Evening Star Newspaper, August 8, 1891, Page 10

10 XHE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON, D.C, SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 1891—SIXTEEN PAGES. reel should st be locking Yor Corsenside. Providence that and the state were | the Ravy Department ‘Thompson was \ ¥ of whom ins the read martial law. Dow rebellion of Navy; WHEELING IN EUROPE. |Scirscc Son atati"ve Sanea'ser| ANDREW JOHNSON. |Site atten, Bdetascnease [Sarat cae ec eeeceee (THE NAVAL MILITIA. minds and Corsensife for a wayside inn whic! on the commen and ¢heir tion was Charles Hay, ‘Rich and Thomas Fille- like many of our American read On their retura to Baltimore ‘know no: ing | brown. je ‘rere all the clerks emploved in the . 3 . houses, resented * Rorslev a . A Washington Boy's Bieyole Trip | wae at once the post omce, the wtaveend tke gia | How Senator Grimes Came to Vote | cn omand So orrhe Arqurt | ‘cltivendsdreuguiemee {On€ of the Earliest Advocates Was s mill. Happ: ion ! ‘Prospect was z street nunnery was by a mob of | Conrad Schwartz. I find some famitiar anmes a Over the Cheviot Hille. Plowing; ‘crackers 40, eat, ale 40) drink. and Against His impeachment. thousands and the mob outnumbered the | fm going ever tbe list of the marive Cot. Assistant Secretary Soley. * “Datos Setter in te-une. Ooi. Law, com Tas ne Siar acento Yae mad eco cir Mok Gombe”, Ram Chacon SCOTCH AND ENGLISH ROADS, | tt ondultemted. snettied <¢ “|THE FIRST W. L. I PARADE. | MU r°tni be aukod for hisowm the Wersiend | tele nee ac, “EY. Weea |THE FRUIT OF HIS BOOK. ae - cass ceeding Cadets, the Independent Blues, and he ni Darham, Durh hire, with thy aral @id clear # and dinpersed the mob after A Visit to Abbottsford and Metrose Abbey— Pushing a Wheel Up and Over—He Had Been to America— Accommodating Temper- | and narrow slippery streets, how glad we were ignorant of thy whereabouts when we apoke ance Inns—In Durhamshire. thy name in our own vernacular that we would Tam think thee a second: Uorsenside. We were under the impression when we paid our sturdy Correspondence af The Evening Star. host his etur: biM and left our Horsey inn Bonovenmanes, Execaxn, Juty 18, 1891. AMERICAN IS TRE EARLY BIRD im the sight-seeing season, and the hotel registers, usually designated as the ‘visitors book.” shows his very great predominance in wmmbers over the tourists. With his soft felt hat, by which he mag generally be dis- tinguished, he docs the guide-book points of feterest with a business air and harries on to he next. He ronlly doem’t know or care mach about the architecture of what he con- Siders stuffy old churches or the traditions of ancient castles, but he does them becanse everybody elae does; and besides, you know, it i the thing to be able to say that ves, you've been ‘there nd seen such and such @ place, when, after tea, your chance hotel acquaintance bas pro- That we wore well ont of the hills. The im] sion was toon corrected. We rose and fell for ‘the better part of the day over the nbrupt as- cents and descents of the old Roman ron Watling strect, crowing en Toute the lime the wall of Severus, tailt from Neweustle om ‘the east to Curliste on the west during the | period of Rom occupation of Englund to | the Picts and Scots to the north at home. At the point of our crossing Temainn of the cemsion of irregular, grassy mounds of consid- erable height. AMERICANISMS. At our qniet little ‘“Temperanceand Commer- cial Hotel” in Durham we found quondem ‘Canadian farmer én the person of am English | commercial traveler, who some years ago went to America—as he said, ch the accepted | ‘meaning over here of America is United States— on an unsuccessful farming venture in the pro- Vince of Quebec. He. had gueased we wore | Americans—“Yankees,” as they say—when he | overheard us “guessing” about something. | With a series of hysterical chuckles he enumer- sted our many, to him, odd and amusing ex- pressions. “They were sure they would,” he | said, apeaking of some American neighbors his farming days, “yet they always ‘guesed. Then our hubit ‘of “fixing” everything, th: wus very amusing indeed, and our “all right: but “ail right” we are hearing Englishmen ued nowadays, much as they may have laughed at it heretofore, and in Devonshire, in the south- west of Engiand, we understand it is a com- mon provincial expression. Our acquaintance commented upon the su- | perior position of the American farm hand | who “gets his £1.50 or $2 u day and eaty at the soon you expect to return. and at begins | same table with you”—the latter purt of which 4m your través. Yet no matter how faithfully | proposition seemed rather to disgust our ac- you have followed the book, visited all the | gusintance—while the English Tarm hand ‘is jews" marked with the asterisk of recom- | doing well if he gete bis 3 shillings and finds mondation. there is always sometiring you have | himself.” One distressing detail of the quon- | overlooked, something you should not have dam's farming experience appeared to be the mined. something thet, in vour informant’s | fact that his farm was fifteen miles from the cotimmtion, was all there was to beseon worth | nearest “pub,” and with the recital of this seeing. And so he gently chides you until you | item he emphasized his taste for a “generous have a sneaking feeling that your tour shus far | drop of bitter” by requesting our landlady to NORTH OF EXGEAND VILLAGE. propounded the routine inquiries as to when you came over, on what steamer, whether you bad any ulterior motives in coming and how ‘wall were still to be seen im the form of a suc- | been a tlat failure, and you had best go back to the begimuing and commence over if you expect to have sny standing asa tourist among tours. ‘WISTORIC PTTHLING. Stirling, with its historic castled rock over- ooking the city, is quite similar in appearance to its big winter, Edinburgh, thirty-five miles | -law, if we may be permitted to agitate an old subject, are there, Sliseet, appreciated én a cultebio sranuor, tani a, dead ones ure. In the cometery is & heud- atone bearing the same of the person, who | “William Keid. Randolphficld.” fol- lowed by the inseription. “Here é interred his ‘mother-in-law, Jane Stewart," with the date of ber death. Four miles south of Stirling is the field of Bruce and his brave fol- lowers defeated the more namerous but less crafty English umder King Edward Il. The Scotch rtandard was planted on an eminence, and the bare stume into which it was thrust is wow protected by an iron grating else st had Joug since disappeared in the rapacions maw of the ‘relic hunter. Beyond ix Falkirk, whei ‘William Wallace was defeated in battle by his Bagh antagonists. & Visit TO ABROTTSORD. Edinburgh and the quaint old multi-storied buildings, and the house of John Kuox, in the eld town nearest the castle, we soon left behind snd found our way to “Abbotsford,” thehome of Scott. Paying a shilling apiece at the dour We delivered ourselves to the attendunt. an eiderty Scotchman, who, for probably the ten ‘thousmndth time, more or less, went over the Fooms open to Visitors and recited his set re- mares upon the furniture, etcetera, for our ed- ifieation. Off one corner of the study where Seon kept hus books of reference and other books most used in his work is a small box-like apartment with oak where, no doubt, he was wout to retire and without danger of distraction of mind hatch up some of the de- lightful stories he has left to the world. To enable bim to reach the uppermost shelves of the study « small gallory was built ‘edout the room and om the railing. at intervals, ‘gre small ledges, where books might be laid for &@ moment wirile some other volume wus pe- Yused. From the gallery, just above the litte Sinking dou already motioned, a door leads te his bed room, from which he emerged at early hours of the morning to toil, while the Fest of the housebold slept. Scott bought “Abbotisiord” in 1811. It was a poor hittle farm known by the unselect name of “Clarty Hole.” At large expense the presen: mansion was built, and the beginning Maude which, with improvements added by his descendants, wlio have occupied it since bis demise in 1852, has made “Abbottsford” such a beautiful retreat as one might hope to have, bat never by any possibility acquire with money alone. From the drawing room, one of the Yow apartments open to the pubiic, one looks down toward the river Tweed over a grasey w slope now hand-omely terraced, a change since Scutt's time, when there was simply the nataral slope without the artificial- Ries of the landscape gardener. MELROSE ABREY. Ta the neighboring town of Melrose is the old abbey, regarded as the finest rain in Scotland, and which Scott frequently came to coutem- plate from a convenient tombstone im the old cemetery adjoining. This isa sixpence sight. and is weil worth the money. The abbey was destroyed und rebuilt several times before it fell vo its interesting wate and became source of revenue to the dukes of Buccleuch, ‘to whose estate it belongs. On the occasion of one ot the numerous expeditions of Engiand into Seotand in the okien times the English, Feturning home, uadactually passed theabbey by when the abbots, with ill-conceived gealeutsed the abbey bells to be rung ns an expression of joy at the departure of the enemy and the eseape of the abvey from plander. The sound of the bells clanging out upon the sir renched the Rugheb, who regarded the rejoicing as quite Woo tantahzing to ber permitted to go un- noticed. They accordingly returned in a body fo enliven the merry-making by sacking and Jooting the e=tablishment. To properly wee Melrose Abbey Scott ad- Visox a wiew by the moons pale light: but we were obliged! to forego that pleasure and bend ear steps coward Jedburgh with its wealth of border reminiscences and its “Jeddart staves Of the old days. “Jeddart™ justice of the same Period was of the sort that punishes the pris- oner first snd conducts his trial later. In this Way wo gueity pervon escaped, and in this re- poet the system had its advantages OVER THE Chrvior nats. | Tn entering England from Scotland the bicy- | list, unlom he goos by 4 coust rund. must climb | ‘over the Cheviot hills. We decided to climb, | ‘und climb we did, losing both of our most im- Portaut and responsible suspender butious in theact Our laboring through Irish mad and against Irish winds, to say nothing of sprinting @mong the Scottish “braes and doons,” had re- duce:i our fair, round proportions to such an | extent that until we could repair the damage Wrought we foand it diffieutt—and it is embar- Taussing to refer to it-—-to keep our breeches— | We can't ©: exactiy, but the acute mind of the reader will grasp the situation. Four wiles we rode— theoretically; actually contingons asceut. Winding smoug the hills up to the cload-crowned | suit With only now and then an isolated | tree and at rere intervals a clump of low- branching fire the hills prevent a bare, desolate appearance, without romantic we abo scm! & " 5 iedtidls | to give them a | + | We've send across the way to the “pub” and get him 2 pint TEMPERANOR SOTELS. These temperance hotels are to ‘be found in | all the large towns not only of England, but of | Scotland, Wales and Ireland as well. In prices they are always cheaper than the others, and many of them are large, quite clogant establish- ments, yet without much of that stiffness and formality usual to most pretentious English hostelries. As their name implies, no intoxi- cants are sold: there is no bar, side door or otherwise, and if you must have your “bitters” You must go out for it, unless, as was she of Durham's temperance ‘hotel, your landlady is an accommodating bedy and "will “send out for it, or whut is more, go for it herself. Gener- ally the temperance howl is a small affair, neat and comfortable; just the place for iadics traveling alone. Some of them are bad, very bad: and then the maid who serves you at table will have an apron—we were xbout to say a white aprou—but it has not been washed since it was new, «nd that was long ago. And the table linen, and lingn in general, is changed not oftener than once a week, come ba ——__ +. ‘Written for The Evening Star. A Slave's Grave, L A long-negiected spot Forgot! Asolitary mound New found! A white-haired man upon the green Whose falling tears were all unseen, “She died,” he sobbed, “ut just dfreelf, m he tay tn _yonder grave, Aslave! Ber mother’s only enfid, Beguiled From earth to heaven at God's decree ‘To sit beside a Father's knee ‘Whose royal edict set her free, Not we. ™. Her mother was Adele, Ah, well! A dlossoming quadroon In June, ‘Who wedded Alf, the lowly sire Of Arthur, Mattie, aud Sapphire, She with a mother’s fond desire On fire, 1. Her master broke the ban; His man ‘Was sold in Tennessee, A Tough Time for Washington Soldiers in Balthnere—4 Mexican War Stery—Militery Incidents of Long Ago—The Late John C. ‘Rivee—An Old Corner Btone. ‘Written for the The Evening Btar. CORRESPONDENCE HaS BEEN neglected for the Inst two weeks, und in giving it the attention ft merits my contribu- tion this week will bean olla podrida, but in- teresting, [hope. Mr. Hawkins Taglor sonds ‘Me some most interesting matter conperning | the early history of Iowa. He sys I made the mistake in speaking of my old friend George W. Jones of Jowa, one of the seconds of the ily duel, asfromNebraske. Strange mistake, indeed, tor *Jones of Sowa” wanes familiar as ahousehold wor'with me for many years. He ‘was nt that time (1898) a delegate from Michi- gan, entering Congress in 1835, and came into Congress as Senator on ‘tho adinission Towa a 8 state. An incident Dictionary. On his retarn from New Granada in 1861, where he was sent as minister, he was arrested for disloyalty and imprisoned in Fort ‘Warren, wheve he had distinguished compan- iouship. Mr. Taylor could not have read my ‘articles very utientively, for he swys it was of | #trenge I Wft out the name of that eminent | Serator (Grimes) when spout | lican defenders of President J. ‘ef the repub- insom from im- achment. Ispoke in « previous article par- iy of Dis efforts to rostrain the more radical members of bis partyend told of an interview a1 dat my house (one of the block Of the -Atlington inow) between Bonator Grimes and the President. Mr Reverd Johnson had told ame that Johnson would not take revengeon bi secutors. and on consultation with Mr. Worden, then ove of the private secrotarice of the dt was arrunged that Senator Grimes mest Mr Jolmon end stisty hiself as to the futuro disposition of the Pres- ident. We—Mr. Reverdy Johmaon, Mr. Wor- den and myself—felt authorized 10 give such assurance from our knowledge of Mr. John- son's dispovition, but it was determined to give Mr. Grimes the personal assurance of the Pres- ident. I invited Mr. Grimes to supper with Mr. Johnson, the President and Mr. Worden, and after supper we withdrew and left the President and Mr. Grimes together. ‘The interview lasted probably an hour. What transpired moone knew, but Mr. Grimes voted for acquittal. ‘Mr. Peylor amy Grimes dtd more effective work than all the other republican Senators that supported Johnson. He scarcely slept for a week before the final vote.” Iwas commissioned by Mr. Johnson to con- vey to Mr. Grimes a lettcr of tharks, tendering him any service he could render. I donot think they ever met after that night at my house. 1 kmew Mr. Grimes long before he be- came Senator, as the counsol of Messrs. Gules & Seaton in some property they owned in Bur- lington, Jowa, and les: from theit appre- cistion of him what a sterling character he was. ABOUT JOHN ©. RIVES. Mr. Taylor says John C. Rives came to Washington from Shawneetown, Illinois) He was for many years cashier of the old Shawnee- town Bank, owned by John Marshall, a Seotch- ‘man und the uncle of Jndge Samuel S. Mar- shall, who for many years most ably represented his district in Congres. Mr. Taylor says: “The bank wae ene of houesty, never eas. nding “pecie payment in tl ica of 1 End 1605. “A anve ina rock on the Ohio siver a short distance from Shawneetown was for years the headquarters of counterfeiters and other thieves and law breakers, and they got so strong that they elected their’ friends to the county offices. good people of the county orgun- ized a company of regulntors and my brother. law, Dr. Gilmer, and Jobn C. Rives were mem- bers of it and Rives was made captain, and after ® fight with the thieves y drove them from the country. Dr. Gilmer and John C. Rives corresponded after Mr. Kives came to Washington, and he said Rives was the best off- band shothe ever saw Gen. Jackson was in the habit of joming Rivow in target shooting and Old Hickory made the best shots. The President learned of Mr. Rives’ oapacity of bookkeeping, and just at that time the city finances were baily tangled and the President got the mayor to employ Rives to straighten them out, and that led up tohis being associated with Blair, who had no capacity for finance. This 1 heard from Dr. Gilmer. Rives origi nally came from Kentucky.” ‘THE FIRST W. L. I. PARADE. The article on the Baltimore encampment has resuscitated some of “the old guard” who apent that week of bad weather in Baltimore. Capt. Asbury Tucker and John H. Thompson of the Treasury Department are sole survivors of the W: ‘on Light Infantry, which made its first parade om the 12th of September, 1436, Capt. ‘jdm A. Blake commanding. After the retirement of Capt. Blake, Richard France was ted captain. Sergeant Jobu T. Given gave me an interesting incident in which the Infan- And Mattie into Georgia wem, While Sapphire from her, hired or lent, Was rent. v. ‘Her owner, then a youth, Tn trath Pampered her as his pet, While yet In secret love the years flew by ‘Till what was ouce an infumt’s cry Became a gentie matuen’s sigh ‘So shy. v1. ‘Their danghter passed away, Theday =, ‘Was vetied from verdant bloom Tm gioum; ‘The father's heart was broken, reft, As aspen by the lightning cleft, And nought for him in life was left, Berett: v1 ‘Was it the hand of Fate ‘Thus late ‘Which led the parent back, Alack! ‘Upon that grave to mourn and cry, ‘To kneel in prayer to heaven on high ‘Then heave « sudden soul-felt sigh— And die? —Daviw Granam AvER. ‘Yarrow Farm, Laurel, Md., August 8, 1891. alae ‘The Lost Hat Dodge. Prom the Chicago Muil. The wind was blowing stiffly and the bridge at Dearborn street was open. “Look out for your hat, my boy!" shouted an old gentleman of portly appearaace, but he was too Inte. The bat—a battered straw— rolled into the river. The boy began crying and dug his kauckles into his eyes. “Well, young man, you will Lave to buy aa- other hat now.” “Ain't g-g-got nuthin’ ter bay with,” snufiled the youngster. “That's too bad. Here's a dollar for you.” Twenty minutes later 1 was at the Clark street bridge. “Catch that hat, please, mister!” and as the old, worn-out head covering floated into the Yiver,a small, bareheaded boy sank down on the ferement sobbing violently. Three men’s nds went into their and three silver quarters gravitated toward the small boy. Peered into his face. It was the same lad. ~! try hada touch of real warfare at the encamp- ment. Baltimore earned the name of mob town ut a very early iod of its existence. Befors the war i812 some printing offices were sacked and burned, and in 1835 the houses of Reverdy Jonson and John Glenn and Mr. Morris, directors of the Bank of Maryland, were torn down after being sacked. There was # fearful element thore, the rival fire companies supplying the material. While the Washington Light Infantry were per- forming guard duty, Lieut. Nat Hammond, be- ing officer of the dag, and Sergt. John T. Given sergeant of the guard, several hundred roughs fried toforce the guard. At that moment Gen, Stewart, commanding the encampment, came up with bis staff and ordered the guard to re- pulse the attack and led them, cutting and slashing into fhe crowd and taking several woners, who were placed in the guard tent. e crowd di , — with | threats of returnin; tt and attacking the camp. Fue goard was Aoubled and ball cartridge served, but Shey did not come. A law bad ‘the legislature of Maryland making ita serious misdemeanor to interfere with the military, and the next morning the pris- oners were tried by court-martial, but Col. France, in the kindness of his heart, managed to be absent and fhey escaped with « repri- mand, and as they left the camp, followed by jeers and shouts, a more dejected looking crowd was never seen. When the encampment broke up the same element followed the Washington Light Infantry to the depot, threatening them. A MEXICAN Wak STORY. I met snother of the veterans of that en- campment, Mr. William H. Nalley, wno was so inspired with military ardor that he went to the Mexican war as a sergeant in Capt. William H. Digges’ company. This regiment was raised, he said, by the late Col. Charles Lee Jones, but for some reason the command was gifen to Col. « “were “communded by Capt. "Nea treed Henry, “Big” Bill" o Capt. Edw. ‘Branch —Mobinson. My old friend Capt Gus Klopfer, was first licatenant of the company commanded by Dan F Drake Henry, whofor sumo Yeason returned, and Capt. Klopfer took command of the com: pany. The it landed at Vera Cruz. An- ‘regimen: other regiment of Washingtonians were with Watson's command, Maryland troops, and with Gens. Worth and Taylor. Sergt. Nalley related an incident for which Col. Hughes was subsequently sued before our court. A man named Jim Duvis, from Georgetown, Pay te an assault on a Mexican woman, and ‘ol ordered him to be given thirty- and the First Statesman—‘How is the official investi- Sxtion into those boodle charges ont” Maj anccgeded in not finding ont a thing.”— Sooke ‘what more cenld beart aanirel Jostuse wean ‘Bot see me across the strect/” pest Policeman—‘‘tee yer uoroes de: ee Bure, mum. I cen ove yo a mite of. He was tied to a gun ashes taid on lightly ‘and when Davie was untied he arms like a y boat, Hace was Preseatand ordered him ob in his career I find in Lanman’s Congressional | 4 iy ‘Grimes | severe fighting. silk stocking company,” @id thetr duty when enlled on. Th here on the eocasion of laying the corner stone of the Washington monument or the inaugura- tion of Gen. Taylor, I ennnot remember whith. Thad scoured quaciorstor them at the National Hotel, but there, was io company to receive them. The several companies don't remember th ‘ne their guests, und I at Blues bad disbanded, I think. I know my mil- itary ardor had oozed out like Bob Acres’ courage, and my unfform, resplendent in gold Ince nigatette and all, had been given to an eminent actress and done service an Clmule Meinotte when he returns from the war to “out- bid yon sordid hucketer.” Excuse ion. There was no company to receive the Cadete, ‘but Dr. Boyle, always equal to the occasion, snid: “We will reveive them,” and we did, marching st their head to the National Hotel. AX OLD CORKER STOXE. The name of Capt. Nod Barry brings up ‘another reminiscence of the tong past. I ob- tained through my friend, Mr. McDermott, a y of the insoription on the corner stone of the: 1, of which I wrote som months ago. [t has been preserved and is enshrined in the wall of a vestibule of St. Dominic's Church, South Washington. Acrom ix at the head. “Inthe name of the Bleswed and Undivided Trinity, amen, this iret stone of a small Roman Catholic Church is Isid in the city of Washington in the year of Our Lord end Saviour Jesus Christ 1806, and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title and name St Mars, * * * ‘erected by and ut ef James Barry.” Capt. Ned Barns, ae everybody calied him, was one of the sons of James D. the nephew and heir of Mr. James Barry. He married the denghter of Griffith Coombes and lived at Poplar Poist, opposite the navy yard, where he had an estate of some 800 actes. ‘Dr. McWilliams, whose father was an eminent physician here for many years, was, with Charles W. Goldeborough, Peter Force, Richmond Johnson, Adam Lind: say. ono of the guardians of the poor and phy i He was also one of the board of health with Dr. Sim, Dr. Huntt, Dr. Sewell and others in 1821. 1 find he was president of the Botanical Society, organized in 1817, and coun- sellor with Dr.’ Thornton, Mr. Gales, Dr. Huntt and George Hadfield, the ‘archi- tect, and of the Colnmbian Institute, founded in {018 De. McWilliams has a gendary ‘history a house on ital Hill occupied by six bachelors, all six feet tail, whe subsequently married, and each had wix sons, all nix feet tull. ‘These bachelors were Jas. D. Barry, Dr. Frederick May, Thomas Law, Louis Pirillipe, the exile, and two others whose names he had forgotten. SIX NEN WITH SIX SONS EACH. ‘We can vouch for two of the six after they became Benedicta, James D. Barry, whose sons were Ned Barry, Dave Barcy, James Barry, Robert Barry, Dan. Barry, Griffith Barry, Dr. Frederick May's sons’ were Dr. John Froderick May, who died recently, William May, George May. Henry May, and Julian May. Dr. Noble Young authority for this legend. ‘WHAT WAR CALLED RAPID TRAVELING. A correspondent kindly sends me this extract from the “Port Folio of 1816.” Tt is headed “Traveling.” “The following statemate of dis- tance, fare, expense and time of traveling from Philadelphia to Quebec may be of some use to the traveler. From Philadelphia to New York by steamboat and stage, $10, thirteen hours, ninety-six miles. New York to Albany by steamboat, $7, twenty-four hours, 160 miles. From Albany to Whitehall by tages, 5, and expenves #3, twelve hours, seventy miles. From Whitehall to St. Jolms by steamboat, £9, twenty-six hours, 150 miles. “From St. Johns to Montreal, @3, 4’ hours, thirty-seven miles. From Montreal to Quebec by steambont, $10, twenty-four hours, 186 miles. Total, 699 miles, 208 hours, cont, $47. “Thus a person may travel 700 miler in a Tite tle more than fonr days, at an expense of £50 or ‘abont 7 cents per mile, und sleep comfortably on the way. arrival md departure of the stages and steambouts are so arranged that the above route may be performed in about five andahalf successive days and the traveler tarry six hours in New York, nine in Alban} nineteen at Whitchall and ‘six at Montreal Such expedition im traveling, we believe, van not, be equaled in amy other country on the globe.” same distance is nowrun in four- toen hours at a cost of $14. I was rerainded by Mr. Bryan of J. B. Bryan & Brother that 1852 we-went to the whig convention at Lundy's Lane, held on the annivermry of the battle where Gen. Scott won his first laurels, and we were neatly three days going. From Baltimore to Frenchtown by rail, from French- town to Newoastle by boat and then by rail to New York. The time from bere to Lundy's Lane, near Niagara Falls, is about twelve hours ABOUT EX-SECRETARY RAMSEY. havea letter from the Senate library in- forming me that Alexander Ramsey, who was a member of the Twenty-oighth Congress.is still alive, residing at St. Paul, Minn. In 18411 went to Harrisburg. for the purpose of settling an ontstanding debt with the legislature of Pennsylvania. In those days the members of the various states legislatures were supplied with certain newspapers, and the National Tutelligencer was always among those selected, and for some reason there had been no settle- ment of the account with the state of Penn- sylvania Yor some years. I had @ letter to Mr. sey, 8 young whig lawy. at Harrisburg, from “Mr. Seaton, the settlement required legislative "action I left the matter in lus hands. The following year Mr. Ramsey came to Congress and was one of the most active of the whig members. When I saw Mr. Ramsey last, some few years ago, he was full of life and vigor and seemed really but little changed in all’ those years. 1 think he was the first territorial governor of Minnesota and when udmitted as a state was elected governor und then Senator and Secre- tary of War and then commissioner to settle difficulties with Utah or the Hot Springs, I for- get which. WHERE THE OLD Linnany 18, I have a letter from Mr. Wan. J, Marsh, the nephew of the late James F. Haliday, informing me that tne Washington library was turned over to the Young Men’s Christian Association complete by the surviving directors. Mr. Marsh says: “The exact date I cannot recall, but w to the time the ¥. M. C. A. occupied their build- ing, corner of 9th and D streets, it was under their charge, for often in my youth, fifteen or eighteen years ago, Ihave been there and ob- tained books. The library was a very fine one.” 1am very glad to know that the collection been preserved. The Washington library was established by a subscription of 200 persons at 812 each, and was incorporated by Congress in 1814. The great uced of Washington is a public library open in the evening. ‘The Con- ‘essional Library closes at the very time when fiose who would be benefitied ste at liberty to enjoy that benefit. The thousands who are employed under the government are not free to avail themselves of the aivuntages of a library until after 4 o'clock. When the great national library is completed that wiil be open in the evening, ay I understand, but that isa Jong while to p wait, and, in the meanwhile, this it eos uld be’ suppli ‘ashington fall bo in the futuro the educational coater of ‘the country and an early effort should be made toestabieh a public library open from 9a. m. to10p.m. So many millions have been be- stowed and bequeathed for the establishment of libraries throughout the coun city, with all its vast and beautiful Mr. Spofford of the Congressional Library in- orves pia a bakin Laanel over as tea Young Men's Christian Awsociation were y was the depleted in the which bad ‘since They had been of use to the ders, and ing ane ee ben ies a Yor more modern and wore wniteble books for Guelist and I think Col. Floyd was a con! Nicholson anid he was eve killed. The officers: the year 1820 the following improvements have ‘been made, according to the annual statement of Mr. John Sessford: a Presb; copal chur church | been Considerably enlarged; « circa has been ter be; cote oi barging ebout 3 r begun. ring disc ‘about forts gellons of water's minute ceases €2,000, been prepared to su; city with water. Upwards of 12,000 rauning feet of brick pavement have been Jnid in the second and third wards.” ‘The circus alluded to was built on the site of the stable which for several years was kept by Walker & Kimmell on C street between 6th an‘ {A streets. ‘There Madame Celeste made her appearance here. TF pieces were producedandrememberasa wondediulprodac: tion “The Cataract of the Ganges,” with Teal water, obtained from tho spring nearly oppo- site, which supplied all that part of the city. In 1621 the grandfather of Gen. M. C. Meiga, Josiah Meigs, was commissioner of the general land office and Return Jonathon Meigs, jr., was Postmaster General. Abraham ley, jr., and Phineas Bradley were assist- ant pogtmasters general, Andrew Coyle, chict clerk; Jomes M.Varnum and Wm i. Beard, Zohn’ McLeod, Ohauncey Bestor, Wim Jouan Meigs was presidest of the Colombien was mt of the Columbian inetttte, founded i 1816, Ie sonsined of ave chssos, viz: Mathematical sciences, physical sciences, moral and political sciences, general literatnre and the fine arte. It was composed of resident corresponding snd honorary mem- dors. It was in existence until the founding of the Smithronian Institution and was abyor ly a part of the in it. Joun F. Coyix. ——— If Tam weak and you are @rong, ‘Why then, why then, ‘To you the braver deeds ‘And 80, again, 2f You have gifts and I have none, If] have shade and you have «un, "Tis yours with freer hand to *Ti# Yours with truer grace to liv ‘Than 1. who Fitdese, sunlens, stand ‘With barren lite and hand. ‘Btranger—“This tree seems to be loafed with ot aie—“Ten, ‘tr. Pop mys this iso wane ee ‘History of the Attempt te Secure Legisiative Action in Cengrese—Secretary Tracy's Strong Letter in Ite Behalf—States That Have o Naval Militia of Their Own. HISTORY OF THE GROWTH OF the naval militia kien is an odd ene, filus- trating to a certain degree the tendency of the American mind to amalgamate the best feat- Ures of several plans and to compromise to the ‘Dest advantage on every question that cannot be carried in its entirety. It also illustrates the fact that the average American bas not yet thag he recoguizes the fact that it is a purt of the duty of acitizen to edd his mite to the common welfare. As early as 1882 a book was written which contained @ reference to the need of a naval force of citizen sailors as an adjunct to the regular force and a feeder to it in time of war. The work was entitled “The Blockade and the Cruisers,” and its author was the present as- sistant secretary of the navy, Hon. J. R. Soles. He referred to the history of the ear! of the civil war to prove his abet oy country had not the adequate naval force, and he particularly called attention to the fuct that What the navy most needs in cases of emergency the service of men accustomed to handling ships und manitions of war, and not green ut random’ from the great tition widkout rebcence 8s ks Benees ‘The suggestions of the writer has borne fruit, though perhaps his remarks fell at the time on stony ground. | Ho does not today claim to be iu the least responsible for tho advance made in the organizatian of naval militia forces, nor docs he wish to take to himsolf any of the Credit that attaches to the position of the pro- moter of the syxtem that is now growing with a gratifying rapidity. He ie working ow ever, for the success of the scheme, and to him will, ‘no doubt, be given the honor when the labor has been performed. ‘TRE ORIGINAL IDEA DIFFERENT. The naval intelligence office of the Navy De- Partment has studied the question very thor- = aghly during the past three or four years and it has been responsible for a good deal Titerature that line been, produced-on the nex cessity of some sort of a naval militia in this country. The original idea was quite different ‘original from that which basat last taken root and i On the 18th of May, Secretary Tracy addressed a letter to Senator Allison, chair man of the Senate committee on appropri- ations, calling his attention to the importance of providing fer the issue of arms and other to what he referred to as the “recently | organized navel militia of the country.” His letter ds an important contribution to the lit- erature of the development of the rolun- teer navy. He said: “One of the most Vital defects in our present naval system is the want of an organized militia, #0 trained that in case of necemity it will be prepared to supply the demands of the naval service. number of seamen now allowed by law is 7,500. Most of them are necessarily scattered in vari- ous parts of the world. They would not be available at all in an emergency nor would they be sufficiently numerous to form more than the nucleus of an active force. “At the outbronk of the civil war there were oniy 200 seamen on the Atlantic coast at the of the government for the crews of the ships fitting out. Largely in consequence of | this naval operations during the first ix were delayed and obstraocted. The necessities of war afterward increased the force to 50,000. Most of the crews were destitute of naval train- nthe ing, and to obtein even these it was necemary to pay heary bounties. “The want of a supply of men in reserve places the navy at a great antage as com- pared with the army, which has always behind ita well-trained militia, which makes its real numerical strength. Without this it would be & feeble instrument of national defense. The navy needs its reservesas much as the army, and they shonld be composed not only of trained seamen, but of trained naval seamen. “The dev: t of the militia is in the in- terest of a truc economy. Its cost to the gen- | eral government lies only in arms and equip- | ments for training. remainder of the expense is voluntarily borne by the states. Compared with the cost of a regular force of the same size this expense is litte moro than nominal, as the periods of active employment are confined to what is required for training Secretary recommended an appropria- tion of $50,000 for the aid of the miutia that | might be organized in the various states, but the committee, in acceding to his request for a starting amount, cut the figure down to &: which was riated and wiich became Svailable on the firs A bill was introduced in the House on the 12th of June, 1590, making an appropriation of $50,000 for the establishment of te vaval mili- tia in the various states, tobe apportioned ac- cording to tie number of representatives of each state in Congress. This bull failed of pas- sage through the agreement on the provision in the naval appropriation act, to which refer- ence was just made. AGITATION IN THE STATES. ‘That ends the legisiative history of the case. While all this was being done in Congress there was a tremendous agitation going on out- Side in boards of trade and other organizations in the large seaport cities of the country, urg- ing that something be done for the permanent establishment of a well-organized naval militia, When it was seen that Congress was dixposed to | ‘take hold of the question in a fosterimg manner, the states began to act themeclves through their legislatures, and laws were passed in several instances providing for organizations of bat- talions and companies. Masaichssctts was the first to act legislatively on the subject. ing the session of 1888 .an act was gassed estublish a naval battalion to be attached to volunteer militia.” Dur- “to the It was to consist of four ing | companies, as was muggested for the District of ‘There ts more in the difference between these terms than one might at first en; ‘The naval reserve was to be a force be aeey from the people whose callings make them ac- jaainted with the sea, signed to a partial en- istment with the United States nary, but free for eleven months in the year. or thirty days i each year this force was to be amena- ble tothe authority of the government, and ae Seana ae active service in ction on board This pre-supposed the pomiity ofcblalniugenoagh men from the active walks of life who could and would afford the time that such a service would de- mand. Of course these voluntecrs were to be paid for their month's work at the regular rates ‘estabhehed by law for the pay of the navy, but after a good deal of discussion the was abandoned, for it was seen clearly that it would ‘be next to impossible for the government to obtain, without drafting, the services of a suffi- cient number of men of intel! habits, who would fice their resting terms in summer for days of what would prove to be hard work. The idea of compulsory at- ce upon the drills that would have to form a part of the system was altogether re- pugnant to the average intelligence, and it was On thie basis alone that the theory of the for- mation of a strictly naval “reserve” was altered to include the element of volun’ that has made the land militiaso much of a success. ‘BILLS INTRODUCED IX CONGRESS, ‘The movement to establish @ navel reservo went so far as the introduction of a number of bills in Congress, the best of which, for the pur- poses of illustration, being known as the “Whit- ‘thorne bill,” from name of ite author. This bill was introduced January 4, 1883, and pro- vided for the enlistment, as a naval reserve, of all persons between the ages of eigh- teen and forty-five of the following wes: “All seafaring men of whatever calling or occupation, and all men e: in the navigation of the rivers, lakes and other waters; all persons engaged in the construction and management of ships and crafts or any part thereof w such waters, together with ship owners and their em, ‘yacht owners, members of yacht clubs and ail other associa tions for aquatic pursuitsand all ex-ofticers and enlisted men of the navy.” ‘This bill provided for the holding of an an- nual drill of these men, not to exceed one month in length, who should be paid at the same rate as men and officers holding similar rank in the regular navy. It also contained a clause providing for the payment of an annual mileage subsidy by the government to the owners and builders of steam vessels suitable for use as cruisers for this auxiliary navy. ‘This latter provision as to subsidizing vessele with a view to their future use by the govern- ment has since been enacted in another meas- ure that had no other bearing upon the ques- tion of a naval reserve. {t was estimated, in a plan drawn the Navy Department ‘when the matter, wes ouioe active considera tf might be enlisted under such an organization trom the different parts of the country. There were also some additional estimates made of ' figures will show the expectations at that time: New York, 2,500; Massachusetts, 1,600; Maryland, Michigan and California, 900 each, and #0 on through the list of states with water fronts whereon their naval reserves might be drilled. ‘The Whitthorne bill, however, did not be- INTENDED PROVISION FOR THE DISTRICT. One of the first measures designed to carry ‘into effect this intter plan was the Grout bill, battalion of naval militia in the District of Co- E ipt tik LL is Seg ta 8 Ls £ § h itit l F kin L E d tH a i ¢ : F & if | F introduced January 21, 1890, providing for a been Columbia, and it was to be a part of the militia force of the stute. Then came New York, which passed an act June 14, 188%, to what was practically the same effect. It for the enlistment, as a part of the already organized militia, but in a separate avatem, of the same claves of individ- mentioned’ in the Whitthorne bill. They ware to be organized into three battalious of naval reserve artillery, and a battalion of four companies to comprise the torpedo corpsof the militia of the state. “i Rhode Island was the next to enact a law for tho organization of such a force, but her estab- lishment, like herself, was designed to be but alittle one in size, though a giant in system. It provided for but two companies, one as an artillery reserve and the other asa torpedo company. The act was based directly upon that of the state of New York, and contained the same provision.as to the «upplying of arms and munitions by the government. California is the last one that has passed a Jaw on the subject, and her act was approved March 31, 1891@@t is similar to the others mentioned and provides for a battalion of four com Besides these laws bills were drawn up and Prevented to the legislatures of New Hamp shire and Penneylvania, but owing to the pres- sure of other mattersaction on them was de- ferred until the next sessions. It is more than probable, however, that laws will be passed ‘this winter in not only those states, but in Ver- mont, Maryland and North Caroling, as well as other states that are notso certain as those in North Carolina there is already a good deal of enthusiasm on the part of the public and there has been a great many applications for enlistment, although there is yet no state law regulating the matter. The same condition of things exists in Vermont. THE FOUR PIONEER STATES. As the laws of the four pioneer states stand today the organized naval militia is limited ton force of 2,002 men, as follows: New York, 1.300; California, 338; Massachusetts, 238, and Rhode Island, 126. The limit has not been reached, however, though it is expected that by the Ist of October it will be fully attained. The force in New York now numbers 206 and is increas- | That in Massachusetts is at | ing all the time. the top notch and the ranks of the battalion are fuli. Rhode Island has but two torpedo Doat crews and her entire force numbers but 87, while California is now undergoing the first organization. ‘The government, in the menntime, has not | been wasting time, but it has done ‘its share toward putting the new bodies on # working basis. A circular was issued from the Navy Department on June 20 setting in motion the machinery of distributing the $25,000 appro- printed by Congress for the purpose of supply- ing the militia with arms and equipments. Te is expected that all of the money will be ar and that an additional appro- priation will be obtained from Congress at the next session for the continuance of the work thns well begun. It is the hope of the naval authorities that a larger amount will be granted, for it is probable thut by another year there will have been other enactments of laws by states now without any naval or militia forces, and that those that have organized will be enlarg- ing, and in fact, the prospect is that within twelve months’ there will be a surprising advance made in this line. Fifty thousand dol- lars at least will be required, if not €100,000, which is the sum given for the support of the land militia. THE DISTRICT HAS DONE NOTHING. In all this it is a glaring fact that the District of Columbia has done nothing, has been en- couraged todo nothing, has been allowed to do nothing. This is due to several causes. In the ret the anomalous position of the Dis- trict with respect to the matter of legislation and the dependence that must be had upon Congress for every-eent of appropriations tend to delay everything here until starts have been made in other directions. It was one of the purposes of the Grout bill to make an ex- periment in the District that should serve ar an object lesson for all the other parts of ¢ ion. An unfortunate bar to further action has in the way in the act appropriating ,000 for distribution. Reference to the the quoted above will reveal the fact that said that this money should be ex- pe of “arms and equip- ments for naval militia of various #tates.” Catambia, yarin the present instance the single “‘ptates” and it is very doubtful whether the would be admitted to its way ser poet, he law that | will admit the District to benefit under the propristion, is very well eee well Hi 25,000, | first of the present fiscal year. | Defective Vision tn Children—Its (Cause, | ‘Pfect and Prevention (Prom the Philadeiphia Star | The rapid increase im the number of those who are obliged to wear ginese nowndays especially children) is so alarming we are | st once driven to the concinston that the human virion is now more defective than ever before. Bat such is not the case. For y spectacles were thonght to be necessary only for the old and the idea of children wearing glasses was | Considered the greatest absurd. Fortunately this erroneous idea ia fast dying out. With tao advancement of science and the discovery of certain defects of vision hitherto unknown, the public are becoming better elucated and are not slow to apply the remely when any defect of vision is fou Bat mac! direction. Dr. Bradenell Carter, one of London's most eminent eve epee! ate endeny 4 still remains to be done in this ote legacies because ther Lin recogn zing some they have expectations dto be wanting in dawfal an- itil the visitor comes quite om't know whether it is ti uncie, their aunt or the letter carr not antl some serious consgar from the want of observation that the mania is discovered. The public ignorance is no jess about a matter one would think equally patent. “The popular notion that shortsighted eves are strong eves and they umprove | with age,” says Dr. Carter, “ie erroneous. Tat they do not eo improve fs a fact one would think obvious to at least all nearaghted per- fons unless of @ very anuguine disposition Parents and teachers are, toa great extent, onsible for the increase of deiective vision in children. Much can be done to prevent at, When quite yonng. children often show « disposition to hold objecta very close to their e¥ex, others ave a slight tendency to squint, | thus showing that there i an inequality im the jeyes. If attended to in time this cun be remedied by wearing specially prepared apecta- cles for a given ti aut AL neglected, specta. cles will be of no avail othing rematas but gical operation. Parents cannot be too careful about this matter, as many a child bas lost the sight of one eye on account of the ignorance and negligeuce of the parents. When a child first enters school ite eyes should be thoroughly tested by means of cer tain simple tests in the hands of the teacher, #0 that it can be ascertained beyond the poss bility of a doubt whether the sight in defective or notand able to bear the necessary strain arising from close application to 5 Nothing is of so much importance to a child as ite eyesight. Little or no progress ean made at school unless the eves aro ina normal condition. The following cuts will show some of the causes of defective vision, which parents and teachers will do well to consider. Five o'clock in the afternoon. “Too soon to light the lamp.” The good boy will not waste his time; he learns bis lessons by firelight. Perhaps, however, it is not « lesson book which | he is reading, but’ “Robinson Crusoe” or the “Boy's Own Book.” If so, it is all the worse, for he is less likely to put it down. A bad light; a small print: » difficult lesson. The boy hopes to get the his head by putting his je ix doing his best without know- ake himsolf short sighted for life, and y likely to succeed. Another matter of equal importance is the | construction of the desks, the admission of the | light and the position | of the present day. | mitted so asto fallover the left shoulder if | possible. The body should be kept upright and no lounging oping permitted. The following cate will shown bedly constructed desk and a bad position, also. properly com structed desk end a good posivion A bad, but common positioa in writing—not the boy's fault: ‘The seat is too low and too far from the table. The table is flat, instead of sloping. The boy cannot set upright or keep | his eyes at a proper distance from his work. A position in writing: The back traight, the shoulders square, the work ex- = eyes at least twelve inches actly in front, the from it, —-—-+0- — ——_ sentiment that Written for The Evening Star. in reason be a naval iilitia here at the eapital ‘The Wheelinen's Song. a a Eoancoms ingests a movemeet in the direo- | We dart like the swallow o'er the land, skimming tion of the creation of sufficient local interest low. to warrant the formation of a small battalion, ‘We apeed like the wind, ly atorpedo boat crew, which, with the ‘And leave far behind ‘et hand at the navy yard for thorough | an who by conveyance prosaic must go. drill and instruction, could do some very inter- ‘and valuable work. We ride at our case, ry at the future shows a beaatiful view ‘We swim in the brecee, sot the mouth of Chesapeake bay, with the naval | while we taste all the Joy thet Keen exereies cenit ee arolins, and’ the Dicuict cf Gy. shceiieannbiaiis Yumbia assembling, there to go through their een mon spngtl Mattes of the regular nary. ‘Such an | Waen We moan! on our own tnerhansuble wings event would become oue of the greatest local ‘Then up and importance, and it would have a ‘With distan, — i a bringing | Om Tee bonees nash by _— rt re tevee thst be of ‘We shout as we fy— Lae i dime of wer or tn case of any | And wo sing of the joys of the swift, alent wheat . —Lancoux B. Sarre