The national Republican., 1869-02-05


yesterday afternoon. 81. John B. L. Skin
ner, vice president, In the chair, and Mr..
James Lawrence as secretary.
The following is list Of the members
present; 81. John b. l.. Skinner, president
Fielder r. Dorsett, vice president; James
Lawrenson, secretary; Major Thomas Dona-
hoe, Jacob Colclazier, John @. Robinson,
Noble Hurdle, Thomas Foster, Peter Berg
man, Nicholas Burroughs, Thomas Thomas,
Almon Baldwin, Charles Newton, D. W. Ed.
monston, Robert Rollins, Alexander Brown,
John johnson, William Sebastian, Solomon
Hubbard, James Baxter, John Robb, D. II.
Bissell, John 8. Gallagher.
The object Of the meeting was stated to be
to decide whether they would participate In
the coming inaugural ceremonies, and, II 80,
to make the necessary arrangements.
To test the sense of the meeting, Mr..
Fielder Dorsett made q motion that they
unite In body on the occasion; which was
unanimously adopted.
Considerable discussion ensned as to the
course to be pursued, II being generally
agreed that they would be unable to march
In the procession, or stand during the inau-
guratlon ceremonies at the Capitol.
On this point some discussion occurred as
to the propriety Of nillng up ts. vacancies
caused by the death Of their officers, when
Mr.. James Lawrenson, amer paying high
compliment to their Vice president, moved
that General skinner be made the president
Of the associations which was unanimously
agreed to.
Mr.. Fielder Dorsett was then elected to fill
the vacancy Of vice president.
committee, conslstlng Of Messrs. Dona-
hoe, Dorsett and Lawrenson were appointed
to confer With the proper committees having
charge Of the inaugural ceremonies, and to
make the necessary arrangements for the
association.
Mr.. Donahoe offered the following rcsolu-
tion;
Resolved, That all soldiers Of the war of
1912 sojourning In the city and not members
Of this association be cordially invited to
unite with us In the Inauguration ceremony
OF the President-elect Of the United States.
Mr.. Bissell thought they might with pro-
priety ut this time prepare q memorial to the
Senate urging action upon the pending bill
granting pensions to the soldiers Of the war
OF 1912.
Mr.. Dorset made some explanation as to
what had been done by the friends OF the
bill, and gave some interesting statistics in
regard TO the number Of soldiers living;
among others he stated that out OF I've regi-
ments with 515 names on the rolls but nine
teen could be found now living. He esti-
mated the entire number Of the soldiers OF
1879 now living at less than 10000.
Gen. Skinner said that II was so near the
close Of the session that but little good could
be done by the memorial at this time; be-
sides, he thought It was hardly In conso-
nance with the object Of the present meet
| ing.
The subject was indefinitely postponed.
Mr.. Foster suggested that the badge and
cockadc be worn upon the occasion.
Gen. Skinner said Il was understood that
all the members would wear them.
The meeting then adjourned to meet at
the same place Groom 80, west wing Of the
Post Office building,) at o o'clock on the
morning of the 4th Of March.
The HOWARD UNIVERSITY BUILDING
At the request OF the president OF the How
ard University, Mr.. Clark, architect Of the
Capitol, and Mr.. Mullett, supervising archi-
tect Of the Treasury Department, visited the
university buildings last week, and after In
spection, expressed the opinion that the
structure would stand for the present, If care
were taken to plnce no weights upon any
but the lower floor, and II Jars were avoided.
At this time each Of these gentlemen took
specimens of the bricks which had been
longest in the building. After testing these,
Mr.. Mullett wro as follows, on the 26th
ultlmo:
" Rsp. B. Sunderland, President Of Ho,rdrd
University!
''MY DEAR sIRi have Just tested the speci-
men which you had taken from the building
yesterday, and find that II is no better than
the sample you saw tested In my office; In
deed, washed II to pieces In q bucket Of
water within two minutes. must confess
that am surprised and disappointed at this
result, and while, as you know, feel reluc-
tant to be considered an alarmist, / must say
that, after my experiment, cannot recon-
mend that the occupation Of the building be
continued. 1t may last many years, II painted
as | suggested yesterday, but / believe that
a single severe storm would leave 1t a ruin,
II occurring after q continued rain. must
withdraw my qualified assent to the occupa-
tlon Of the building, which gave yesterday,
and say that cannot recommend that you
take any responsibility In the case. Regret
ting exceedingly that l have been unable to
come to any other conclusion, am, with
great respect, A. B. MULLETT,
"Superyising Architect"
Mr.. Clark wrote to President Sunderland
also, Withdrawing the opinion he had ex-
pressed of the safety of the building, saying
that the specimen he had tried partially dis
solved In water, and that light blow broke
1t, and the pieces then crumbed under the
pressure Of the hand. He thinks continued
rains may make the lower part unable to sus-
tain the weight above, and that If the build
ing Is allowed to stand II should be we'll
oiled, and in addition frame be constructed
inside, which shall sustain the entire weight
Of the floors and the roof. lie also gave the
opinion that unless, as was claimed, the block
, really solidined with age, IL wNs unsuitcd for
more than one story high.
, lsTEREsrISG LECTURE.-Maj jor, the Count
Zaba, repeated his lecture upon the "Methode
, Mnemonique Polonaise," before an apprc-
ciative audience of teachers and others at
the Miller school building Tuesday evening.
He referred, In the first place, to the ncces-
; ait Of p.,Itf .ha
knowledge Is the order OF the age; intelli-
gcnce is a charm; mental culture emanci-
pntes the soul. Without the knowledge OF
, the facts of history We cannot be philOsO.
pliers. Memory Is the storchouse of our
ideas, and should be cultivated. The speaker
illustrated his method Of organizing and
cultivating the memory by "a chart marked
, OIL In nineteen squares, each square repre-
senting hundred years. Simpson Preston
Moses, q lad aged l3 years, was called upon
by the speaker, and, In reply to his numerous
inquiries, convinced the audience that he
possessed q remarkable memory, reciting
names and dates with an accuracy that
would puzzle even the smartest student.
The youth, we learn, has been under the In
struction Of the lecturer six weeks. Pro-
Ceedlng with his remarks and illustrations
the lecturer informed his hearers that his
method was so easy and 80 simple that 1t
was suited TO every age, affords amusement
even TO an old man, who has nothing else to
do, and Is pleasant and agreeable. By II we
call out the native powers OF the mind, and
learn new ideas. We must try to make the
young learners think, and this method Is II
suggestive method. The mind catches one
thought, and acquires an order In the ar-
rangement of It's ideas. In conclusion he
announced that 1t would afford him pleasure
to instruct the teachers the public schools,
free OF charge, his method Of organizing and
and cultiyating the memory, should 1t meet
with the approval OF the trustees of the
public schools, and with majority of the
teachers.
The Count will, II Is to be hoped, repeat
his lecture at an early day, and we advise
teachers and pupils, and others who desire
u rare intellectual treat not to fail In attend
Ing.
GERMAN SOLDIERS AND SAILORS UNION
The following gentlemen were elected on
Wednesday evening as officers of the German
Soldiers and Sailors Union of this city !;
President, Karl Damn; vice presidents, Cap
tain j. Jenk lieutenant William YOnnp and