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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 16, 1902)
Home Life of Iowa's New Governor ! ""1 GOVERNOR CUMMINS IN STREET "ATTIRE! Photo by a Staff Artist. lb ... COVEKNOR CUMMINS' HOME AT DES KOINES Fhoto by a Staff Artist. I engaged- in ordnance duty on a DUU1B aiaui,!!, ftiivu v Ing In his sleep. The story Is told of him that one night recently bs awakened hla wife by exclaiming In ac cents of piteous distress: "Bhe must have a new Jacket. I must manage to gat one for her!" The wife, knowing that her lord'a slumber had never been disturbed by the requirements of her wardrobe, became vastly agitated. "William! William!" she breathed earnestly Into his ear, "Who is sheT" "My three-Inch gun!" sighed the overtaxed ordnance man. It was 1 a. m. and the man sat on his own dooratep with his head In his banda, report the New York Herald. Presently a policeman came leisurely by. "Hey, you." he said to the sitter, "what are you doing there?" "Thinking," replied the man thickly, but not aa bad aa It might have been. "This Is no time for thinking," said the guardian. "You go In lha houae if you live here." "I've got to think awhile Brat." the man Insisted. "What' It dickens you got to think about T" "Well," explained the man, looking wearily up at the officer atanding over him now, "I've got to th'.nk whether I'd better go In and let my wife murder m or Just alt her and freexe to death. The average would be tbe same, but I'd like to do It the way that would please her best. See?" The policeman saw and, much against the kindly dlspoaed man's protest, he called the woman up and submitted the question to her. . She took the man In. In the crowd that filled a Mulberry street auction room on Monday were two Italians, who watched the sal with Interest aid en Joyed th badinage for which the auctioneer U jioted. On of th Italians bid on some household article and It waa Inatantly ac cepted, report th Newark (N, J.) Call. "What' th nam?" asked th auctioneer a he opened th aalesbook. "Pletro Dlonosella," answered th buyer. "Oh, that' too much. I'll put down 'Pea. nuts, M cents.' You'r on," aald th auc 0 m I nn nappy nomtc nie or uovernor I I and Mrs. Albert B. Cummins com- mencca in tuicnigsn some iwemy elght year ago. Nothing bad aa yet developed In the career of the young man to Indicate that he vn cut out for great political honors. Mr. Cummins was a surveyor and engineer. He was assistant to tbe chief engineer of it little railroad company engaged In laying out a line of railroad which has since be come a part of the Michigan Southern. He had not deliberately chosen engineering as a profession, but he rather had drifted Into It as a makeshift, all the time hoping and expecting that some way would be opened for a different career. Of necessity his stay In Michigan was regarded by him as temporary. He had come over from In diana, where he hid been engaged In rail road work. It was to this young civil en gineer that Miss Ida L. Gallery gave her heart and hand and they were married. But already Mr. Cummins had showed himself to be versatile and aggressive, and It was later that he found way to secura a taw education and to enter the practice of his chosen profession in Iowa. It goes without saying that these early days were ' trying ones, for to him, as to others, suc cess came only after days of hard work and strenuous effort. But for twenty ycarj Mr. Cummins has been one of the growing men In the law in Iowa, and while he has grown Into the. law, both Mr. and Mrs. Cummins have grown Into the hearts of Dcs Moines ' Gleanings from the Story tioneer as he rattled off the next article. The other Italian bid enough to secure tbe article and bis name was requested. "Patrlcka O'Sulllvana," quickly anawered the Italian. "Well." muaed th auctioneer, "that's a good old name for a dago; come, that's not yours, though." "You beta It isa nota mine," waa the quick reply, "but lta is agooda aa Pea nut. You maka da fun wltha 'tallano name; I maka fun wlda Irish." Cornell university has Its fair quota of harum-scarum youtha who, after pyrotech nic rareera, suddenly disappear from the university's ken. A waateful genlua waa recently haled before the faculty, reports the New York Tribune, to answer charges of such violent fractures of discipline that even In hla moat optimistic moments be hai not hoped to explain or disprove them sat isfactorily. However, he faced the music and even stood with a considerable degree of composure while proof after procf of misconduct waa preaented. Finally, when th evidence was all In and the hush fell on th assembly that precede sentence., the prodigal ralaed hla downcast eyes and. In a voice full of emotion, sad: "I have only on last request to make." "And what Is. that T" asked the presiding officer. "That you will all give mm your photo graphs to remember you by." With this parting shot he dodged out of the dcor, which be had taken palna to stand near. Th pro reisers lay back In their chairs and laughed loud and leng. Then they took th vote that severed the official connection between themselves and their tender young friend. The following ancedoto of Lincoln Is re lated by Alfred Matthew In th Era: "Speaking of gray hairs put me In mind of Bates Attorney General Bates, you know and of on of Lincoln' remarks. W were all going on day out from Washing ton to Tennallytowa th president, Secre- : tary Chase, Mr. Bate and myself to se Oeneral McClellan review th Pennsylvania reserve. Bates hair, I noticed, had re tained lta original dark color In perfect freahenaa, vhll hi beard was almost as people until they are among the best known and most popular of residents of the capital city, personally, socially and In all good works. The home of Oovernor and Mrs. Cummins Is on Grand avenue, the fashionable rest-, denes avenue of Des Moines, a spacious,' comfortable residence, surrounded by great trees and a pretty lawn. It is here that Mrs. Cummins makes life pleasant for many friends. With the opening of the social season Mrs. Cummins Inaugurated the' cus tom of receptions at her home every Tues day afternoon. Des Moines during the leg islative session Is a city or gaiety. The wives of members are numerous, and they add to the social circle. At these after noon receptions by the wife of the governor she has to assist her some of the ladies of tbe city and some of tbe ladies of the offi cial circle. In this way there la an op portunity for the temporary residents of Des Moines to get better acquainted with the Des Moines people. Mrs. Cummins' re ceptions are proving popular and have added greatly to the pleasure of the.seascn In tbo capital city of Iowa. Mrs. Cummins has been active In social affairs at all times. She has been a liberal entertainer and a charming hostess. She Is even better known In club work. Some years ago she waa president of the Des Moines Woman's club, the leading organi zation of that kind in Des Moines. She was a most enthusiastic! head for the club and to her work is attributed much of the i RECEPTION HALL white as mine Is now. It waa an exception to th usual law and I asked Mr. Bates, after he had spoken of the peculiarity. If he knew any special reason for It. He aald he didn't, but the president exclaimed, laughingly: 'Why, don't you knowT It'a because he uses his chin more than he does bis head.' " Philanthropy, that darling of hla heart, lately played a pretty trick on Andrew Carnegie. A few mornings ago, relate the New York Time, he and- another gentle man his secretary, presumably left the Carnegie houae. In Fifty-fourth street, and stepped toward a carriage standing at the curb. They had moved but a few paces when, coming from nowhere In particular, a wretched, ragged woman Interrupted their advance. "God bleaa you, gentlemen," she aald, holding forth her hand. Her voice was Ir realatably pathetic. Unbuttoning bis coat, Mr. Carnegie drew a coin from his waistcoat pocket and, with out glancing at It, banded it to the woman. The carriage door was opened and Mr. Car negie placed one foot on the step. Then hi drew back In deep thought apparently. He turned quickly to the woman. "Here, my good woman," he said, fum bling In another pocket, "let me have the money I Just gave you.". For a moment the woman regarded him with eye anything but pathetic. Then, opening her hand, ahe glanced at the coin which he had given to her. "Oh, It' a keepaake, is It!" ah ex claimed boldly. "Yes. It is nothing to you." "It's nothing to me, but It's everything to you. What'U you give me for It?" Mr. Carnegie surrendered to his undig nified predicament. "Very well." he an awered, though vialbly annoyed. So, hand ing th woman a bill, be received th keep sake In exchange. - "I'v had good many rebuff in my line of business, but I struck th limit th other day down on Taaker street." aald a collector to the Philadelphia Record man. "I had bn after a man for aeveral months to col lect a bill of $6, but had a) way been put success which it has attained. Her en thusiasm In the work did not cease with the expiration of her office, but she has remained a good worker in the ranks and her counsel is much prised by the women. Mrs. Cummins is also at the present time president of the Dea Moines Children's Home society, which has built and main tains a One home for friendless children iu Des Molnea. Mrs. Cummins has been a great reader and the private library to which both Oov ernor and Mrs. Cummins refer In their own home, la filled with choice books which bear evidence of having been more than mere ornament on the shelves. Mrs. Cummins has traveled in Europe and widened her knowledge by observation. She was one of a party of Iowa women making an extensive tour a few years ago which proved pleasant to all. She has trav eled In Alaska In recent years. Oovernor and Mrs. Cummins have one daughter, and her son, a bright little boy. Is the Joy of the Cummins home, where he spends much of his time. To Oovernor and Mrs. ' Albert B. Cum mins official life has only added oppor tunities for doing good In the world, for broadening their acquaintance with others, and increased their social dutlea. Iowa haa never had as chief executive one who was more capable of fulfilling all the expecta tions of his friends and of the people, nor with a wife so ready to meet all the re quirements of her position. .-V" AND CORNER OF LIBRARY IN GOVERNOR Tellers' Pack off with excuses and promises. This day his wife came to the door and I stated my business to her, although I guess she knew all about It." " 'My husband Is asleep,' she said. 'He works at night and never gets up till noon. He won't be up for two hours.' " 'Very well,' I said, 'I'll be back In two hour.' " 'It won't be worth your while,' she said; 'I'm sure he hasn't got $6, and even if he had, I shall see him before you will. If ha ha any money In his clothe you can Just bet your life I'm going to get It myself. I don't think you stand much chance around here.' "After that I didn't think It worth while to go back." There la a certain young man In the old city hall who never nowaday allows hs temper to get ruffled while at the tele phone. A few days ago, relatea the St. Louis Post, he could not get the number he de sired. "See here, central, I'll report you," be shouted. "You don't know who I am," was the composed reply. "Well. I'll find out, and that blamed quick, too." "I know you. though." came In soft, easy tones. "I've seen your picture. You're at tbe old city hall." The young man plunged headlong Into the trap. "You haver' be exclaimed delightedly, "wher. In th newspapers?" "No," was the merry reply, "on a lobster can." When the late "watuT Q. Oreeham was holding his first cabinet poattion. that tf postmaster general under the administra tion of Prealdent Arthur, relates the New York Times, he received a call one day from an old schoolmate whom he had not seen sloe their school day together a quarter of a century befor. Judge Oreeham welcomed his old friend very cordially and the caller having no ax to grind, they had a long and Jolly chat while th office seekers kicked their heels together in the ante chamber. On learning that hi friend was Hjtj, swim iir ii"1" ? i ' f .5 j ' t . - . i 1 i r.-7 t A MRS. CUMMINS IN HER FAVOR ITE CORNER Photo by a Staff Artist. s TO, '" CUMMINS' HOME Photo by a Staff 'Artist. now a resident of New Jersey the postmaater general remarked with a sarcastic grin that this was the first caller he had from New Jersey that waa not an earnest pusher for office either for himself or for some friend, and that there was no state In the union whose citizens were such determined besiegers of a cabinet officer who had any thing to give as tbe people- of New Jersey were. "That may be true," said the caller, suddenly changing bis manner, "and I don't want to deceive you, Mr. Postmaster Gen eral, for I have something to ask myself. What I have to ask of you is not for my self or for any one person; it I for a whole community, a whole state, In fact, and I want you to consider It very carefully, for I am 'offering you a chance to endear yourself forever to the people of a whole tate, and make your name memorable and beloved among them and among their de scendants. Beware how you turn down my request, sir." "What in the world is It?" asked the postmaster general, his manner changing too at thla portentious exordium. "I want you, sir." said the Jeraeyman, "to flavor the mucilage on your postage stamps with New Jereey applejack." Two picturesque characters were lost to New York when death claimed them Recorder Smyth and "Barrister" Tom No lan, relatea the Brooklyn Eagle. Thla an ecdote, told at a recent dinner, will be ap preciated by all who knew them. One day toward the cloae of the term of aervlce In the criminal court of Judge Smyth, th3 Barrister dropped In on a legal friend. "I've been before Judge Smyth trying a caa today," said the Barrister In that rich brogue that made his speech so musical. "Indeed," said his friend. "How did you come out?" "Oh," replied the Barrister with an ex preaslv ahrug of hi shoulder, "my client went up th river for a prolonged tay." He was thoughful a moment and then added: "Judge Smyth is a great man a great lawyer and a profound Jurist, but he has on weakness. He thinks every cltlien ought to erve. at least, one term In tbe state' prison." 1 i r I