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Show HE KNEW ABOUT THE TWINS j One day President Cleveland sent for John Barrett, now director of the bureau of American republics, and said: Mr. Barrett, I am looking for some young man who is not afraid of hard work, and who wants to make a reputation for himself, to go as minister min-ister to Siam, to settle the claim of Dr. M. A. Cheek involving several million dollars, and also involving some delicate matters in connection with the interpretation of our treaties with oriental countries. This particular partic-ular case is one of the most important we now have in the Orient. Will you accept the position as minister to Siam? But first, what do you know about Siam?" Mr. Barrett couldn't remember whether Siam was in Asia or Africa, but & little thing like this didn't bother him,' so he said: "Mr. President, Presi-dent, I know all about Sinn." "Well, what do you know aboul Slam?" said Mr. Cleveland. Mr. Barrett was stumped for a second, and then said: "Why, Siam is the country that produced the famous Siamr-se twins." j Mr. Cleveland, "with a twinkle in his eye, arose gravely and said, as he i shook hands with Mr. Barrett: "Mr. Barrett, I am happy, indeed, to get hold of a man with such profound knowledge and abundant information about Siam. As a matter of fact, I am glad you know nothing about it, as you will not be prejudiced one way or the other in regard to the questions to be settled there." , . Mr. Barrett went to Siam, where he stayed for four years. At the time of his appointment he was twenty-six years old. and was the youngest minister min-ister plenipotentiary that the United States had ever appointed. |