support
being given the Abrigo do Marin.
heirs of the Brazilian city by people
of all classes.
Confident that what he referred tc
was either conservatory of music
or a newly established national opera
company, inquiry was about to be
made concerning the artists, wher
he suddenly made reference in Eng
lish to American sailors.
Taking a couple of gulps and re.
naming perfectly quiet, the writer
learned that the Brazilian is an in.
defatigabfe worker for a wonderfu
home for sailors in the South Ameri-
can republic.
Our people, feel that nothing is
too good for their seamen and we
have done much to make the desery-
ing veterans. sick and incapacitated
enjoy their well earned rest. While