The following story is told of John Hay:
He had been ailing one time, and a friend made bold to ask what
the trouble was. “I am suffering from an incurable disease,”
answered Mr. Hay bravely.
A sense of delicacy prevented the friend from making further
inquiry; but he told the story to many of his associates,
nearly all of whom were acquainted with Mr. Hay, and the report
soon spread around Washington that a deadly disease held the
Secretary of State within its grasp. One intimate acquaintance
of Mr. Hay determined to find out the nature of the secretary’s
ailment, and addrest him one day with the remark: “I have been
told that you are suffering from an incurable disease. Is it
true?” “It is,” said Mr. Hay, in a sad tone. “What is the
incurable disease?” then asked the insistent acquaintance. “Old
age,” exclaimed Mr. Hay, with a chuckle. (Text.)--Milwaukee
_Free Press_.
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