Plattsmouth Daily News
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NEWS HERALD PUD. CO. Publishers
PLATTSMOUTH.
NEBRASKA
MATCHED AT HIS OWN GAME
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Traveler Had Journeyed Far, But Evi
dently There Were Thlnge He
Had Not Heard Of.
Shakespeare's dictum: "Home-keeping
youths have ever homely wits,"
seems to be qualified by tho appended
Btory, quoted from a writer In the
Richmond News-Leader: ,
"Echoes," remarked the great trav
eler, "are queer things. They're queer
for two reasons their cause, and the
vast dlffernce In their sounds. 8cl
end: has expluined why there are
echoes, hut It can't tell why one
should reverberate with buss tones In
response to a shrill tenor yell, while
another reverses this, or responds nat
urally." "I reckon you've heerd a number o'
echoes?" hazarded the young man,
whose farthest trip from home was a
distance of 39 4 miles.
"Rather! I recall one In Switzer
land; the echo rolled for just four sec
ondsno more, no less. Then there'a
one In the Pyrenees that Jumps six
times; first loud and harsh, then low
and soft, then loud again and so on.
There's one In the western part of
Oermnny that holds a full sentence
of seven words before releasing a
sound, thus rivaling a certain echo In
Afghanistan, which doesn't repeat un
til a minute and a half have elapsed."
"I'd like to hear a few o' them,"
said the homeBtaylng chap, with a fine
show of wlstfulness.
"Of course you would," responded
the traveler, encouragingly. "There
are few things in the world more In
. terestlng than a good echo."
"You're right," said the other
thoughtfully. "I ain't ever been but a
few miles from home, but I've heerd
one o' the 6trangegt echoes that ever
was, anywhere.
"Up in the little range o' hills 20
miles yonder is a ravine. If you stand
at one end of it an' yell: 'Jones,' the
echo comes back: 'Jones? Jones?
What Jones?'"
The great traveler looked musingly
into space and was silent.
Testing of a Mountain Gun.
I was chatting at the club with some
service men one day last week when
the question of trials with ' new
guns cropped up. One of my friends
hud had to do with tho'ordnance com
mittee some years ago. He told us
of a small light gun which had been
submitted to the war office. The In
ventor claimed that it could not only
be carried Intact upon a mule, but that
it could be fired from the animal's
back. A day for the demonstration
was appointed, and the committee at
tended. A mule, with the gun on
him, was led up In the line of targets.
The committee stood round, the gun
was loaded and would have been dis
charged had not some one suggested
that It was safer to Are It, for first
time, with a time fuse. This sugges
tion was adopted and a 15-second fuse
attached to the gun. The gun was
pointed toward the butts and they all
stood away. Left to his own devices,
the mule appeared more interested
in some thistles than in the trial, and
Blowly turned Itself round, with the
muzzlo pointing at the lookers-on.
There was a yell of horror, and the
committee flung themselves flat on
the ground. No one ever knew where
the shot went, but the recoil rolled the
unsuspecting mule flat on its back
London Telegraph.
Daughter's Room.
Every mother should, where It Is
possible, permit her daughters to fur
nish their rooms according to their
own taste. Only in this way a girl
can find an opportunity to express her
own Individuality.
Even where it is not convenient tc
allow the daughter to do the furnish
ing mothers can encourage the selec
tion of good photographs and orna
ments with which to decorate. Some
of the pleasantest rooms In many
homes are those in which the daush
ters of the house have been allowed
to show their individual taste. The
care and arrangement of such apart
ments have proved sources of contln
ual pleasure and development to the
girls.
Keep Them Employed.
Always keep the children employed
If you want to keep them out of mis
chief. If you don't find them some-
thing to do, be It ever bo trifling, they
will probably find an occupation for
themselves, very likely the one thing
you don't want them to do.
No matter what is being done it
should be done to the best of the
child's ability, and neatness and care
should always be praised and en
couraged. Children love to be em
ployed, and next to an occupation
they await Immediate recognition for
the work done and praise for success
ful effort. Encouragement will not
hurt the normal child.
? Cotton Crop Worth Much Money
Last year's American cotton crop
was valued at S6S3.000.OOO. and If the
value of the seed be added, the aggre
gate revenue from the crop was very
close up to $800,000,000. If the pres
ent priceB for the staple hold, the val
ue of this year's cotton crop Including
the seed will mount up very near to
$1,000,000,000. at any rate to more
than 1000,000,000. New York Com
mercial.
Any poet can get Inspiration. Th
trouble is to get postage stamps.
SHIS Is one of the
few cities in the
country where the
old fashioned cus
tom of keeping op
en house on New
Year's day holds
unchanged. The
men who are fond
of digging Into
matters historical
say that the New
Year's calling
practice originated
among the Dutch
on Manhattan is
land. Washington began the prac
tice in the year that the city was
founded, and It has kept It up
with all its Boclal formalities
from that day to this.
The greatest New Year's recep
tion that the world knows Is held
every year In the White House
with the president and his wife
and the cabinet officers and their
wives In tho receiving line. The
guests are a multitude, and they
come dressed In all sorts of rai
ment from the blue and gold
trappings of the ambassadors and
army officers of all nations, to
the toll-stained clothing of the la
borer and the calico gowns and
bandannas of the old-time plan
tation negress.
The White House, of necessity.
muBt be democratic, for this Is a
democracy, and the same greet
ing Is given the workmen that is
given to the ambassador of all
the Russlas. There is no more
picturesque affair In the country
than the White House reception
on New Year's. Long before the
gates are thrown open the ave
nues leading to the executive
mansion and Lafayette sauare.
which outlles the president's
grounds, are Jammed with people,
and it is the duty of the police to
get the Immense crowd In line and to main
tain order.
President Roosevelt came Into office in tho
month of September, and because of the assas
sination of President McKlnley while holding
a public reception in the Music hall at Buffalo,
it was urged that the New Year's receptions
at the White House should be given over, it
was feared that some half-crazed person might
succeed in getting to the president's person
and repeat the awful crime of Buffalo. Mr.
Roosevelt, however, would not listen to the ar
guments of the fearful ones, and the reception
was held as It always had been held, and Mr.
Taft will keep up the custom. There have been
no Interruptions to the New Year's day recep
tions during the history of the republic.
Precedence of necessity has to be considered
to some extent at the president's receptions.
When the officials of Washington life have
passed in front of the president and his wire
and have exchanged the greetings of the New
Year, the plain civilians and their wives,
daughters and sons, follow In whatever order
they may have happened to reach their place '
In line. If the millionaire does not want to be
preceded by the poverty-stricken he can stay
at home unless ho chooses to get up early
enough to make Bure that he can get a first
place. If any discrimination were shown the
president would hear" of it, and there would be
no end of a row.
Out of courtesy to the men who in a sense
are guests of the nation, the ambassadors and
ministers and the attaches of legations are re
ceived first. The ambassador, who has been
longest in the Washington service heads the
line and it makes no difference whether he
comes from a great power or from a weak
power, for the length of his Washington resi
dence alone decides the matter. The master
of ceremonies at the White House takes the
diplomatic list and the American official list
and studies them for a week prior to the re
ception. If he should give place to some of
ficial which by precedence right belonged to
another, there would be sulking, Indignation
and very likely loud complaint. It Is ono of tho
most delicate tasks In the world to arrange the
official guests at a New Year's reception so
that there will be no friction and no heart
burnings. Following the ambassadors and ministers of
foreign countries come the members of the su
preme court of the United States. In their
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trail come the senators and representatives In
congress, and then come the officers of the
army and of the navy. Then the bureau chiefs
and the higher officials of the various depart
ments of government greet the president, and
after them the ordinary citizen has hla place
In linn.
On New Year's day President Taft shakes
hands with something like 8,000 of his fellow
citizens and cltlzenesses. Mrs. Taft does not
shake hands, for If the president's wife should
attempt It she could not hold the pen for a
good many days thereafter. Shaking hands 19
a more trying occupation than most people may
imagine. Grover Cleveland had to give over
the practice for some time because he actual
ly lamed his right hand and right arm until he
could not lift thera without pain. Mr. Roose
velt had a handshake which enabled him to
give a seemingly hearty grip to everybody and
yet to spare his own hand the slightest mus
cular strain. Mr. Taft must have had the
Roosevelt secret Imparted to him, for he gives
the same kind of a hand greeting that was giv
en by his predecessor.
At the White House reception on New Year's
day affairs move forward as smoothly as the
proverbial clock work. The guests enter at the
main doorway which opens toward Pennsyl
vania avenue. Their course toward the presi
dent is lined with watchful men in civilian
dress. The line moves quickly and It is accel
erated In Its course by the politely worded re
quests of the ushers, requests by the way
which have the force of orders, although the
words are spoken In such a way that the guest
has no thought that he is being unduly hurried.
When consideration is given to the fact that
thousands upon thousands of people must greet
the president within a limited time, there is
every excuse for the championship by the ush
ers of what may be called tho "forward move
ment." President Taft has said that he will carry
out the Roosevelt policies. He does not con
sider it necessary, however, in order to keep
his pledge to say: "delighted" to everyone
whom he greets. "Qlud to see you," Is the
president's stock phrase of welcome and as his
intonation is as heartily sincere as Is his smile,
he leaves a pleasant impression. Once In a
while in the courso of a New Year's reception,
the president will "hold up the line" long
enough to chat for a moment with some one
whom he knows well personally, or with some
official who has come from a distance to pay
his respects. Mr. Roosevelt had a habit of
holding the line up quite frequently, and as a
result his receptions were likely to be rather
long drawn out. if Mr. Roosevelt ever had Been
a man before, no matter how many years back,
nor In what kind of an out-of-the-way place, he
was sure to remember him, and as a result his
acquaintance was very wide. He never liked
to let a man whom he had once known pass
by with merely a prefunctory handshake.
Receiving with the President and Mrs. Taft
on New Year's day are the vice-president's wife
and women of tho cabinet who range them
selves to the right in order of the cabinet rank
of their husbands. Mrs. Sherman has the first
place and then comes Mrs. Knox, the wife of
the secretary of state.
Then comes Mrs. MacVeagh, the wife of the
secretary of the treasury, and so on in order of
cablnst precedence, until the wife of Mr. Nagel
Is reached who holds the last place In line as
the wife of tho head of the department most re
cently created by act of congress.
A few other women In official life are Invited
by the president's wife to assist her In her du
ties as hostess, and it is not at all an unusual
thing to Invite some of the older residents of
Washington whose families have no govern
ment connection. The cabinet officers and their
wives remain with the receiving party until
the reception is about two-thirds ended, and
then they go to their homes where they hold
semi-public receptions of their own.
The vice-president and Mrs. Sherman receive
on New Year's day, and anyone who will, may
call. At the White House no refreshments are
served because It would be a physical impossi
bility to care for the wants of the enormous
crowds that are present At the houses of the
vice-president and the cabinet officials, how
ever, great tables covered with good things to
ent, and In some houses, with good things to
drink, are prepared for the visitors. The wo
men of official life In Washington in the main,
are Just as good politicians as are their hus
bands. Tho humblest caller on New Year's day
Is treated with all the consideration which Is
hhown the most prominent people. The Incon
spicuous one of to-day Is likely to be the con
spicuous one of to-morrow, and no one appre
ciates this better than the trained wives of of
ficialdom. It Is probably true In some measure at least,
that more nmbltlons have been killed by the
mistakes of the wives of persons newly ap
pointed to high office than by the mistakes of
tho officials themselves. Washington Is full
of stories of resentment caused by the fullure
of tho wives of new cabinet members to recog
nize persons who supposed that all the world
knew them. These mistakes are con
fined largely to the officials and their
wives who are new to Washington so
ciety and new to the political life gen
erally. Men are appointed to cabinet
positions frequently who never before
held office. The congressman who
finds himself promoted to higher of
fice knows what is called the social
game aB well as he knows politics,
and his wife by association knows it
ns well as he does.
So It Is that at the great receptions
on New Year's and other days, the
hosts and hostesses who are accus
tomed to the ways of Washington,
manage to get through the trying
hours of crowded receptions without
clvlne offense to anybody.
It is the bounden duty of every
subordinate official in Washington to
call on his chief on New Year's day.
After nil the officials have paid their
respects to the president, they go at
once to the home of the chief of the
department in which they serve. From the
ranking major general of the army to the
youngest second lieutenant on duty at the cap
ital all the officers call upon the secretary of
war. The naval officers from Admiral Dewey
down to the stripling ensign, make their way
to the house of Secretary of the Navy Meyer,
and thero, In order of rank, pay their respects.
The New Year's day reception at tho White
House la the only formal reception of the year
that is open to all citizens. There are other
receptions given by the president and his wife
during the winter which are semi-public in
their nature, but to which admission Is by card
only. The first of these receptions Is given on
the second Thursday after New Year's day, In
the evening. It la called "tho diplomatic re
ception," and the guests are Invited to meet the
ambassadors and ministers who are accredited
by foregln governments, to the United States.
Another reception is given two weeks later
and the guests of honor whom the other guests
are Invited to meet are the Justices of the su
premo court of the United States. The third
reception is for the senators and representa
tives in congress, and the fourth and last, is
for tho officers of tho army and navy.
Nearly every flay of tho year the president
greets visitors in the offices of the White
House at noon, and so It Is possible for the
American citizen to exchange greetings with
the chief executive even though circumstances
prevent his saying "Happy New Year," on Jan
uary 1st. at the great White House holiday
gathering. - ,
Thought Much of Pet Dogs I
Four metrical epitaphs reveal to us a pleas
ing and unexpected side of the Roman charac
ter. They are epitaphs on pet dogs. One was
a great white hunting dog named Margarlto,
who coursed through the trackless forests, as
she tells us on her tombstone. Another "never
barked without reason, but now he is silent"
Myria. the little Gallic dog, barked fiercely If
she found a rival lying In her mistress' Inn
Tho stone of Patrlcus, an Italian dog at Sa
lernum contains this tribute from his mistress
"My eyes were wet with tears, our dear lit
tle dog, when I bore thee (to the grave) a
service which I should have rendered thee with
less grief three lustrums ago.' s0, Pntricus
never again fchalt thou give mo a thousand
kisses. Never canst thou lie contentedly m
my lap. In sadness have I burled thee as
thou deservest, in a resting place of marble
and I have put thee for all time by the side of
my shade. In thy qualities, sagacious thou
wert like a human being. Ah. me! what
loved companion have we lost!" From "?iZ
clcty and Politics In Ancient Roui" ,