Evening star., 1935-01-06

SuptLut uuIIHy LtC QUO, w FfuHN
G. Carpenter, tDorld- famous author
and trapeler. The merit chapter in
the series lctu be published merit
Sunday in The Star.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
BY FRANK G. CARPENTER.
JOAQUIN MILLER has returned
from New Orleans and is again
at work in his log cabin on
~ Washington Heights. I visited
him yesterday and found him
experimenting the cutting of some
immense branches from the great
oaks which shade his home Mr.
Miller, in rich dressing gown and
f1owery velvet slippers. was standing
outside, his head bare and long, flaxen,
curly hair waving in the breezes
which blew up from the Potomac. He
had a face bronzed with the Louisiana
sun and rosy with good health. On
entering the cabin after hearty
greeting, sat down for an hours
chat before the smouldering embers
of the big fireplace.
The cabin is now complete 1t is
thoroughly comfortable and homelike.
The bed made of the limbs Of tree
is covered with hangings which would
do honor to the White House and
rich variety of Oriental color is seen
in the curtains which hide its lower
end from the sitting room. Around
the walls on pins are stuck Mr.. Mil
ler's kilograms and letters ordering
literary matter and it is by these that
he reminds himself of the work he
has on hand On shelf made by
the jutting out of one of the logs
lies a great pile of white paper filled
with writing. There is enough in this
pile to make a dictionary and Mr..
Miller. when I asked as to it, told me
that it was made up entirely of plays
which he had been writing. Joaquin
is ambitious to write the great Ameri-
can play and I know of few men in
the United States who are so we'll
fitted to do it as he. The plays
which he has already written have
been successful; he tells me that his
last play, Tally Ho," is bringing him
nice little income.
Col. Wintersmith.
Col. Dick Wintersmith is. by the
way. one Of the curious characters
of Washington. He is one of the best
story-tellers at the Capital and he
has a fund Of "reminiscences as long
as the Old Testament. He can tell
stories by the hour about the great
men of the past and to have a talk
with him on horses and horse racing
is an equestrian education. He is
familiar with the pedigrees of all the
noted horses of Kentucky, back to
period not far distant from the Flood,
and like his friend, Senator Beck. he
knows their offspring and descend
ants as well as his own genealogical
tree. He tells story we'll and enjoys
it himself as much as his hearers. He
was acquainted with Henry Clay dur
ing Clay's latter years and I heard
him speak of his first meeting with
the great statesman not long ago.
Said he:
1T was on the occasion of a great
speech of Mr. Clay's in Kentucky
that I was introduced to him. After
he had finished I looked at him so
intently that he remarked it and
asked me why I did so. I replied:
1T has occurred to me, Mr.. Clay, that
I am younger than you and that
after you have passed away I will
want to remember you as the great
est man and the finest orator I have
ever known. looked at you as I did
that might daguerrotype your every
lneament upon my SOUL
That replied Henry Clay, lis
the finest compliment I have ever
heard During the remainder of the
day Mr.. Clay and met several times.
At one time we were walking together
and he seized my arm and exclaimed: !:
Mr.. Wintersmith, ! wish ! had your
physique!'
Yes" I replied. land I wish, Mr..
Clay. that I had your head!"
Gard Players.
Do statesmen play cards? To this
question the answer is yes. The
President himself is quoted as having
his favorite game. Gen. Garfield was
fond Of euchre and whist and there
are a score of men now in the United
States Senate who understand the
most subtle intricacies of poker. Dan
iel Webster was a famous hand at
euchre, Gen. Scott liked nothing bet
ter than a night at the whist table
and Frank Pierce knew how to play
cards and liked them. In the days
of Pierce the Presidents were more
democratic than they are now. They
walked about the town and paid visits
to their friends in their rooms. An
old stager whose white hair was black
while President Pierce occupied the
White House, gave me an Illustration
of this tonight.
1T was on hot July evening, away
back in the f1fties," said he. Two
Senators and myself were seated, with
our coats off in the rooms of Senator
Clemens of Alabama, having a quiet
game of poker. It was game of
50-cent ante and the coins we're lying
on the tale. A gentle knock was
heard at the door. Senator Clemens
yelled out in a stentorian tone. Come
in: the door opened. and in walked
Frank Pierce. then President of the
United States. AS we saw him. we
all pushed our chairs back from the
table and arose to put on our coats.
But President Pierce said. Don't dis
turb yourselves, gentlemen. have
just come to make a social call on
my friend, Mr.. Clemens, don't want
to interrupt your game
"Mr. Pierce sat down and chatted a
few minutes with us and then rose to
60. AS he left the room, he asked
how the game was played, said he
would like to take hand, but that
he had other engagements. Such an
action in this day would be remarked
upon all over the country. In 1850 1t
was accepted as matter Of course" ="
"Poker-Bob" Schenk still lives at
Washington and the title which he
got from his little pamphlet published
in England while he was the Ameri-
can Minister there still sticks to him.
1t is a very unjust title which Mr..
Schenk owes to a noted English
duchess rather than to his card
playing habits. He met the lady, I