Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 11, 1910)
WHEN WELLINGTON PLAYED FATE . .. A By PHILIP KEAN i Idont Taft's cabinet Kft- MBe 08 ono of tbo lc8al 1,guts r tbo Unltcd j which to meet, nntl 1IhHh-H f nn account were kept It teems i i U Is so located that RHGVijx"' BifA "lccy that tho vlstta pald t0 the PWT & 1 ley bave comP!ota BHIffyJ-fV -LHBLLR II ' White Houso by Qeorgo W. Wicker L-J' privacy not only on flBnrMi LI-BT I fhnm, tho attornoy general, would be the days when tho IWBBfaBm HI-Hb"--1HH ' fourid to outnumber those paid by any cabinet is In session, but i t TBWffJyWI tHEliyLfl-LM otner cablnot official. Mr. Wickersham when, as department chiefs, AttKHfjm lRife?B ,s ln cuar of lno prosecution of the jjJg 1 " HaRH taw brcakors which tho government Is - jtffj wJL.coM, a. J y (hey wish to talk with the proBldont without being obliged to wait their turns with senators, representatives and tho private citizens of tho land, who under, tho new arrangement aro given a waiting room of their own. Mr, Taft's cabinet forms what might bo called a legal family. Most of tho members are law yers of tho first rauk, and It is an open secret that thoy wero selected becauso of their high ability. There are no longer books on nature' and books on general history subjects ln tho ofllco li brary of tho "White Houso. Now book shelves have been put in and on them aro hundreds of tho brownish-red covered volumes which beto ken tbo law book. It is said that cablnot meet ings these days take on the semblance of a con sultation of lawyers. As an oxamplo of this It may bo said that one day tho president in talking to somo nowspaper correspondents said that no matter what subject was broached in tho cablnot room at that tlmo the thoughts of ovCryono went from the suggested subject to. tho matter of tho strengthening of tho anti-trust laws. What tho presldont said at that time Is prac tically true of most of tho prosent sessions of tho cabinet, Tor it Is known that whllo Mr. Taft is anxious to carry out tho Roosevelt policies, he wants to buttress them with tho law so that no constitutional flaws can bo found in them by means, of which after tho best intentions on the part of the legislators, tho guilty might find a means of escape. It must not be supposed for an Instant that be cause most of Mr. Taft's cablnot members aro lawyers, thoy havo no avocations In llfo to turn them aside frequently from tholr vocations. Take the ranking member of tho cabinet for instance Philander Ohase Knox. Tho secretary of stato is a devotee of the outdoor life, and is no less no tlvo in open air pursuits than was President Roosevelt, though it Is truo that Mr. Knox does not care for tho pursuit of gamo nor for the study of natural history. The secretary of stato, when ho is not discuss ing matters with tho president, or is not engaged In straightening out International tangles, is eith er playing golf or driving a pair of fast, spirited horses. There aro few mora ardent lovers of "tho noble horse" than Secretary Knox. He rides oc casionally and ho is not averse to taking a five bar red gate if his mount Is a jumper, and It tho gnto happens in his way. Tho secretary's chief delight in driving, On his Pennsylvania farm near Valley Forgo, tho scene of tho awful winter which was passed by tho continental army under George Washington, Mr. Knox has many horses of approved pedigree, and many dairy animals also of noted forbears. Franklin MaoVeagh, tho secretary of tho treas ury, who Js tho second ranking ofllcer ln Mr. Taft's cabinet, is a merchant, although ln early days he studied law. Mr. MaoVeagh la not given particularly to tho strenuous llfo as It is viowed generally. He is much of a walker and has a love or "nature which leads him aflold on many a ramble, but for games, and for shooting, tho sec retary cares llttlo. Up near Dublin, New Hampshire, tho treasury cbjaf baa a country home and tbero oa the rocky JACOB If. DCHMdV, 4ECASTARY or WAR soli ho brings his bost efforts to bear to cul tivate a garden. The secretary has read tho story wrltton by Mrs. Theodore Thomas, tho widow of tho great orchestra leader, a story which told how sho mado a success ful garden on the rock-bound hills of the north. Mr. MaoVeagh has profited by the reading and while his garden per haps is not equal to that planned and cultivated by Mrs. Thomas, it contains many of tho flowors of tho kind that make ploasant what peoplo aro given to coll old fashioned garden b. Mr. Taft consults his treasury chlot about econ omies in government. It was Mr. MaoVoagb? who was asked as soon bb Mr. Taft took office, to pro vide ways and means to save money In tho differ out departments, Tb.o merchant cabinet member had the advantage of a long business training, and it did not take him long to discover that it was possible to save many thousands of dollars by putting business methods ln effect ln tho dif ferent bureaus of government. It was found for instance, that a good many bureaus of tho depart ments were in tho habit of purchasing their sup plies Independently. The result of this was that somo of them wore paying much mora monoy for somo articles than was being paid by others. Reform in purchaso methods has come and it has como also In many other lines, tho net re sult being that Undo Sam's pocketbook is being saved a good many thousands of dollars yoarly. Jacob M. Dickinson, the secretary of war in Mr. Taft's cabinet, Is a southern man and a Demo crat. It may seem a llttlo curlouB at first thought, but it is a fact that the army officers in the main, nre glad that a southerner is tho chief of tho war department Despite tho attltudo of some Demo crats southern members of congress on army questions generally, tho southerners feel kindly toward tho officers and men of tho service. Thoro Ib something in the military llfo that appeals to them, and whllo the official southern Democrats generally aro outspoken against what thoy call tho dangor of a great standing army, tho military establishment as it is has their sympathy always, and their support frequently. The secretary of war comes from that section of tho country whoro everybody lovos horsos, and he is no exception to the rule. He la a golf play er also, and this fact perhaps makes him appeal to Mr. Taft's sympathies just as much as does tho fact that tho secretary is a great lawyer. Secre tary Dickinson is not serving In Washington In an official capacity for the first time. Years ago ho was the assistant attorney general during tho last 24 months of tho Cleveland administration, and ho was counsel for tho government afterward In the matter of the settlement of the Alaskan boundary dispute. When tho presldont has a particularly knotty problem ln legislation on hand and needs to study It from a legal standpoint, he goes over It himself first, just as a judgo on tho bench does with sub mitted evidence, forma his own opinion, and then calls In the "supreme court" of his cabinet which Ib composed of the great lawyers, Knox, Dickin son, Wickersham, Nagel and Balllnger. It Is pos sible that Mr. Taft depend just as much upon tho legal opinion of his. secretary of war as he does upon that of his attorney general. At any rat Lk war secretary U accounted1 by Mr. Tait cabinet position was called by tho press of tho country "the great un known." Mr. Wickersham Is no longer unknown. His position as tho attornoy for tho United States ln all Its civil and criminal pro ceedings keeps him constantly ln the light. The attornoy general looks like a student. Lawyers say of him that he has one of tho keenest and moat analytical minds known to tho profession. Mr. Wickersham cares very llttlo for the outdoor life and, perhaps ho Is a man who "by temperament would not havo ap pealed In tho least to a president like Theodore Roosevelt, but tho attorney general has diversions which occupy his leisure hours, and they nro dl versions, of which, unquestionably the country will approve. He Is interested In tho welfare of at least a dozen charitable organizations and ono of his beliefs Is that: "Ho gives twlco who gives quickly." Mr. Wickersham is immpnsely Interested In tho welfare of tho blind. Ho Ib a director or n great New York Institution which cares for and edu cates children who have lost their sight. Frank II. Hitchcock," who is Mr. Taft's postmas ter general, Is a bachelor, doyoteU to tho outdoor life, a lover of birds and beasts and a student of nearly every branch of naturnl history. Not only is the postmaster general a student of nature, but ho has done an Immense amount of work along sci entific Unes. Three years ago laBt summor tho writer of this article went to Oyster Hay, tho homo of President Roosevolt. Mr. Hitchcock was thcro also, and sev eral hours wero spent In his company In the groundB outlying tho formor president's homo. Thcro Is a deep wood Just beyond the Roosevolt lawn and garden, and from tho wood on that sum mer day thcro camo constantly, songB of birds, many different species singing onO after tho oth er. Many of tho notes that wero heard wero Hiobo of different members of the llttlo warbler family, blrda whoso notes are so similar that It Is Impos sible for any except tho most sensitive enr to differ entiate between them. Mr. Hitchcock identified ono bird after another simply by hoarlng its song. Once on n tlmo tho postmastor general classified 10,000 birds for a museum of natural history with which ho waB connectod. Ono of tho tlos between tho present postmaster general and former President Roosovelt was their common lovo of nature. Secretary of tho Interior Richard A. Dalllngor has few diversions except that or golf. Mr. Dallln gor was" born ln Iowa B0 years ago, and nearly all his llfo has boon spent in somo part of tho west When James Wilson, secretary ot agrlculturo, was asked onco what his diversion was ho an swered, "farming." This idea of diversion is ono that la held largely by men who combine tho lovo of nature with agricultural Instinct. Ono of Mr. Wilson's diversions Is story telling. Thoy sajr ln Washington that If hln homely sayings could bo gathered and put Into a book, tho reader would get a fund of humor and wisdom combined. When Charles Nagel, Mr. Taft's secretary of commerco and labor, Is not engaged in tho work of his department ho Is thinking ovor matters of edu cation and art. Mr. Nagel is to somo oxtont a do voteo of the outdoor llfo, but ho Is prono to giving much or his tlmo to tho study of matters pertain ing to the schools. Taking Mr. Taft's cabinet nil ln all it Is Just ahout as human a body ot men as can be gathorod togeth er. Thoro Is an Impression prevalent that the mem bers of this Washington official family aro rathor or what Waltor Scott calls, "tbo-dry:aB-dust" mate rial, but thoro haB been a misunderstanding appar ently concerning the naturo of thoso advisors of tha president. Thoy know their law and they know their agrlculturo and their finance, but whilo they know how to study they also know how to play, but not one of them knows how to play ono whit bet ter than does their chief, who Is about as Jolly a man personally as the United States has yet produced. (Copyright, 1909 by Awoclstcd Litem rr ITcira;) "Is this Harnea of.Bloomlngton?" asked the lady In silver gray. "1 am names ot Dloomlngton," to tho silver vision in tho chair. "It is a rather singular errand upon which I havo come," said tho lady with hesitation. "Kindly state it, madam," I said, for I am no waster of words, I drew a chair to tho other sldo of my desk and eat down. As I did It, something soft flopped down on fny foot. I looked and found that It was tho tall of a dog. Ho was a thorough bred from his head to his feet, and ho looked up at mo from under the desk with bright eager oyeB, "Is that your dog?" I askedl "Yes," said tho lady In silver gray, "and It is with him that my errand Is connected." "You sec," she went on, "1 am Mrs. Carter Mrs. Dabnoy Carter. I am soparated from my husband," Her voice trembled. "I, do not think I need to tell you the reasons of that separa tion, Mr. Barnes. It Is sufficient to to toll you that his offense was unfor glvablo,. and my decision to seo no moro of him Irrevocable." Her tone had grown high and ex cited, and I soothed her by complete ncqulescenco. "Certainly, Mrs. Carter. Ho, no doubt, deserves your anger." Soh looked at ma doubtfully "Woll, ho acted dreadfully," Bho said, "but ho Is a gentleman." "And tho dog?" suggested, to, got her back to tch subject. "Yes, tho dog. Ho Is Wellington II., son of Wellington I tho champion. Dick Mr. Carter, gavo him to mo tho first year wo woro married. Wo aro both .devoted to dogs dovotcd, and Wellington was tho dearest puppy." "I can Imaglno It." "Well, of couruo, wo both pelted Wellington awfully, Ho walked and drove with us ovorywhoro and wo had such lovely times." "Yes?" "Thon camo tho trouble, and-aftor that I took Wellington with mo ln tho mornings when I walked, and Mr. Car ter took him for drives in tho after toon In his trap. Then came, our sep aration, and tho question was, who should tako Wellington, Dick want ed him, and I wanted htm, and Wel lington wanted both of us. I must say that Dick was vory nice about It 'You tako him, Joan,' ho said, 'I gavo him to you and ho Ib really yours by right of prior possession.' " "That was very genorous," I ad mitted. "Yes, but you seo tho trouble Is that Wellington doesn't seo It that way, Every evening ho goes down to tho club for Dick. Then ho comes to me and puts his paws on my knoo and looks so wistful that I can't boar It" Hor libs trcmblod. "And then It Is most embarrassing. Now and thon wo meet Mr. Carter, and wo could pass with n mere bow or civility, but Wellington rushes back and forth and barks and we havo to stop for tho sako of appearances." I Interrupted her. I could not seo Just what I had to do with thoso lntl mato details, "And you wanted mo?" I asked. Mrs. Carter stood up and leaned over the desk. Hor silver gray lure swept across my papers and her big muff lay llko a light cloud on my blotter. Tho fragranco of violets at her bolt pervaded tho atmosphere, Her volco was supplicating; hor face pleaded. "Please, dear Mr. Barnes, ovary body knows that you llko dogs that's the reason I waqt to trust Wellington to you." Ana so i oecamo possessed of a bloodod bull pup. At first I endured him for Mrs. Carter's sake, but srad ually ho wormed himself Into my nf rectlons, and In six months wo wero Inseparable. But ho was still truo to his first loves. When Dick Carter's rod car rounded a corner Wellington would bo attar It like a flash, and if wo oven onlered tho shopping district I would mis my dog, to find hlra comfortably curled up on tho seat of tho olectrlo coupe of bis former mistress. Thar were no a happy-looking pafr tlicsd' yb'u'ng ',poplo alrtil .It, neemed . a pfty that thoy should not be geltftiR f out of life all there Ib In it M-snlcl n much.tojArs.'.'Carterj as 1-rescued -her one-4 day' from Wellington's ca- v rcsscs. - ' , "But I I. pouldn'tt f,orglvevlilm,Y, . eho said. "Why not?" "lie said I'd havo to ask hlspardon add I never begged any ona'apa?'' don ln my life." "Hum was It your fault?" . , "Get in and I'll toll you." ' ' It' was a sad little talo ot a proud woman's robelllon against a'mahV''.' masterfulness, ' ! "Why shouldn't ho concede things?" ' ' was her demand. 1 It was on a crisp October evening that tho little drama was finally played -out Mrs. Carter called mo up by tele phone. "I want to borrow Wellington," she said. "It'u my second girl's evening-'" out and the cook's mUhor Ib 111', bo I'll bd alone and I thought Welling- ton might kodp mtf from feeling afraid." I took tho dog ovor and left them'' togothor ny thV roaring flro ' in thV" library. Mrs. Carter was looking cs-r pcclally attractive ln a cllnglng'whlto 1 gown with n bunch of violets In her 1 belt. Whon I reached homo again 'I wan1 lonely. I mlssrd Wellington and I missed moro than that- I seemed to fee), for tho first tlmo, my great need ot a home of a wlfo of a woman . llko Mrs. Carter. But. In splto of their separation she still belonged to Dick. I had gradually " concolvcd a great affection for' tho young fellow who hold his head so ' proudly and hid tho pain In hln heart I decided to go to him for tho even ing. I found him In a mood for talk' lng. And whon I told where I had left Wellington, ho confided to me Urn story ot his disagreement with hla wife. "8ho was wrong," ho said. "A man can't glvo In nlways." ' ' -" "But If ha loves hfcr." I Bald, "isn't it worth whllo?" "I I did make a concession," hou confessed. "I wroto to her a day orJ two ago. and and I told her that If sho would, sond mo. any tokenb'uucli of violets a ribbon anything I would nccopt It In llou of a porsonal apology." "She1 Is proud. Sho will novor sond you oven a violet In apology."' But ovon as I said It, thoro. was a patter of steps In tho hall, and a fa miliar wmno nt tno door, "It's Wellington," Dick Bald. "Hollo" ho began and stopped short, and I, turning In my chair, to know tho reason of hln auddon silence; fenw tho big dog, his bond held high, ' bunch or violets held tightly In htu Jaw, And even as I looked ho dropped i tho flowers at his master's feet. Dick snatched them up quickly. "Barnes," he cried, triumphantly, "sho has sent them. Jean has Bent them." Wellington barked as If ho knew ho was, tho carrier of good tidings. "I must go to her," Carter said, and'.1 away ho went, and I Bat thero with t only Wellington for company - and thought of their happiness and of my , lonely llfo, Woll, thoy mado It up and lived happy ovor after. "I didn't send him tho violets," Jean told mo, long after. "Thoy dronnod- froni my bolt, and Wellington played with thorn, and all at onco ho took., them In his mouth and bolted through tho open window, and I laughed a llttlo and forgot It entirely until Dick come back with tho violets in his. . hand and hla face radiant and, ot course. I had to glvo in thon, dear , Barnes of Bloomlngton." , Wellington divides his tlmo nowbo. . twecn tho Carter roaldonco and! my bachelor apartmont, and ho dlvldos his heart among four persons Instead ot three, for thero In n llttlo Jean with eyes llko hor mother's, whoso gentle . affection for old Barnos of Blooming ton fills with Joy my quiet days. Edison's Practical Joke. Edison, tho great Inventor, was al- . ways a groat practical joker. One " night when n lazy oporator In tho of fice In which ho was employed thought his day's work was over, and was get ting ready to go home, Edison slipped around to tho switchboard, made a ' connection with tho weary Willie's telegraph key, cnlled him down to tho table and, supplied with an old news paper, proceeded to send him a bun- -die of presumably Associated Proas stuff from Now York. Edison was a lightning sender, as well as receiver, from artnost tho beginning of his ca reer, nnd tho wny ho mado that follow work for two solid hours was a Joy. After tiring him out completely, mak ing him receive and copy tho equlva. lent ot about threo or four newspaper columns, Edison suddenly came from behind tho switchboard, exposed the . Joko to tho poor fellow and wound up v by pelting him with the nowspaper from which ho had been sending the messages. Avoiding Trouble. Somo wqmon say that the only way. to got along with a man Is to believe all bo tells you even when you know U isn't truo. Bo Self-Communlon. able to be alone, Browne.