Two Old Gentlemen

Recently the newspapers carried a story about a girl in Missouri who won a $1,500 award from a railroad because a brakeman kicked her in the head to remove her from the path of an onrushing train.

Last fortnight the newspapers told about a girl who was standing in a Manhattan telephone booth when a mouse jumped into her blouse. . . .

When learned President Nicholas Murray ("Miraculous") Butler of Columbia University read these stories he chuckled heartily. On the second story he wrote,

"Illustrating the dangers of communication by telephone,"--and sent both clippings to old chum and fellow Republican National Committeeman, President William Henry Crocker of Crocker First National Bank of San Francisco (who arrived last week in Manhattan). It was revealed that for nearly 25 years, since they first met at the Bohemian Club's jolly grove near San Francisco, Pedagog Butler and Banker Crocker have been regaling each other across the continent, exchanging things they find amusing. Sometimes they send jokes, sometimes crank letters; but mostly clippings of those little boxed stories called "freaks"' which are the delight of make-up men striving to fill holes on their front pages. Explained Banker Crocker: "Dr. Butler is very human. We have found our friendly interchange by mail has helped to make life worth living. Sometimes they come daily, sometimes a rather longer period elapses, but it is never a great while."

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