Ex-President Roosevelt is usually pictured as proof against
fear, but the New York _Times_ tells of an occasion when he
admits that he was badly frightened.
It was on the evening of his first diplomatic reception
as President, and the long and brilliant line headed by
ambassadors, foreign ministers and attaches, and distinguished
army and naval officers in gorgeous uniforms, was passing slowly
before him. In this procession was a lady who knew the President
quite well, and who confidently expected a hearty greeting. To
her surprize, Mr. Roosevelt merely inclined his head over her
hand, and bowed her on with the throng.
An hour later she met the President in the reception-room, and
he spoke to her in the friendliest way.
“Why didn’t you come in time for the reception?” he asked.
“I did,” she replied, “and you did not even recognize me!”
“Impossible!” exclaimed the President, “but,” and he set his
teeth together hard and whispered, “to tell you the truth, Mrs.
----, I was so fearful I wouldn’t do the right thing I could not
think of anybody except myself!”
(1082)
* * * * *
Kindness, justice and a little heavenly wisdom would guard a ruler far
more effectually than the precautions mentioned below:
The Sultan is chiefly afraid of the darkness, and it costs him
$900 per night to have his bedroom guarded. This sum is split
up between the eight generals entrusted with the work and their
supernumeraries. Two generals take the long watch every night
outside his door, and receive $200 apiece for it; beneath them
is a colonel who is paid $150 a night, and guards receiving
smaller amounts. All they have to do to earn their princely
salaries is to tramp up and down the corridor with their eyes on
the beautiful satin-wood door inlaid with mother-of-pearl which
took an expert two years to inlay. (Text.)--_Tid-Bits._
(1083)
=Fear, Paralyzing=--See HOPELESS FEAR.