His tie, as of old, was like a boot-lace.

A new silk hat, with the nap badly ruffled, stood near on the top of a cabinet.
He smiled rather wearily.

"We're pretty near through the appointments now, Mr.Secretary.

It's a mean business, but I'm a minority President and I've got to move in zig-zags so long as I don't get off the pike.
I reckon that honest statesmanship is just the employment of individual meannesses for the public good.

Mr.Sumner wouldn't agree.