Evening Star Newspaper, March 7, 1891, Page 9

Pee So Bi THE SENATE SCRIBES. Men Who Keep Track of the Myriads of Documents, AND THEIR DUTIES. f Clerk of the Senate and the Men With Him—How the Records of iation Are Kept—Ofticials Who Are Without any apparent friction and in an almost noiseless mauner the clerical work of the Senate gocson. During the session there may be tempestuous oratory in the Senate hamber and party strife may threaten serious troable, but across the west corridor, in a big apartment -a double room—the scribes attend ly to business. Just now they are hard work clearing up the debris. In the pub- of the secretary of the Senate any n-executive information may be secured. The history of a Dili, a resolution, a memorial, or an executive communication is all writ- nin one of the many elephantine volumes or ocenpy floor space. where any number of .i there will be found at least two dixgreeable, g-umpy. anti-every- f people, Lat the office of the se ” iy free from any ens of dyspeptio and ch distressing spe generated humanity. THE CRTEF CLERK. ‘The position of chief clerk of the Senate is romewhat unique, and it is not too much to say the chief clerk himself is probably the only one of his kind. His of- fice isan elective one, but he has no patronage and he is not responsi- bie to any one but the presiding officer. The gentleman who fille the place now and has filled it ever since 1883 18 Charles Wesley John- son of Minnesota. Mz Johnson's home is in Minneapolis. He has charge of all nal legislative papers, looks after the details of legislation, does his share of the reading at the desk and when the secretary is away JOHNSON. cortities to senatorial dill. Mr. Johnson —_took ght of oxygen in the state of ar 1843 and in 1860 moved to sota. Two years later he enlisted and 11565 served hix country faithfully as a ate soldier. When the war came to an end returned to Minnesota and set type in the miposing room of the Minneapolis Tribune. ame traveling correspondent of the them city editor. Subsequently he ¢ Minneapolis Evening Maitland © Years, with more or less of suc- cess. He was ‘elected city clerk and from that position graduated into the rksbip of the state senate, serving nine years the latter position. In 1881 Mr. Johnson the republican nominee for the chief clerk- f the United States Senate, but the Rid- erger-Mahone deadlock held that and sev- other nominations up until 1583: in the ter year Mr. Johnson was elected. He has heen especially active in political matters, hav- nit for t ing been secretary of the state central and state congressional committees. Incidentally he has managed three campaigns for Se Washburn. Mr. Johnson's interest in musical matters is searcely less than that which was it by the illustrious hymmologist from whom ¢ one-time Illinoisian borrowed two-thirds of iuis name, and he has been the active leader of more choirs than Charles Wesley ever saw on earth. Mr. Johnson is well to do, has lots of friends and is the valued property of a wife d two children, one of them—a daughter— Leing « successful vocalist. THE LEGISLATIVE CLERK. A very important position is that pal legislative clerk. The man whe know a great deal about practical senatorial islation and no one aceused H. i f ignorance Mr. Gi rain Ulinois ix months: uecompanving er and mother. > is still a resident of egon. He received a education at e Unive Mr. ¥. W. Gieray. ed for some time. He is a past grand aster of the Odd Feliows of his state. He entered the secretary's office on June Il. 7 3 jex clerk, «i one month later was cransferred to the desk he now occupies in the ate chamber. His duties comprise the acks of bills, petitions and nuemorials memoranda of the action ef the Senate. He calls the roll of the ail yea nd nay votes and in all these years mac istake in his results. When hief clerk is absent Mr. Gilfry takes charge of all legislation on the desk. THE JOURNAL CLERK. good natured, one of the least ob- uteand journal ¢ as born in Ohio, but most of his early life was spent in Wisconsin. At the university of the lat- ter state he received much of his ed and from Wise was appointed to a p tion lm the secretary's ce; this was Mareh years, ist, tr to his present ned in this position and in that of legislative clerk until June, ted chief clerk. In party secured ei F modestly retired was ne upon to do so. roll knew him no more un ‘ te and journal employed in the al aut the Un Mr. Spencer is the respousi- je party in the making up of the Senate jour- ual and be superinten : THE ASSISTANT JOURNAL CLERK. The assistant j B. MeDon- ald. and he is possessed of all the advantages whieh necessar educated in this city. That means a great deal. “He entered the serv ne of the clerks in the office of the secretary March 4, 1873, receiving his appointment from the then secretary, Mr. George C. Gorl: Mr. McDonald is the son of the late Maj. mald, formerly chief clerk of the + died in 1878 after service in that body of er forty-two years. Mr. McDonald # grand- er immediately preceded Maj. McDonald term of service of twenty-seven yes ras the first chief clerk of ated under Samuel Otis. The McD ‘amily commenced their service in the Senate e continued therein without ruption from father to son dow to the present date, a period of years now ap- procching a century THE ENROLLING CLERK. B.S. Platt is the enrolling clerk, and about March 3 there was nota busier man at the Capitol. Vhenever the Senate hase fit of industry Mr. Plattis also,perforce, in- 5 doustrious. ‘Mr.Platt was born in Albany, N.¥., and at the age of fonr- teen went to work inthe Atias (afterward the Atlas - Arqus and now the Armus) office. He jearned the art of print- ing principally from the late Mr. Daniel Man- ing, the foreman of the dice and later Presi dent Cleveland's Seere- pald cepted a proffered pos: tion in the government printing office under Cornelius Wendell and ©. ®. PLATT. remained there during the administrations of Wendell. Defreos, Clapp and Detroes, tiling the places of compositor, copy holder, reviser And.” proof reader’ for’ fourteen years He was always prominent im trades union origi- | ue to ® man born and | :| Treasury Department and was for seycral matters. In Albany he was financial of the Ty phical Union. When he to this city he became a member of the 3 ‘Typographical Society, was the new ‘organization, Columbia Typograph- ical Union, No. 101, succeeding the late William R. McLean, thon foreman of Tar Evexixa Mr. Platt also represented No. 101 at the meeting of the national organization in more. In 1879 he resigned his place in government printing office to accept a position in the publication office of ‘the x3 records, nd had charge of the proof-rend: vision of | that ofice. There ho remained until 1984, when he resigned and becam i ing clerk of the Senate. Three years later, on the death of Mr.C. C. Sympson, he became chief enrolling clerk, a responsible position, there being duties to perform of great im- portance to the legislation of the country. THE ASSISTANT ENROLLING CLERK. To the end that the important work of en- rolling be not delayed, Mr. Platt has an assist- ant—Mr. Charles Newell. Mr. Newell was born in Philadelphia and in 1853 removed with his parents to California. His father was edi- torially connected with theSan Francisco and in the big mushroom city of those days Young Newell lived until it was time to follow after hie father, who had gone to Oregon. He entered # newspaper office when he was thirteen | years of age, and for many years worked a | Washington hand press on which was printed the only newspaper published in that vast ter- ritory now occupied by eastern Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Mr. Newell served in various capacities upon several of the leading Oregon newspapers. He was com- missioned a captain in the Oregon state militia and accompanied » portion of the first United ‘States cavalry in the first exp ion against the savage Nez Perce Indian, Chief Joseph. Mr. Neweil is a graduate of the iaw department of the Columbian University and a member of the bar. He entered the service of the Senate in 1885 as index clerk, and on the death of Mr. C. C. Simpson was maile assistant enrolling clerk. ‘THE BILL CLERK. Col. Jere Williams is a most industrious man; he has to be. He always has been busy. For more than twenty years he was.an editor. He served his state in the legislature, but pleads extreme youth in extenuation of that offense, He was'a soldier for three years aud com- manded a regiment at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, and from each of these fields brought away a mark, showing that he was resent during the transaction of business. e rusticated for eight months in Libby prison. The duties of the billclerk’s desk are as arduous and responsible as any in the office. | Col. Williams keeps a record of every bili and joint resolution of the Senate and of every one coming over from the House, from ite first reading to its approval or disapproval by the President. The parliamentary history of each Dill is indorsed on the bill itself and recorded in huge volumes prepared for the purpose. The preparation of bills and reports for tho printer, with their proper headings and in- dorsements, requires mnch vigilance, but being done in accordance with Col. Jere's favorite | motto—““The vest way isas good asany"—errors are almost unknown. At the end of cach session Col. Williams prepares a history of Senate bills and joint resolutions for publication, collecting under each Senator's name all that has been in- troduced by him, thus showing the Senator at glance which of his measures needs further attention. As was before remarked, Col. Wil- Jiams is a busy man. ‘THE PRINTING ct Jos. W. Bartlett is the printing clerk. He superintends the work of printing and binding and makes all the requisitions on the public printer; in addition to this he has charge of executive documents and of communications with the executive departments. Mr. Bartlett isa native of Maine, a citizen of Massachusetts and, like most of his asrociates, a valuable mem- ber of society. He is a practical printer, but graduated from the case many years ago. His first work as a reporter wi done in Augusta, Me., under the di- recting care and close personal supervision of James G. Blaine. Promotion followed and subsequently Mr. Bartlett became editor of the Bangor Whig, a place he filled for several years. From 1570 to 1875 he was on the editorial staff of the New York Evening Post, under Mr. Bryant, and afterward became editorial writer on and then managing editor of the Boston Traveller. Since then he has done occasional correspondence for the New York Tribune, Boston Traveller and other journals. Mr. Bartlett was tally clerk in the House of Rep- resentatives of the Forty-seventh Congress, avd came into his present place in January, 1884. ‘THE FILE CLERK. J. H.C. Wilson has charge of a greater ag- gtegation of old paper than any other man at the Capitol. Many of the documents are in- teresting: many have historical value; most of them are worthless, but they all have to be preserved. Mr. Wilson served as a lieutenant in an Iowa regiment the last year of the war and subsequently served on the staff of the governor of Iowa, with the rank of licutenant colonel of cavalry. After the close of the war he was appointed to a clerkship in the general land office, which position he resigned in 187 toenguge in newspaper work, and for eight was one of the editors and proprictors of the Towa City Daily Republican. He was sev- eral times member of the republican state cen- tral committee of Towa, and in 1882 was asso- ciated with Col. Henderson on the republican congressional committee. He was appointed resolution and petition clerk of the House of Representatives in the Forty-seventh Congress and in the Forty- eighth Congress was appointed to the same po- sition in the Senate, holding this position until last summer, when he was transferred to the position of file clerk. Mr. Wilson still docs occasional newspaper work and for five or six years was the regular Washington correspond- ent of Gen. Clarkson's paper, the Des Moines Register. THE RESOLUTION CLERK. ‘The resolution clerk—“good resolution clerk,” some people call him—is J. G. Donald- son. He was born in Defiance county, Ohio, .t was raised, in company with several other Juabie crops,on a farm. When the war broke out he was teaching school, but he | dropped the task of instruction speedily and enlisted. He was mustered into the service of the United States September 10, 1861, us sec- ond lieutenant in company D, thirty-eighth Ohio volunteer infantry. He served as aide-de- camp on the brigade staff and as inspector of the third brigade, third division, fourteenth army cozps. He was acting adjutant of bis regiment when he was severely wounded at the battle of Jonesboro’, Ga., September 1, 1864, and, with is regiment, was mustered out in July, 1865. After the war Mr. Donaldson read law and was admitted to practice. Ill health made it neces- sary that he accept a clerkship in the office of the secretary of state of Ohio. There he re- mained six years, two of them as chief clerk. He was eight years sceretary of the republican state executive committee.” Tn 1884 he was aj pointed file clerk of the United States Senate recently was transferred to his present His duties require him to execute ders of the Senate in relation to all peti- tions and memorials, miscellaneous documenta and resolution ANOTHER BUST CLERK. | Col. John R. Thompson, a gentleman of large local acquaintance, was born at Littleton, y 4, 1833, and there received » com- mon School aud academic education. While a ¥ man he removed to St. Johnsbury, Vt., where Le was engaged in business uniil the | breaking out of the war. He entered the serv pap hes nant in the fifteenth Vermont Jol. Proctor’s regiment. Upon the ecoud Vermont brigade he was appointed upon the brigade staff and served as such with Gen. Stoughton until his y Mosby in the spring of 1863, and tannard until the expiration of the term of service of the brigade. Col. Thomp- son was with his brigade in the Gettysburg campaign and during the battle of Gettysburg. | At the close of the war he came to Washington aud entered the civil service asa clerk in the | | years chief of the subsistence and engineer sion of the third auditor's office. Col. Thompson studied law and gradaated from the Columbia College Law School in the class of 1863. He resigned his position in the treasury June 90, 1885, and practiced his pro- fession in this city until his appointment in the office of the secretary of the te, August 1, 1888. He was one of the founders of the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry (the Grange), in 1566, and was the author of the ritual of its various degrees. He bas been an active member of the Masonie o: being past fa, # office of the Atlantic Cable Companies w York. That position he tive the situation he now decorates. IN CHAROE OF THE FILES. There is a legend in circulation around the Capitol that when the seat of government was moved from Philadelphia to this city, in Oc- tober, 1800, Joseph McGuckian was one of the stiaches who came over in the little, sloop which conveyed the mental goods and chattels from the Quaker city. This’ l is more than probably untrue, for Joseph him- self is very sure he was not born until 1823, and then he was in County Tyrone, Ireland. In 1844 he crossed the waters of the great deep and landed on the shores of Maryland. He lived in Baltimore until 1852 and then, desirous of achieving fame and fortune, moved to this city. In 1857 he first drew pay in the War Department. He was in the Union army and received an honorable dis- charge in 1865. Col. J. W. Forney was then secretary of the Senate and he gave Sergt. Mc- Guckian a position. ‘The int still has it. lie attends to the newspaper files and the tiles of bills, runs a miniature edition of Amzi Smith's document room, with the assistance ot a couple of big, green-curtained cases, an takes general charge of anything that happens to be temporarily in need of a ‘‘boss.”” All the privileges of an old servant are his, and by Senators and employes alike he is treated with consideration. The colored contingent in the office is a happy and useful one. | Thomas &. Hickman is old-timer, having entered the employ of the Senate in the fall of 1965. He succeeded his father, who was in the secretary's office through the war. Mr. Hickman was born in this city. The other laborer 1s Griffin Johnson of Virginia. He is, when compared with Hick- man, a new arrival, but he is just as obliging tnd Willing as his colleague, and tbat iv saying a good di SHE WAS HEROIC IN HER WAY. She Had Paid for Seat and Was Bound to ‘Have Her Money's Worth. From the London Jester. A somewhat amusing incident occurred at a Provincial theater recently, during a perform- ance of “Called Back.” Early in the evening an old Indy took up her seat in the balcony and concentrated her attention on the play. When Antony received his coup de grace at the hands of Macari the lady became very excited and fainted. She was taken down to the vesti- bule, and, on recovery, it was suggested that she leave the theater. This, however, she de- clined to do, being anxious to witness, as she put it, “the beautiful play.” She accordingly returned to her seat, appar- ently well. The yision scene in act 1 next roved too much for her, and again she fainted. Base more restoratives were spplisd, and. abe declared her intention of staying to’ the end. Nothing occurred in act 2 to arouse her sympa- thies, but the Siberian scene in act 8, in which Dr.Cenari shufiles off this mortal coil, ‘again up- set her nerves, and once more she fainted. Ly this time the management had had enough of the thing, and the old lady was sent away ina cab to het residence, not far off. i Tale of Two Chairs, Elijah on his Lizzie calls ‘When chores are done and evening falls. Elijah’s bashful, Lizzie’s shy, But then Rer parcuts sit neat by. “Good night, Elijah,—Liz, good night,” And paw and maw, by candle light, Go off to bed and leave to bins ‘Their daughter and her beau, with chairs ar Tanged like this: Elijah ‘lows, “This weather'll do Pur hayin’.” Lizzie thinks 80, too. “Went coonin’ ‘long with John las’ night.” “Get any coons?” “No; moon wa'n’t bright.” And so they court; naught goes amiss And Lige and Liz have aimed respective chaira Nike this: = oe ‘With Spartan will to do or die Elijah seems to grow less shy, And chairs become bewitched, I wis,— ‘They hitch aud hiteh, and hitch, unill they stand this: “D'you like me, Liz?” “Oh, Liget” they kiss. Then round yets caught in rund, aud chairs re- semble this: How to Be Hungry at Breakfast. Breakfast is rather a failure as a meal with town men, says The Hospital. That ought not to be; there is something wrong when a man is not vigorously hungry in the morning. Where is the fault? Is it in the late dinner? Not in the dinner, probably, so much as in what is drunk at dinner; in that, and in the nervous strain of the times. It doos not matter whether wedine in the middle of the day or in the evening, 40 long as we dine judiciously. But the man who has much work to do, aud par- ticularly brain work, cannot dine in the middle ftheday. If he does, he must make up his mind to lose at least an hour of his most valua- ble time. A light luncheon at midday, with no stimulant stronger than a cup of coifee ora bottle of ginger ale, is the suitable thing. But this must on no account be used asa substitute for dinner. He who lunches in this way at mid- day must dine in the evening, and dine well. ‘The business man should dine at 6:30, or at latest 7:30. The Inzy man may dine when he likes. ‘The man who has earned his dinner should have a good one—not heavy, but nutri- tious; not too elaborate, but well slected and well ‘cooked. He should drink, if possible, only one kind of wine, and thata light one, sparkling and still. Spirits and beer he should avoid. Dinner should be the last meal of the day, except for those who cannot sleep with- out's little food in their stomachs. ‘These may take acup of cocoa, with a little thin bread and butter, just at the moment of going to bed. If attention be paid to these wuggestions yery few people will fail to be hungry at break- fast. —Yankee Blade. Photography of Colors. * From the New York Herald. ‘The recent success of M. G. Lippmann in solving the problem of reproducing the colors of the solar spectram photographically is ono of the most interesting and beautiful results of modern laboratory experiment. In announcing bis discovery to the Paris Academy M. Lippmarn says the conditions essential to the photography of colors first, sensitive film showing no grain und, second, a reflecting surface at the back of the film. Albumen, collodion and gelatine films sensitized with iodide or bromide of silver and proved by microscopic examination 10 be froe ‘om grain are placed ina hollow dark slide filled with mercury, which forms a retlecting wer, The exposure, development and adjust- g of the film are done in the -y Way but when completed the colors of the spectrum are visible. ‘The explanation is very simple. The incident light which forms the image in the camera in- terferes with the light reflected by the mercury. ‘There is consequently formed in the sensitive film o series of fringes or maxima and minima of luminosity. At the close of the experiment the maxima ure seen to be marked by deposits of silver. ‘The thickness of the film ve divided according to the ts of silver into laminse of thicknesses to the intervals separating two maxima of light in the fringes; that is, ha the wave length of the incident ray, and it is these lamine of metallic silver which by reflec- tion so beautifully reproduce the colors of the incident light. ‘This discovery marks a new and brilliant era master of Columbia . No. 8, and past commander of Columbia pnts thos No. 2, Knights Templar, of this city. ‘HE DISTRINUFING CLERK. ‘The distributing clerk of the Senate is George W. Seaver. All petitions, memorials, resoln- tions, bills and communications are received by him, and whenall the forma have been com- plied with transfers these to the appro- | priate committees. Mr. ver was born in | battalo, N.Y. He migrated to Colorado some | fifteen years ago and in due course of time was | elected’ sergeant-at-arms of the state senate. Six years ago he came to this city and was ap- inted toa place under the sergeant-at-arms. ao . 1880, Gen. MeCook appointed hima to his preset position. ‘THE SENATE TRLEGRAPEER. 2e occupies a window corner in the big room. | from Kansas * ‘in phot the importance of which tol now be tay eraggtrnied = "SR She Will Keep Her Promise. From the Jeweler’s Circular. Mrs. Magnus Scott—“I promised not to ask you to buy me any diamonds during Lent.” Mr. Magnus Scott—‘You did, my dear.” prom day « charming pair of ruby earrings, which fast carriod me away. They may be i litle will get You see, pre eke a hn monds. A Sarfeit. She wes the widow of 6 man Some Reflections Suggested by Recent Ban- ¢ ‘quets in Washington. AMATIONAL LEAGUE OF AMALGAMATED AFTER- DINNER SPEAKERS SUGOESTED THAT COULD FURNISH SPEAKERS AT A MODERATE COST FOR ALL PUBLIC DINNERS. ‘OW 18 THE TIME FOR PUBLIC BAN- quets, and Washington has come to the front recently with a goodly number of them. They are glorious things sometimes, not only because of the fine things that aro there to eat and drink, but because of the rich, mellow elo- quence that follows the desert. A modest man who would quake in his shoes if he had to make a speech under ordinary circumstances finds by the time be has tucked away a fair quantity of white wine, red wine, sherry and champagne that he is gifted with very consid- erable powers of talk. The difficulty is not to make him speak, but to make him stop speak- ing. “Gentlemen,” said a wise old gentleman at banquet recently given in this city, “gentle- men, the toastmaster never told me that I was to speak at this dinner until this morning, and I submit that one day is tooshort a time topre- pare a good impromptu speech !” Nevertheless, he spoke for fully twenty min- utes, and his speech was all the better for not having been prepared beforehand. Imprompta speeches generally are prepared beforehand, however, although some men are s0 clever concealing the fact that nobody “catches on. When « speaker begins this wa; “When I accepted the invitation to attend thie dinner tonight it was with the distinet tn- derstanding that I should not be called upon to make a speech, and I was thoronghly murprised and very much embarrassed at being told two minutes ago that I was expected to make a few marks” —— ‘THE IMPROMPTU SPEAKER 18 PRIMED. ‘When a man begins that way, look out! He has been preparing his speech for a week, and he isn’t going to spare anybody. As he pro- gresses and gets warmed up to his work, and as the minutes slip by it is pleasant to look around, the table and observe several individuals who do not participate enthusiastically in the applause. They laugh at the jokes absent- mindedly. They have » preoccupied, troubled look. ‘These are the other gentlemen who expect to be called on themselves, but are afraid that the man who is speaking will never leave off. There is a National Spellbinders’ Association, composed of political stump speakers, and there is no reason why there should not be organized a National League of Amalgamated After-dinner Spenkers. A good president would be found in Mr. Chauncey M. Depew, and Mr- Evarts would do credit to the office of vice presidont. Heaven forbid that the members of this league should ever dine her! They would talk forever, but the lengue might farnish speakers at a moderate cost for all public dinners. The idea is not a bad one, and it is recommended that it be carried ont. SENATOR RVARTS’ BEST PUN. Probably some of the readers of Tar Stan remember the beautifal pun that Mr. Evarts made at adinner at Delmonico’s some years ago. Inall the constellation of his famous puns this is the brightest star. The dinner taking place about Thanksgiving time Mr. Evarts when he arose to speak began in this wi Friends, you have just been having a turkey stuffed full of sage; now I present you with a sage stuffed full of turkey.” Tt made no difference what he said after tha the best thing he could have said would have been nothing at all. But it remained for a San Francisco man who is seeking an office from the President and who has been in town some time waiting for it to make one of the best after-dinner hits of all. He was called upon to speak at a banquet recently and boldly proclaimed that he was after an office. “And here,” he went on, “I've been four months waiting and waiting ‘and hovering be- tween the certuinty of an appointment or # dis- appointment ! SUNSET COX'S STRIUS-NESS. “she late 8. 8. Cox, it will be remembered, was toasted once at a dinner in New York by an ad- mirer who told him he joked too much and recommended him in Emerson's language to “hitch his wagon toa star.” He promptly re- plied that he would doso and that the star should be Sirius. Another good pun was made by a Wi tonian who is a literary man and an Irishman. Being twitied with the fact that Ireland had never produced such a poct as Scotland's Rob- bie Burns, he said that it was true, but that she had had a Little Moore. Bui nobody who is going to make an after- dinner speech is recommended to make puns. A good pun made spontancously is a delightful thing, but a preconceived pun deliberately laid before the audience in cold blood is a thing that makes some people sorry and most people mad. A FATHER EMBARRASSED BY HIS SON. There is another thing that is not altogether without embarrassment and that is, when father and son attend the same banquet. You see, the old man, perhaps, wishes to be one of the boys for that night and the young man has the same desire very likely. The consequence is that they run foul of one another, possibly when one or the other is three sheets in the wind. Each thinks he has a right to sail that way, but each becomes indignant when he sees the other laboring under an undue stress of weather. There was an amusing instance of this this winter. At the first banquet that the father and son attended they were placed a good distance apart, but on the same side of the long table. Consequently they couldn't seo one another. After dinner, when matters were becoming pretty jolly, the son left his ered ‘meandering, talking, to- ward the end of ‘the table where papa was. ‘The young man was pretty far gone. As he reachod iis father’s neighborhosd he burst into wild, hilarious laughter. The former arose in a rage. “My son,” he cried, in suppressed wrath. “My son, I'am ashamed of you. You are in- toxicated, sir. Go home, sir, and go to bed.” THE BOY GETS BACK AT THE GOVERNOR. ‘The son went home. But the other night the two found themselves at another banquet, this time at opposite sides of an enormous round table in full view of one another, but with a stretch of damask and flowers Letween them, covering an area of a quarter of a mile or so. ‘The son was careful, and when the speech- making came was sober as the traditional judge. Not so with the old man. He had {ooked upon the sparkling champagne that was golden so long that it had become red. His son took it all in and he grinned with satisfac tion. Presently papa began to make a speech, and such a speech! He swayed. backward and forward as he talked; he spoke unutterable non- sen! -ybody was laughing at him, and his scamp of a son Was siriking his thigh and was in almost a convulsion of merriment. This the father perceived presently and, stopping short in his speech, he gazed upon his oflspring sol- emnly. “I don't see,” he said slowly. ah—what—al—that—ah—that zare is so pleased wi’ h’self for ! “By Jove!” cried the youngster. “By Jove! I'm even with you now. I'm hanged if I don't tell your wife!” “I don’t see— oungster over So TEER ‘Want Oysters All the Year Round. From the Philadelphia Record. A petition signed by over 900 oyster dealers in this vicinity praying for the repeal of the lnw which prohibits the sale of oysters during the months of June, July and August, has been presented to the legislature by Representa- tive Quigley of Philadelphia. This law is a very old one and is violated with impunity. The petition recites that the wholesale dealers of this city lose much by reason of having to close their during the summer months, the small dealers going to New Jersey for what oysters and clams they need. Willinm Boothly, one of the largest in the city, said: “i have not taken part in this movement for the reason that I believe more money can be made by up than by trying todo business, few want oysters in the summer, and there ig no trouble whatever in supplying’ this ation ina florist's window the other day, the price being marked atthe modest figure of $100. In the passion for this sort of display, which is now rampent here in Boston, 1 told that the money expended is out of all portion to the intrinsic value or beauty ei Fg Hitee ff I pf H 4 ¢] at Dresses That Do Not Sweep the Street De- signed by Redfern. Easter being within hailing distance, the spring styles are now assuming more decided shape, although but few new costumes have yet appoared upon the street. It is probable that after the Ist of April the winter gowns and ‘wraps will be honorably retired from duty and our eyes giaddened with something lighter in color and of less substantial texture. ‘The dif- ference between winter and spring modes will be quite perceptible to those who are fortunate enough to possess some of the Iatest models. There is no doubt that there will be at least a partial revival of the sheath skirt—that is in all materials that aro not too thin and clinging and therefore too frank in their revelations of the contours beneath. And there is a deter- mined effort on the part of many dressmakers to force into favor the trailing skirts which, far more eficientiy than the street-cleaning de- partment, gather up the mud and dust of the city highways. But Redfern makes his most tasty walking gowns to barely touch the ground, reserving the demi-trains for the house, where only they belong. And the latest models have no Suspicion of tournure. For the rest he is using again the tailor suitings and, of course, fipe amooth cloths, various bengalines, failles and figured silks, both for coats and cos tumes. The accompanyii sketches illustrate his use of such materi In this gown the front of the skirt is of light brown with a border of gold, headed by a band of sapphire blue. ‘The tabs on the bodice are outlined with velvet. The hat is a modification of the sailor, with flat crown and a wide brim, beneath which is a wreath of blue flowers. The Redfern spring coat here given is a three- quarter length and is made of rich brocaded | silk, bro} silver silver the design in silver gray against a red ‘The revers, cuffs and waistcoat are of gray corded silk, with a narrow edge of raid. i ORIGIN OF THE CAMERA. Invented by an Italian and Not Used for Photographing. The camerawas invented by an Italian named Baptista Porta, though it was not at first used for photographing, writes W. I. L. Adams, in the! Christian Union, It was in reality merely a dark room, into which the light was admitted through a little round hole in one side. The rays of light coming from objects outside of this room entered it through this aperture and made a picture on the other side of the room, glowing in all the beauty and color of nature itself, but rather indistinct and upside down. ‘This dark room was contrived by Porta about the middle of the sixteenth century. He im- proved it later by placing a glass lens in the aperture, and outside a mirror which received the rays of light and reflected them through the lens, so that the image upon the opposite wall within was made much brighter, more dis- tinct and in a natural or erect position. This was really the first camera-obscura, an inven- tion which is enjoyed to the present day, being situated often upon e hill top, where a pictur- esque country surrounding may be retlected through a lens, which is placed in the center of the conical roof. Now, our modern photographic camera is merely a small camera-obscura in ite simplest form carrying @ lens at one end and a ground- Blass screen at the other. It is, however, often much more complicated in its construction. ——___ oe —_____ HE WAS NOT A “QUITTER.” It Required Heroic Measures to Make This Young Man Go. A certain young society man of the North as called until 11 and ‘ven 12 o'clock at night. His peculiarity was much commented on by his of his acquaintances and settled down to enjoy his visit. Being a ready talker, the evening slipped by unheeded, and 9, 10 and 11 o'clock was rung from the marble clock on the mantel. At 11:30 o'clock p.m. the lady appeared fated and glanced nervously srognd, ‘occur €. ‘Shortly ‘afterard the pote fether entered the room and proceeded to wind up the clock. shed, he commenced an inspection of BIRDS KNOW HOW TO TALE. ‘Even Human Beings Can Learn Their Lan- guages by Study. - A TALE ON THE SUBJECT WITH ONE LEARNED mt BIRD LORE—RE THINKS THAT FRATRERED CREA- ‘TURES HAVE SOULS AS WELL 48 MIXDS—GOME YONNY STORIES ABOUT A CROW AXD PARROT. py RDS ARE COMMONLY included among the so- called ‘dumb animals’ merely because mankind does not understand their | Wood of the Smithsonian Institution to a writer for ‘Tae Stan. “Asa matter Jot fact, they have very omprehensive languages of their own, with words to express all the emo- tion and to convey under- standing to others of their kind. They possess notes toindicate alarm, notesof love, notes of cu- Tiosity, notes of pain, notes of hunger, notes of sorrow, notes of joy, notes of soothing for their young, notes for calling their fellows together, notes of peevishness—vocal sounds, in short, by which they are able to make their feclings known and to communicate their ideas on every subject. Nor is it true that they can only speak intelligibly to one another. Their conversation is easily understood by any human being who has made a sufficient study of bird talk. I my- self grew up in the country among birds, do- mesticated and otherwise, and what they say is as plain and clear tome as any utterances of your own. Not only doI comprehend them, but Ihave no difficulty in making them com- prebend me. Ican, in a moment, bya little murmur sooth to content a flock of small chicks that are crying for the mother hen. TRE INTELLIGENCE OF TIRDS. “Tassure you that birds have far more intel- ligence than they are usually given credit for. Science gives much study to their physical structure and classification, but none worth mentioning to their minds, and so from pure ignorance it is imagined that the latter do not amount to much. Just to illustrate the fact that they know sometning I will tell you of a t crow that I got from the nest when I was a ¥, when it seemed to be pretty much all head and mouth. He used to go out bunting with me, no matter how many miles I traveled with gun on shoulder, and, for his share in the sport, he thought if great fun to chase the rabbits and cats. But he was dreadfully per- secuted by all the wild crows, which appeared to disapprove of him because he was a tame one. On our journeys in search of game he would fly nearly out of sight and then come back to perch fora while upon my coat and pull at my ears. _‘‘Jim was very jealous of a pair of young pigeons that I kept. He would Pate al thee food and hide it, and in this way I have known him to get away at one time with thirty-two mice. Ttook him to spend a week's visit with me at the house of an aunt of mine, who took particular pride in a certain patch of most utifal cabbages. The crow, having been driven away by my relative from the enbbages, lest he take a notion to eat seemed there- upon to determine upon revenge, which he very neatly executed. It was a favorite amuse- ment of his to tease a big dog that bel on the premises, and he enticed this dog into the cabbage patch by flying across it with the ani- mal in pursuit. “By crossing and reerossing the patch, flying low, Jim succeeded in making the og gallop through the eabbages in every direc- tion, so that they were well-nigh ruined, much to my aunt's anger and disgust. A TAME CROW'S PRANKS. “When Icame home in the afternoons Jim would fly to meet me as soon as I was within sight. Sometimes he would come to the school and look in at the window wistfully. A favorite game of hid was to take little kittens by the tail and pull them backward. Also he liked to chew all the buttons off the family wash when it was hung out. He would be very affectionate to one of the hens at about laying time. When she was about to lay ke would sit down lovingly beside her. and as soon as the egg was Inid he would eat it. One day he disappeared to be subsequently found in a neighbor's bed room admiring himself in the mirror. At one time I was away for seven months and when I came back he received me with the most ex- travagant evidences of joy and affection, danc- ing around me, flapping his wings 3 out loudly. When confined to his cage he used to spend hours in coasting down an inclined plank, using the top of a mustard can for a sled. "He would carry the sled up to the top of the plank, step into it and hide to the bottom, repeating the operation again and again with the greatest glee. “If there are any wiser birds than crows, those birds are parrots. Ikuow a parrot that will put on its overcoat if it sees you doing the same—so far as hunching up its shoulders can express the idea. When it sees a big dog it will imitate a big dog's bark, but if the dog isa little one, it will bark like alittle dog. Some- times it has to be whipped for being naughty, and then it always begs for merey by holding up one foot alongside its head. Now, it happens that although parrots ordinarily are by nature fruit eaters, this one is not allowed fruit, be- cause it makes him sick. The other di was left at liberty in a room where a dish of grapes were on a table. Overcome by the temptation, Polly ate all the grapes, and, when some one came in, the first object seen Was the parrot in an attitude of coutrition and appeal, holding up one foot in the air. One d. railway train Polly was shut up in A passenger called “Baby! to a tot had strayed into the aisie, upou which the bird at once began to ery like an infant. A PARROT'S MIMICRY. “Tho lady to whom this parrot belonged has a way when sho drops anything by accident of saying, ‘Go it!’ A day or two ago Polly worked is feeding dish out of the bars of his cage, so that it fell to the ground. ‘G he said, ing his head on one side. I always avoid going near the cage of this bird when i am cat- ing fruit, because he is so fond of at end yet cannot be allowed to have an; will make noises like the emacking of lips, and ill ask, ‘Is it good? Is it good? Sometimes the parrot will imitate two ladies talking, one in the same room and another in another apartment. The mimicry of the imaginary conversution is really marvelous. On occasions it will appear to be 80 convulsed with laughter as hardly to be able to articulate what it is try- ing toeay. Or, after making some remarks which have excited the laughter of others, while Polly has been entirely grave, he will, hen a pause follows, indulge in a quiet little haf all to himself, just asa person might. “People deny that” birds possess language, refuse to believe that their intelligence is auy- thing beyond instinct, and finally assert that they have no souls. The first assertion is @ proven absurdity, while the second has been long exploded. Instinct, anyhow, is only an ignorant term for inherited experience.” speech,” said Taxidermist | If do so he! ‘From the Chicago Tribune. A good story ie told at the expense of one Englishman who came to this coun‘ry with the British and German steel. manufacturers last trunks seems to have puzzled the foreigners not @ little, and when the party arrived at New | York they had among them fully 2,500 picces of | baggage. Here their difficulties commenced. | After “doing” the cities along the Atlantic coast, in which the baggage got into a terribly mixed state, the party returned to New York, Preceding the Pittsburg trip. At the latter during the first two days. Tho entire outfit was wrathy and the male portion heartily cursed the railroads and all things American. But the cruelest thing happened to a young “boxes” through to Chicago from New York. At Pittsburg he was in a sorry plight. No bag- kage but a small hand-bag to dress from during the four days’ visit. Upon arriving at the au- was ina high state of perturba- Hey?” Me bawxes.”” Fh! ©. your trunks. Front! Find the oes trunks.” a were not to be found. The clerk sug- ested that they might be st the stations He would sond for them next trip. “Cawn't wait.” growled the Englishman. “T've been a week without me bawxes. I'll go myself.” and with a tip to cabby to ‘A cab was called, rdingle off quick, now,” the station was soon | “Have you mo bawxes aqeak. here?” said be to the ‘Tranks, dye mean? Let's see yer checks.” “Me checks’ checks,” was the puzzled an- “less me stars! Cawn't understand! ‘H—, man, yer off! Want yer trunk checks. mo! these things,” he exclaimed, showing a check. . “O! it's me brawses you want. I locked them ve to get me bawxes “Well, that beats my time!” ejaculated = man. “Say! you ought to get um cover. 0, yea, Fil And em And be did, ‘Taking the Burgiar's Photograph. From the Boston Transcript Between electricity, which turns night into day and in other ways fulfils the duty of a city | tuit of policemen, and photography, which dir- seminates the features of the convict far and wide, the times are not so auspicious for the burglar as they used to be. A citizen of Toledo, Ohio, 4 acc ted with an invention by which au instantaneous photograph of an incoming burglar can be made by ing fashtight eamera, that has been previously set and focused toward the door in sucha way as to take in the entire fig- tru essential features of the area camera anda flash-light arrange- . in which is provided mechaniam to strike # mutch that ignites the flash powder. | taneously with the flash a pivoted spring sbut- ter is moved #0 as to cause instant ex] ire on the sensitive plate, and the work is done. As the burglar opens the door and steps on a pre- pared mat an electrical connection ismade and 8 lively greeting rings out from the alarm bells. ‘The burglar may retreatas hastily as he pleases, but the photo flash-light has bee: too quick for him and his image is left behind. sift cemanssmee Tears Have Their Uses. The use of tears is not generally appreciated, even by those who shed them most freely, says the Newcastle Chronicle. It is assumed that teurs are shed only occasionally, as an ex- pression of grief, though tears of joy are not wholly unknown. This, however, is a mistake, for the discharge of tears is continuous and the flow of moisture from the lachrymal glands serves a very beautiful provision of nature. An immense quantity of fine dust is always floating | in the air, and thougi this is impalpable to the vision, it would soon obscure the sight if al- lowed’ to remain in the eyes. The continual flow of moisture from the lachrymal glands is sufficient to keep the eyeballs clear from this accumulation of dust; but when any grit, insect or smoke gets into the eyes, it so affects the nerves as tocausean extra flow of tears to clear it away. Tears are thus involuntary and may be caused by any pungent vapor, such as arise from acids or the odor of onions. ‘the chief element in the composition of a tear is water, but with water is associated minute pro- portions of salt, soda, phosphate of limne, phos- phate of soda and mucus, and when seen under the microscope a tear, after,evaporation, looks like a very small fish bone—Owing to the salines forming ‘themselves into lengthened crose- ines. A London Fog. From the London Standard. Suddenly, like a great pall, about 8 o'clock yesterday, one of the densest fogs ever known amid this atmospheric chaos is an undertaking not readily to be forgotten. Ever and anon the piteous voices of unseen men and women would cry aloud: “Where are w or heaven's sake, tell me the way to Bloomsbury | (Southwark, Belgravia or Chelsea, as the case | might be); or “Jane, where are you?” or “John, what has become of Eliza?” while shouts for the omniscient policeman might be heard on all sides. ‘The blindness was aggravated by the smart- ing pain with which the eyes were afflicted, b; orrible mixture filling mouth and nos- trils.and Ly the constant reminders that the pavements had been cunningly prepared by malicious Jack Frost as 60 many man traps for the downfall of the unwary pedestrian. was skating with him when she fell and sprained her ankle, and he wouldn't pick her up in bis arms and carry her off until he had gone through the becoming engaged to her. Young Ma you ever sce me take your ter off Old Gentleman—“No, but I'd like to. wenseenies toys chia og “I hope you remember you: mother,” said the visitor to the prisoner. “Yes.” replied the convict, with a far-away look in his eyes; “‘yes, when ‘Iwas a boy she used to cut my bair.”—Boston Transcript. Point but 400 pieces of baggage had arrived | Britisher. By mistake he had checked his | fell over London and the suburbs. A walk | SEATS FOR THE SENATE.” Allotting Places for the New Members 4? the Upper Howse w= HORACE A. W. TABOR OF COL- orado occupied « seat in the Cnited State ‘Senate for three short months some years ago be was anxious to ascertain what situations om the floor of the upper house were occupied days gone by by other great men, such ee j Webster, Clay and Calhoun, at the time whem that grave and reverend body assembled i | what ts now the chamber of the Supreme Court. Learning that Capt. Imac Hassett was tie | only person living who possesed the informa | tion required, he wont to the venerable a sistant doorkeeper of fifty years’ service and tonght to elicit the points, Unfortunately Gapt. Bassett wnseven then en gaged, as he is at this day, upon a book whieh te destined to render him immortal regarding the past history of the Renate of the United States. He refused, ashe has always done, te make any communication on the subject, whieh Fepresents to him so much literary capital Wherenpon the Senator from Colorade swore With much emphania that posterity should net senatorial corpas pose during his three months’ im- .d, with this purpose in view, he | teed bis diamond sleeve buttons, both of them | set with large brilliants of the first water, to | make certain deep tracks and curliquenes im | the wood of hie desk. Having thus left bie | mark upon the legislative furniture, if sot Upon the Senate's history, he retited into pet vate life. after informing the newspaper corre spondents that his seat might always in the fature be identified by the signs he had left. THE MARES WERE EPPAOED. | One year later the ex-Senator revisited Wash- | ington, ina private capacity, and took « party of friends to gaze upon the chamber wherein his oratory had once thrilled the pulses of the | nation. It was between sessions, and be sought to point ont the very desk behind which be had | formerly becn enthroned. Alas! a desk was | there, but it was just like all the others, with- out 80 much asa scratch t the information of gene ne to Bassett had had the marks filled up j| and varnished over, so that | Sic gloria mundi! | Itis Capt. Bamett Upon Senators. He has had twelve brand new ones put in recently the republican mde to accommodate the gentlemen whom the legisie- tures of the new states have duly elected. | Also, there are some to be added immediately | on the democratic side for the occupanes of | democrats who have recently ousted rept jeans. The new seats will fili out a very able fourth row. They are not #o de those farther front, but their occup 1 have opportunities to move up Inter on if the serve many years. First-rate places on the are only to be got by waiting and by filing ap; cations with Capt. Rasactt, where a vacancy is likely or possible. Senator Washburn | for Kapate’ position nearly a year ago, one eise imagined that the great man from Kansas would be left ont, Priority of application is’ v | alwavs, thongh it has ocen alleged that the ven~ jerable captain permits personal prejudice to sway him sometimes in deciding such matters, j THE DPSTRAPLE SEATS. | _ As to what is a desirable seat on the Senate | floor tastes differ. The second row on the | republican side isthe king row. Along it im | order to the left from the center aisle heve | st Roscoe Conkling, Allison, Ingalls, Blaine, Hoar and Sherman- truly « formidable line. | Conkling, at the end, used the aise as his | Rintform when he spoke. and from that stage delivered his mort effective nations |. On the other band Edmunds and Morrill, both of whom have served #o long in the | Senate that they might be in what seats they | pleased, occupy places in the front from | Which point of vantage the baldheaded sage | from Vermont instructs the Vice President from time to time in the parliamentary methods of the upper house, telling him what he should do in this case and that. But mont Senators think that the second row is better, | because it afl more judicious perspective | from the chair's pat at’ slow. That "is the | Mam point in a seat--namely, the opportunity | it gives for catching the chairman's eve. Other couniderations, however, enter into the lem. Senator Reagan, who is a trifle deaf, so that he leans forward with hand at ear when a | colleague epeake, has rec filled the firet seat in the first democratic row, immediately beneath and tothe right of the Vice Bresi- dent's desk. ‘The place now held by Senator wes | once occupied by Oliver P. Morton. Morton was lame and had an attachment fixed to his | desk to rest his cane-crutch upon. Bustis of | Louisians has had Allen G. Thurman's old chair—the fourth to the right of the center | aisle in the second row. The sixth desk in dhe same line was held for years by Thomas PF. | Bayard. Augustas H. Garland had the front | seat tothe extreme right during all the time | he was a Seuator. Senator Vest sits in #he | snot formerly covered by George H. Pendletop | of Ohio. nd #0 he gets it. _— WHERE COLUMBUS BGAN. j meat | Pians for Erecting a Monument at His Start ing Point. When Christopher Columbrs was leaving Spain in despair after the Junta bed pronounced bis exploration scheme to be ‘ain and impracticable,” says the London errs, he halted at the monastery of La Rabida, near Palos, to ask for bread for his boy Diego. There he poured his sorrows into fhe sympathetic ears of Jaan Perez, who had been the Spanish queen's confessor. The monk's influence at court wes still sufficient to regain the ear of royalty for Columbus, and not far from this spot, where his despair was changed to hope, the marvelous voyage of discovery wan commenced in 1492. | For this monastery of La Rabida, as we learn from our Madrid correspondent, the Spanish | ministers of the colonies and the pubhe works, | With government engineers and architects, aet out on Saturday evening with the view of wet- tling on the spot plars for the raising of | statue to Columbus, for restoring the fameus | convent and for preparing accommodation for | an American congress and other projected celebrations of the four hundredth anniv | of the great vovage of Columbus. The Spam government will provide the sapplies by vate of the cortes this year, 4 grand commission in Madrid is actively pushing the organization of this national commemoration. — Unfortn- | mately, the state of health of the lineal | descendant of Columbus, the twelfth Duke of | Veragua, leaves little hope Rust he will be able to be present at fourth centenary celebration. ‘on the side- EFFECT OF THE RECENT SNOW a Before it can be shoveled in a heavy snow storm comes up, and the heavers retire. STORM.