Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-12-14
THE EVENING STAR
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP

dtnner yesterday 10 ABOUT twenty distinguished
gnests,-all gentlemen. The party included
fair proportion Of foreign representatives, le-
gislators, etc., and may, we presume. be re-
garded as inaugurating that class Of entertain
meHts by our higher oficials, to be continued
throughout the season.
Lord Lyons had brilliant presentation
to the French Emperor on the 9th ult,-ail the
forms and ceremonies incident TO such occa-
sions being complied with. The official fami-
ly of Lord l.. now numbers eight.
Mrs. Stowe Indignantly denies the report
that she is to edit a newspaper soon 10 be CON-
menced in Boston, to advocate woman's rights.
-Gurney, the photographer of New York
is the only artist who has succeeded in cap
turing Dickens for mis- picture. and IL is under
stood that he will not sit 10 any other in this
country.
Miss Schaumbere, OF whom the Phila.
delphians are about as proud OF as they are of
George H. Boxer, was said by the Prince OF
Wales 10 be the most beautiful woman he had
seen in America. .st .Fa =
1t is said that the bust OF Lincoln, made
by MRS Ames for the State House at Boston,
AZ a cost Of $4,000, is nything but satisfactory
being considered neither . creditable work
Of art nor good likeness OF the original. This
fact will cause the result OF q late appropria-
tion Of $4,000 by Congress for a similar object
10 be looked forward to with some interest.
THE VACANT CoMMIssIoNERsHIP.-T Of
fce Of Commissioner Of Patents, just made
vacant by the resignation OF Hon. T. q.
Tneak is being sought after by a number OF
persons. but as yet no one has been selected for
the position. Secretary Browning will name
a candidate, and his recommendation will Of
course have no little weight with the Presi-
dent: but the outside pressure brought to bear
upon the Executive, urging the appointment
Of various parties, is very heavy. The names
mentioned for the Oommissionership are Hon
Alfred b. Ely, Of Mass Ex-Gov. Thomas H.
Ford, of Ohio; Hon. j. M. Hubbell, Of Ohio;
Judge b. F. James, or ILL., Col. John Q. Cox
chief clerk Interior Department. and several
others Of less note. 1t Is believed that the Sec
retary of the Interior will send 10 the Presideu
either the name of Judge James or Col Cox
Judge James is now a principal examiner in
the Patent Office, and 10 lawyer of
ability, with large knowledge Of machinery
and mechanism. His appointment is being
strongly urged by many inventors and promi-
nent men having business with the Patent
Once. Colonel Cox Is well known as the able
Chief Clerk OF the Interior Department, and
his claims are strongly backed. Friends Of
other parties are working strenuously at the
White House, as the Office is a very snug one,
ga 500 per annum.) The resignation OF Mr..
Theaker takes effect on the 18th Of January
THg DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS will no. be held
until next week, and probably not until after
the holidays. The main subject to be dis.
cussed is the when, where, apd what Of the
Democratic Presidential onvention. Itseems
probable that the convention will be held at
Baltimore soon after the Republican Con ven
uon is held at Chicago. Another point to be
discussed in caucus is as to the financial policy
to be pursued By that party in Congress, and
whether they shall meddle actively. or pursue
. mastery inactivity, and as leading Demo.
cratic politician expresses it, "let the opposi-
ton hang Themselves with their own rope"
INCREASE OF ExPoRTs-The Director of
the Bureau Of Statistics reports that the do.
mestic exports OF the United States for the
quarter closed October I3. were in value over
20 millions. For the corresponding period in
1866 they were 7S millions. Increase over
same period last year IL millions.
SOLDIERS NATIONAL CoNv.SrIos.-A con.
ference OF soldiers aRd sailors representing
the various States Of the Union will be held
in this city on Monday next, to take into con-
sideratlon the propriety OF calling a national
convention tor the purpose OF nominating
candidates for President and Vice President
mates with the Soldiers and Sailors Union OF
this city, who called the Pittsburg convention
In September, 1866.
THE WHITE HOUSE crowd of visitors
At the Executive Mansion to-day was very
large, and nearly all were admitted to see the
President. Among those who called this morn.
ing were Generals Sherman, Meade and Har-
ney, Senators Dixon and Doolittle, Represent.
atives Spaulding, Robinson and others.
OLIVE LoGAN's Christmas Story, "Some.
body's Stocking" published by the American
News Company, is a good one. yea, a very
good one.
RRORGANIZATION OF THE PATENT OFFICE
bill will soon be introduced, it is said, re-
organizing the Patent Office, abolishing the
once of Commissioner, and investing the
power confided In him in board OF commits.
sioners to be appointed by the President, sim.
liar to the method prevailing in France and
England. From this board of commissioners
there is to be no appeal, except to the Supreme
Court Of the United States.
THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF STA.
rIsTICs reports that a complete list OF the
merchant vessels Of the United States has been
prepared under his supervision, and Is now
in press Each vessel is numbered in arith-
metcal succession, and her rig, name, tom
mage, horse power, III steamer,) and home
port shown.
THE EMPLOYMENT QUESTION. Star .
In your paper OF Wednesday evening notice
the announcement Of the intended dismissal Of
female clerks from the United States Treasury
Department, and knowing you to be in favor
OF right, beg Of you, through the columns of
your esteemed paper, to call the attention of
heads OF Departments TO the Justice and hu.
manity OF retaining in employment those SIM
gle persons or widows whe have helpless rela-
tives depending on them for support. In one
OF the Bureaus lately single girls and widows
SO situated were sent on and married women
with husbands In good employment were kept
on, simply because influential friends from
their States lnterceded for them. This, Mr.
Editor, Is not justice, particularly when It can
be proved that those dismissed were good and
competent clerks; and / hope the press will
call attention to the proper authority to rem
edy the matter. BY giving this letter place
In your columns, you will obliee an employee
| INDIAN AFPAIRs Charles e. MIX, ESQ. ),
Acting Commissioner OF Indian Afars, has
| received from Col. H. B. Denman, Superin.
tendent Of Indian Affairs at Omaha, Nebraska
the report Of Ohas. H. Whaley. Indian Agent
| for the Pawnee tribe, dated Gsnos, NEBRASKA
Sept. 80. He states the season has been quite
| wet which has retarded haying operations
but sufficient quantity has been put mn q