D
llLE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: DECEMBER 26, 1909.
' 3
Social Life at Omaha High School Takes on Great Holiday Activity
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resourcs nd if he bvirins bv Indolent
and ill-nn. the firm er Is apt tu be the
iM. A little nocal life stimulates the
'tudent to bp proficient In hin Mudio In
order that he my hold the egteem of h:a
clatuimatcs.
RecentJy a well known Omaha man waa
heard to give thla advice to a Bon who ia
iot at all keen about school or itudiea.
"Hava as cood a time as you can, my
aim. If jou wish to please me you will
try to win honors In athletics and become
popular with your clansmatrs. and I will
five you ail of the funds that I can."
A friend of the father remarked that
this waa unusual advice, and not word
had been aald about studies. The father
replied that a boy was not eligible for
athletic honors unless he kept up with his
studies and the boy or girl who Is popular
with his school friends Is not the one who
fails In his studies.
mn t. noiiaay season means mora
to the school boys and Kirls
than to any one rise. Christ
mas day la the children's day.
but the rest of the usual fort
nichts' vacation belongs to the
school set. The High school student have
planned a gay round of pleasure with a
few days left for Impromptu affairs, such as
Jolly skating parties and coasting or bobsled
parties. 1'anclng Is a favorite pastime
with tha young people and aoros elaborate
affairs are planned by different clubs and
aocietiea which take the place of the ta
booed Greek letter fraternities and aororl-
ttes at the Hitch school. Two large mas
wfii used to decor
ste. There is alwars
considerable rivalry
between the Junior
and senior classes,
and tha seniors have
to give an elaborate
party or they will be
surpassed by the
Junior Prom, which
is an event in the
life of each student
who has the good
fortune to become a
junior.
Surpassing all other
school affairs for
grandeur, is the hop
given by the Cadet
Officers' club, or In
school language the
"C. O. C. hop." The
cadet officers and
cadets each Invites
h I favorite girl
friend months ahead,
and for a few weeks
ahead of the hop
the c ad e t a are
treated royally by
the young women.
for' It would be a
lng the holidays by the young people. One calamity not to be Invited to the C. O. C.
of these is not a High school society, but hop. Military decorations are usually in
most of the young men belong to the club order at these hops and though the thar
are High school cadets. The young moroeter may register sero each rAt
oirve
women of the club are scattered In the dtf-
herolcally wears white linen trousers with
ferent schools of the city. This is the his cadet uniform coat. The cadet officers
junior Dancing club, which meets every wear their swords and make the cadets
second Friday during the winter at Cham
bers'. The masquerade party given Thurs-
look envious until one of the officers hap
pens to trip on his sword. The students
day the 23d. was the largest and most make a remarkably good showing at these
eisoorate arrair that the club will give affairs and one might easily imagine 61m
during the year. self at a cadet bop at West Point Military
The Senior Prom last Monday evening, academy,
given by members of the senior class of Christmas eve a party of twenty-four
the Omaha High school at Chambers' High school students gave a masquerade
academy, was enjoyed Immensely bv the
querade dancing parties were given dur- students. The clsss pennants and colors most of the costumes were comic sj.d af
forded much amusement.
Monday evening. December ?T, the alumni
members of the Phi Lambda Epailon, a
National High School fraternity, who form
erly had a large chapter here, will hold
their annual reunion and dancing party at
Chambers' academy.
This Is always a social event for the
young people home from college, many of
whom belong to the chapter. The fratern
ity pennants form a conspicious part in
the decoration of the ball room and usually
miniature pennants are given as favors.
Tuesday evening, the twenty-eighth alumni
irembers of Les Hiboux club will hold
their annual reunion and banquet at the
Henshaw cafe. This club Is a live organi
sation and has planned to give several
parties during the year.
Two of the alumnv classes of the Omaha
High school, IK and 1M9. will hold an an
iual reunion during the holidays. Wednes
day evening Miss Louis Northrup will be
the hostess for the class of 190U for ths
second annual reunion. There will be a
reception and musical program, followed
by an election of officers for next year.
This class has developed a wonderful
mount of class patriotism, and during the
year parts of the class have held several
smaller functions. Thursday evening the
class of 1 will hold Its reunion at the
home of Mr. Harry Carpenter. There wl!l
also be a class election following the re
ception. The junior prom will be given January
at Chambers' academy. This is always
an event on the social calendar of any
school and Is anticipated by the junior
class, who will try to make this one of tne
elaborate parties of the year.
There are a number of literary and so
cial clubs In the high school which play
a prominent part in the student's life.
Friendships are made which last through
life. One of the oldest societies which is
now represented only by some of the mem
bers of the faculty, was the Atheneum
Literary society. A pin In the form of a
silver A was their emblem.
The Lipper club was a girl's orgariixa
tlnn two nr thte yfr, pern mt the hieh
school. Several of the members of this
club are now In the university and most
of them joined the same sorority. An
other girl's club, which was formed two
years ago. was the Royl club. Half of
the members of this cluB sre away at
school, several belntr at the Chicago Art
school, where two Omaha High school girls
have recently won honors. During- the
Christmas holidays the Royle club will
hold a reunion. At present thei-e are more
societies in the high school than they have
ever had. These clubs are mostly for the
study of literature. There are three pro
gressive debating societies. I .est week sev
eral of the students gave a m.-vck trial at
the high- school, which was both educa
tional and amusing.
The depatlng societies include the Denios
thenlan. the Webster and the Atheneum.
Among the girls' societies are the Wy
Deltx and the Nor Nels. Tfcere is a
Graduate club which includes several
graduates of High school and some under
graduates who are preparing for college.
Among the literary clubs at the school, at
present are The Elaine, the Margaret
Fuller, the Pleiades, the Frances Wlllard,
the Hawthorne, the Priscilla Alden. the
Browning's society. Besides these clubs
are the Llninger Travel club, which meets
very fortnight, the High School Art so
city, the German club and the Latin
club.
Although nearly all of these are study
clubs, there is a social side which makes
(he students enjoy the meetings and come
in closer touch with thetr classmates.
When the boys and girls enter the high
school they are usually at the traditional
awkward age. these clubs lend much as
sistance in character building by giving
confidence and poise. The first year In
high school Is probably the most Import
ant. The student is thrown upon his owa
HabitS Of the Presidents needed physical exercise. Even his amuse
ments were not of a very active kind, for
Continued from Page One.) h "ly fished and ehct from a boat.
i
Selections from the Story Teller's Collection
iraBttaaT the Old Han.
PRUPOS of divorce. Judge Himon
I L. Hushes of Denver said at a
I recent dinner:
a uiuiao unviy 10 end In
divorce was celebrated last
ek in Clrcleville. A minister
told me about it.
"An oldish man-70 or eo a as led rather
unwillingly to th altar by a widow of
about 45.
"He was a slow-witted old fellow, and
the minister couldn't get him to repeat the
respons-s properly. Finally, in despair, the
minister t-ald:
" 'Ixt.k here, my friend. 1 really can't
marry you unlrsa you do what vou are
told.'
"But the aged bruiegrvom still remained
tupld and silent, ami the bride, losing all
patience1 with him. shook him roughly by
the arm and h!yed:
" Go on, you old toot: hay it after him
lust as if you were mocking him."
Man with at Menior.
The senator was making a fcpeech. After
he had finished there was a reception at
one of the hotels. A little man pushed
eagerly forward.
"Hello, senator!" he houted.
"How do you do. air 7"
"fay, senan.r. you remember me? I m
Jones Jonea of Springfield, you know. I
met you dewn there. Remember how full
we got toKetherr'
"I d' n..t." replied the senator icily.
Th?y pukhtd Jones away, but soon he
waa back.
"Hello, senator!" he shouted. "Don't
you remen;b.r tint time down In 8t. Louie
we went out and made a night of it? Jones
of elprliiga. Id. yj know."
They shoved Jones away again and some
body star.ding neur the wnator asked.
"Who's your friend?"
' I don't know who ne is. but he seems to
be h I on reminiscences." Saturday Even
ing Pest.
why soatherniralB Are lte.
bcrstch a southerner and ou will find
a knightly soul, might be sid to be one
of the mutals of tha Chicago Record-Her-tid
story below the second moial is
more reasonably obvious.
"What is tha raon." began the irritated
traveler from the north, "that the trains
In this part tf the country are always be
hind time? 1 have ntver een one yet that
irto eccotdirg l schedule."
"That, suh." replied the dignified Geor
gian, "ia a nullah that is eaaily explained.
It la due tit southern chivalry."
"Southern chivalry? Where does that
come lu?"
"You s-. uh. tbs trains are always
lata In lhl country because they wait for
tin- lad". God bleat them:"
Prwfaally by Asreeateal.
Hmhop Olmsted of Denver lella a story
illustrative of the fact that clergymen
must keep very much farther away from
evil than the ordinary man,
The blb b wae once ta king la Olmsted-
vllle with an old fisherman about a neigh
boring divine.
"A very good man," the bishop said.
"A good man, yes," assented the old fish
erman. "H swears a good bit for a
preacher, though."
"Swears?" exclaimed Bishop Olmsted. "I
can't believe that."
"But I heard him." said the old fisher
man, obstinately. "I sat beside him at our
Thanksgiving treat, you know. air. We
both of us were hacking away at a turkey
leg. His got away from him. It slid
across the table towards me and a lot of
cranberry sauce was spattered about.
"I said to him, sympathetic like, for I
could see he was worked up:
"Theso legs are damn tough, ain't 'they,
sirT'
"He answered back, quick as a flash:
" 'Yes. George, they certainly are.'
"Now. if that ain't swearing." concluded
the old fisherman, "what Is it?" Kansas
City Star.
Private Joha'a Office.
"When I first decided to sXow the people
of Tupelo to use man name as a candidate
for congress I went out to a neighboring
parish to speak." said Private John AUen
to some friends at the old Metropolitan
hotel in Washington.
"An old darky came up to greet me after
the meeting. 'Marse Allen,' he said. 'I'se
powerful glad to see you. I'se known ob
you sinco you wss a babby. Knew yo'
pappy k.ug beo' you-aJl wus bohn, too.
He used ter hold de aame office you got
now. I 'members how he held dat same
office fo' years an" years.'
"What office do you mean, uncle?" I
asked, as I never knew pop held any office.
" 'Why de office of candidate. Marse
John; yo' poppy was candidate fo' many
years.' "National Monthly.
seen one of Ote's legs, and then I seen one
of Ole's arms, and then another leg. and
then over one side Ole's head, and I says,
'My God: Something muster happen to
Ole: "
ranaa Has Well Posted.
Senator TUlman at a recent banquet told
this story:
"The pastor of a Tallapoosa church." he
began, "said rather polntendly from the
pu pit one Sunday morn:ng:
" Ah sutny am rej'lced to see Bruddaii
Caihuun White In chu'eh once mo'. Ah'a
glad Bruddah Calhoun has saw de error of
his wa s at law st, fo dere is mo' joy obah
one sinnah dat repenteth don obah de
ninety an" nine '
"But at this point Brother Calhoun
White Interrupted, angrily:
" h.' said be, from his seat, 'de ninety
an' nine needn't crow. Ah could tell some
tilings rrbvut de ninety an' nine ef Ah
wanted tcr.' "Washington 6tar.
heaae I h I Hs7 pm e .
According to Everybody's, a witness ill
a railroad case at Fort Worth, asked to
tll In hla owa way huw the accident hap
peued. aald:
"Well, Ole and I was walking down tne
track and I heard whistle, and I got off
the track, and the train went by. and I
got bark on the track, and I didn't Fee
O'.e, but I walked along, and pretty soon
I seen O.e s hat. and I walked on and
Bat Seldoua.
Prof. Brander Matthews, the brilliant es
sayist and scholar of Columbia, said at a
dinner party, apropos of changes in the
meaning of words:
"At the height of our mayoralty cam
paign "a little boy. looking up from hts
adventure book, said to his father:
"'Father, what's a cormorant?
" 'A ccnorant' the father answered, as
he turned the huge pages of his news
paper, 'is a corrupt and hoggish politi
cian.' " 'But. the lad objected. 'I thought it
was a bird.'
"Oh, yes. to be sure." the other agreed,
'The word is used In tbst sense now and
then." "St. Louis Globe-Democrat
ft
Melted the Wire. V
The resistance of the ordinary- copper
wire is not nearly as high, according to a
practical test, as that claimed for it by
the electrician sharps. In theory a wire
may stand up sgalnat all manner of high
tenalon currents, but when it comes down
to brass tacks, why. It simply Isn't there.
Take the case of Oeorge Gordon, who has
Just gone back into the coal business after
affirming on a stack of temperance tracts
that he was through with it-yea. sir, and
don't you ferget It. The fruit-raising bus
lness in the Caribbean islands for hlm
nothlng stronger. Anyhow, he is back
among the black diamonds and seems u
enjoy It Came a ring at his telephone
ha d been complaining of the service-and
the man said he was an inspector, test
ing the line.
"Stand a little to the right of the n
etrument, please," he said, "and talk."
George stood and talked.
"Thai s good. Now stand a little to :he
left of the instrument and talk."
Again Oeorge talked.
"Now." said the inspector, "pleAae stand
In front of the instrument, about two feet
back, and talk."
Oeorge talked obediently, although i.e
baa little enough to say.
"Fine," aald the Inspector. "Now stsnd
on your head and talk.''
Right there is where the wire melted, is
sistance or no resistance. The heat waa
too great. Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The Head ta Faase.
A southerner noted tor the liberality of
his tips stopped at a Baltimore betel heie
negro porters predominated. His name w as
speedily known to every member ef the
serving fraternity, and his every wlh an
ticipated. Soon after his arrival he sent
hla card to a friend who made his borne
la the hotel, but whose temperament hap
pened to fee quite the opposite of that of
his open-banded caller retiring, not given
to ' tipping." of any other forw of sociabil
ity, and who therefore lived almost un
known to those about him.
The old darky who received the crd
studied it for a full minue.
" 'Scuse me, colonel," he said, "but J
don't b'leebe nobody by dat name come
here dls mawnlng."
"This morning:" returned the other. "Of
course not! Mr. Blsnk has lived here for
months. Tou know my name well enough,
and I haven't been here a day. Do you
mean to say you can't remember a man
who has made his home here since some
time Isst winter?"
" 'Reuse me. colonel, sah," began the old
man. deferentially, "but you muat know,
sah" as if uttering the sublett comall
metib "dat dere's gemmena what can
make demsels more notorious In one day,
sah. dan odder gemmans does In a yeah,
sah!" Touth's Companion.
One oa Morgaa's Partner.
Of course It may seem mean to dig it up
on him now that he's made good, but
George W. Perkins, now famous as partner
of J. Plerpont Morgan, was once a singer
In a church choir In Cleveland and his only
claim to distinction in those days was an
incident now past the memory of ail but
the older Inhabitants of the town.
Oeorge lived here, says the Cleveland
Leader, when he was a young man In his
tr.rly twenties and he liked to lng. He
had a first rate voice and made the choir
out at Beckwith Memorial church, if one
I correctly informed as to the particular
church. The choir singers sat In a loft
back of the pulpit almost hidden from the
congregation. At that time thtre were two
or three remarkably pretty young women
In the choir. Weil, there wasn't any harm
In the bass or tenor singers looking at
the contralto or soprano members of the
choir and feasting their eyes on them when
the sermon dragged, was there? Certainly
there wasn't But being seated all in a
row. It was necessary sometimes for one
to tilt back one's chair in order to get a
square view of a face at the other end.
That is what George W. Perkins did one
bright Sunday morning, if the dope Is
handed down aright He shifted his chair
about a trifle to get a still better view.
I'nhapplly. one leg of his chair had been
resting close U the top of the steps that
ltd down from the choir loft to the main
auditorium. When George shifted his chair
he shifted one leg over the edge of that
stairway.
A second later i bright young man,
destined to be one of the great financial
geniuses of the aountry, lay all In a heap
at the foot of the pulpit. And the sermon
was brought to a complete stop just as
effectively as if it had been wound up by
a peroration.
Civil War Order.
Au anecdote with a smile in it an J at
the aame time characteristic of the man.
ia told by the Kansas City Journal of
Coluoel D. R. Anthony, who for many
years wss one of the potent factors in
Kansas affairs. Anthony was colonel f
the Seventh Kansas cavalry, which in ls2,
somewhere In the early part of the year,
was stationed in Kentucky guarding the
reconstruction work of the Mobile railroad.
General R. B. Mitchell was In command
of the brigade of which 'Anthony's cavalry
was a part Mitohell was absent for a
short time while the brigade was on that
particular duty, and Anthony was placed
In command. It was then that he Issued
his famous order:
"Any officer or soldier of this command,
who shall arrest and deliver to his master
a fugitive slave shall be summarily and
severely punished according to the laws
relative to such crimes."
General Mitchell upon returning to his
command was, to say the least Immensely
surprised at the order. '
"Colonel Anthony," he roared, "please
rescind that order at once."
Anthony refused. "I am no longer In
command," he answered. "Tou have re
lieved me and I cannot countermand a
brigade order."
"Wei!." declared General Mitchell! with
a great deal of heat. "I will place you In
command long enough to rescind It."
"All right" said Anthony, "am I In com
mand?" "Yes. sir:" retorted Mitchell.
"Then." said Anthony, "you as an officer
without command have no authority to In
struct me as to ray duties."
The whole thing wore off with a smile.
If the order was ever countermanded, it
wss not done by Anthony.
$
Framed l.
Taking advantage of the presence of the
minister and their friends at the wedding
of two co'isins in St. Louis. Clark A. Grlf
feth of Canton. Mo., and Miss Mildred
Hawkins of Webster Groves surprised the
guests by announcing that they, too, were
ready to be married.
The wedding thereupon was made a dou
ble affair, three of the parties bearing the
cume. of Hawkins. The other couple, to
whose wedding Orlffeth and Miss Hawkins
were invited, were Miss Hazel Hawkins
of s0a Page boulevard and Cash C. Haw
kins of Canton, Mo.
Mrs. Grirfeth is a alsur of Cash C Haw
kins and she at one lime had been a
sweetheart of the man who now is her
hut band.
Mrs. Hawkins invited the two to her
wedding at her home, thinking that the
Old romance might be revived. Her plaa
worked out well.
After her marriage to Mr. Hawkins br
Rev. Frederick M. Rogers of Long Beach,
Cal.. and just as they were about to cut
the wedding cake. Grlffeth sprung a sensa
tion by proposing to MI-s JJIMr.d Hawkins.
"Will ycu have me?" he a.ikcd. before ail
of the guesta
Miss Hawkins was embarrassed, of
eoLrte. but nodded her head in cousent
"1 guese we'll get married right new."
aald Grlffeth. and he triumphantly flour
ished a marriage license, which lie pro
cured la the afternoon.
Quincy Adams, who was uncomfort
able when he attracted popular attention,
rose early In warm weather and bathed be
fore sunrise in the Potomac, something
that probably no other president ever did.
When he ceremoniously began the digging
for the Baltimore & Ohio railroad in l&S
the crowd cheered on seeing how well be
handled the spade.
Jackson, like Washington, had led a life
of hardship and much physical activity,
but he was five years older than Washing
ton on coming to the presidency and by
tl at time a less active man. He show ed
himself on foot in public at Washington
and gave an audacious enemy a chance to
tweak his nose. He also made the long
land journey from the capital to his home
In Tennessee, and it must have been upon
one of these trips that a foolish fellow at
Cumberland asked an Impudent question
about the Irregularity of his marriage, to
which Jackson responded with a sternly
repressive glance and the answer that his
questioner seemed to be a very bold man.
Jackson, however, was not one of the spe
cially active presidents.
Van Buren was not an outdoor person or
a special lover of physical exercise, though
he liked to get away to his quiet Kinder
hook, where he could move about undis
turbed by staring crowds. There ia a
pleasant description of him in old age long
after his retirement from the presidency as
walking the streets of New York with hl.i
son John, small, quick, white haired and
clear eyed, with the activity of a much
younger man.
From Harrison to Pierce the presidents
were mostly oldixh and not especially active
men. Tyler, like the other Virginians,
bred on a plantation, rode on horseback,
but he had long been occupied with indoor
activities.
Taylor entered upon the presidency at
to, soon after he bad finished a hard cam
paign in Mexico. His life had been passed
at frontier army posts and In fighting the
Indians, and upon assuming the presidency
be had more things to learn about civil
government than any of his predecessors.
The change from camp to court was not
the best thing for a man of bis age. else
perhaps he would not have yielded to bil
ious colic, six months after his Inaugur
ation. Fillmore was fifteen years younger than
the man whom he succeeded, but loo heavy
In body and too sedentary by habit for
great physical activity. Pierce was young
and active, a gallant figure, his admirers
thought who moved freely about Wash
ington and left the president y so well in
tcdy that he traveled several years in
Europe. He was fond of the open air, and
It was while on a long drive in the White
mountains with Pierce that Nathaniel
Hawthorne In ISM was seised with his fatal
11! n ss.
Buchanan was not an active man phy
sically, though be liked to lounge about
his farm, Wheatlands, near Lancaster, Pa.,
and enjoyed the unconventional outdoor
life of Bedford Springs.
Lincoln had been all his life a rider on
horseback, but was never aught but an
awkward cavalier. Iq spite of warnintrs
that his life was in danger he used to walk
at midnight with a single companion from
the War department to the White House,
and he somtlmes took exercise in the White
House grounds after, nightfall.
It was this habit that led to an early
plan to kidnap him, and a man who after
ward lived for years In New York told an
acquaintance In the confederate army that
he had lain several nights In the shrubbery
of the White Houre grounds hoping for an
opportunity to seise Lincoln unaware. He
must have had accomplices near at hand,
for only a giant could easily have over
come Lincoln even in his middle fifties.
In spite of the fact that the assasslnutlon
of Lincoln had made every one feel that
the president could not safely go about on
foot Grant was sometimes seen walking
the streets of Washington. An unfriendly
observer described him ss a shabby and
alouchy looking man In an unbuttoned frock
coat walking along Pennsylvania avenue.
Gran't life had been much of the time
one of physical hardship, but be wus not a
very active man physically. He liked a
good horse and always had one at Wash
ington. By this time the actual office work of
the presidency had become most exactiug.
so that tl.e man of the White House had
almost to fight for physical existence.
Hayes, who gave personal attention to
many details, was much disturbed by bis
lack of oportunlty for outdoor exercise.
A Boston woman Invited to dinner at
the White House during bis administration
found herself suddenly seised by the presi
dent a few minutes before the dinner wss
announced, rushed vlo'ently out of a door,
trotted through the conserv stories, and
back again. She returned breathlesa and
Mrs. Hayes explained that the president
frequently took this method of getting a
bit of exercise before dinner.
Mr. Cleveland's increasing weight and
his intense application to the details of his
office made It difficult for hire to get
Westerners in New York
W'ben Colonel Robert C. Clowry came to
New York from Chicago to assume the
presidency of the Western Union Telegraph
company, a friend gave him a luncheon at
the Lawyers' club. He wanted the colonel
to know some New Yorkers and not be
lonely during the first period of his resi
dence in the grest city. Twenty-four men
sat down to the table. Instead of, finding
himself among strangers. Colonel Clowry
met a great many old-time friend A poll
was taken to find out where the guesta
hailed from. Only one man waa born In
New York. All the rest and the list was
a miniature "directory of directors.', were
westerners, part of the vast human toll
that New York takes of the rest of the
country.
That luncheon waa typical of similar
gatherings In New York. The one-time
stranger within the gates is the rule; the
nstive son is the exception.
While all sections have poured their
tribute of youth, brains and energy Into
the hungry maw of New York, the west
has done so to a remarkable degree. Tha
rich blood of a free young region has)
mingled with the Knickerbocker blue, af
fording a much-needed replenishment for
broken down strains. To eastern conserv
atism the west has brought the quick
ening and broadening sense of real de
mocracy. Turn where you will In the swift march
of metropolitan events, and you will find
the hardy impress of the westerner.
Many meo drop their western ways, as
they would throw off a coat, when they
come to New York. Anxious to stamp
themselves as old New Torkers, It may
be, or because they yield more esslly to
environment than the rugged westerner
Is supposed to do. they abandon the traits
of speech and manner that would distin
guish them among their associates, and
allow themselves to be merged into Wall
street's composite mass.
A striking exception to this rule Is Psjl
Morion, president of the Equitable Life
Assurance society. He Is one of the most
conspicuous WTHtern men in New Tork,
and the one who is most a westerner. Born
In Nebraska ten years before It bees me a
Ktate, and spending many of bis later years
in Colorado and along the old Santa Fe
trail, after steel rails had converted it into
the Fanta Fe railroad, he has all of the
candor, courage, vigor and democracy of
the old frontiersman, with the culture ot
the born gentleman.
He ranks men above money, and his sm
bitlon runs to the accomplishment of olg
things rather than to the mere accumula
tion of millions. His Americanism is In
tense, but his heart is In the great west,
and he never tires of telling of Its re
sources and Its wonders. In Wall street
he is known an . a "missionary from the
west" because of his constant effort t.l
bring about a better understanding be
tween the east and the west and to wipe
out all sectional feeling. He is so modest
that he dislikes to see his name in print,
but he has the easy confidence In himself
of the true westerner.
It was to gratify his governing ambi
tion that Mr. Morton acepted the presi
dency of the Equitable Life. To project
himself Into the turmoil of the Insurance
scandals, he rejected at least one offer
which would have given him a larger in
come, but which presented no opportun
ity for constructive work. He came Into
1'- situation at a time when the newa
paper men who were working on the
greatest story of years were suspicious
of every one. and it was not surprising
that Ihey questioned his motives. They
tried him out in many ways and for
many days, but they never could get hirn
to distort the truth in any degree.
Long afterward, one of hla newspaper
friends was telling him how one of the
biggest man In Wsll street had lied to
him about an important deal. ,
"He was in a difficult position." said
Mr. Morton, thoughtfully. "If he had told
you the truth, he would have jeopardised
not only hla own interests, but a lot of
other Interests that were entrusted to
him. I don't know what I would have
done if I had been In ills Placs."
"I know what you wouldn't have done,"
poVe up the reporter quickly. "You
wouldn't have lied about It."
'No, I wouldn't have tied about It," as
sented Mr. Morton. "I probably would
have said I couldn't talk about It A
man needs a long memory to be a good
liar, and my memory la very bad."
As a matter of fsct. he has a mavel
oils memory.
Not long ago one of his admirers ex
pressed to Mm the belief t.iat hts meth
ods of square dealing were being adopted
by many men In the financial district,
simply because they had become con
vinced that he had profited by them.
"Bosh!" was his brush reply. And
then he added: "Any man who la honest
because It pays won't be honest ery
long, and he won't be very honest at any
time." Munssy's Magax oe.
t