Evening star., 1935-04-12
CHAPTER XII.
FIRST FLIGHT.

~HE moment inevitably came
when James was 81. If the
Judge and Nappy had not
i taught him all they knew they
had taught him very
great deal.
little later arrived the great day
when James took his examinations
for admission to the bar and passed
with brilliant ease.
This was followed by the even
greater day when the judge strutted
about Topeka with James in his wake
and called upon the Governor and
other notables of lesser Importance
and allowed them the favor OF a
handshake with the coming wonder
Of the State of Kansas.
The judge had been for years a
power in politics in his State and
he was noted for never forgetting
favor good or bad. AS he kept his
own district firmly under his thumb
and never asked for Office for himself
the eminent statesmen in Topeka,
naturally enough. were more than
anxious to keep on his good side.
Moreover the judge was an old and
experienced campaigner and brim-
ming over with picturesque bits OF
news. so the reporters always laid
themselves out to get themselves in
his good graces-and, anyway, it was
dull that day in Topeka and the old
timers and the G.. A. r. were sure
to be interested in the news of ex-
Gov. Stimsons grandson and name
sake
Therefore it came about that James
was not only greeted warmly and
made much of by every person worthy
of political note in Topeka, but got
whole column interview in the two
leading papers, each column ending
with the prediction that Mr.. Stimson
was unquestionably destined to follow
in the footsteps of his illustrious
grandfather.
Every one was so exceedingly kind
and James so excited that he quite
forgot to be shy. Yet he remained
sufficiently modest to make a good
impression upon practically every one
he met.
But afterward in executive session
in his committee room the Hon.
Joseph Henderson of Ell Dorado,
chairman of the Ways and Means
land one of the shreWdest of poll
ticianS and best judges of characters
in State where they raise ShreWd
politicians as casually as corn or po-
tatoes), was not overly enthusiastic.
Seems to me the Judge is riding
that youngster for fall" said the
Hon. joseph, tipping his chair COM
fortably back. The boy is likable
enough, but he's not the man his
granddaddy was. He's got weak
mouth-sort of"
He passed first in his examinations
with 40 competitors, most Of them
college graduates, said the Hon. Lem
Smith of Wichita. quoting the judge.
And you know the judge is the surest
picker of campaign material OF any
man in this State. He says the kid
can talk 40 ways for Sundays already.
There's no denying the power of
silvery tongue. Look at Bryan"
Bryan hasn't weak mouth. Doubt
less this James Brewster StimSon the
third is a bright boy, but I've seen
too many bright lights in my days
fare up and go out
Then he added thoughtfully, half to
himself, Perhaps if he marries the
right girl" and left his sentence
unfinished. Ten minutes afterward
he had forgotten all about James. The
incident is worthy of record because a
week or two later Miss Julia Pratt said
practically the same thing and her
friends and intimates jumped at it.
James may be a genius" argued
Miss Julia heatedly to her fellow
devotees of the Thursday Whist Club,
but I've lived a matter Of so odd
years and I've never yet heard of any
eeniuses who we're noted for their
money sense or common sense either.
Its my belief that James is the
sort that never will know which side
his breads buttered on. He's nice
boy and I'd be the last to deny that
he's got his share of brains. But he's
not a strong character. You only have
to take a good look at him to see
that"
But he's so like his grandfather"
began Mrs. Millard. James is hardly
more than boy yet. All the Stlm-
sons we're"
The trouble is" broke in Miss
Julia, that Sarah's gone around so
long saying that James is every inch
a Stimson that it's never occurred
to any of you that he isn't, James
is as much Molly's son as Jims; more
to my way of thinking. And if Jim
had been little stronger himself he
wouldn't have laid down and died of
the smallpox just because
This was hereSy and every one
talked at once for few minutes.
But presently the conversation came
back to DR.. Jims son. Miss Julia re-
peated in detail the story which James
had told on himself of buying the
paper on the wall from departing up
per classman.
This brought forth much laughter
and inspired other stories. AS cli-
max Miss Julia stated definitely that
even the judge admitted that James
was not interested in money making.
The judge" Miss Julia said,
scornfully actually seems to think
that this shows further proof of
James superiority. He says that any
dirty little foreigner with a pack on
his back can make fortune in this
country, if that's all he's interested
in. I never heard of such nonsense"
He said as much to me-" Mrs.
Millard put in. AT least he said that
no man ever became famous who
cared about money and that Dickens
was wrong in stating that genius was
an infinite capacity for taking pains.
gathered that the judge believes
that genius consists in being born