The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-01-22
THE SCIENTIFIC RINGS.
How Uncle Sam Is BIed by the Savants
of the CapitnI-A Glimpse Behind the

How Uncle Sam Is Bied by the Savants
of the Capitnl-A Glimpse Behind tho
Scenes.
New York Heralds Washington Letter
Washington society has, like Saturn and
New York politics. its "rings" clearly defined,
and more firmly banded together than the
Arch Perpetual Tycoons of the upper degrees
of Freemasonry. Few strangers are ever ad.
mltted into the festive gatherings of these ex-
elusive sets, and whenever Congressman is
invited he is made to understand that he is
highly honored.
THE SCIENTIFIC RING
is headed by the venerable Professor Henry,
who is high custodian of that enlarged archi-
tectural toy, the Smithsonian Institution. To
make room tor his charming family, and to
have spare bed for visiting savant, the
professor has had TO benevolently turn over
the library of the establishment to Congress,
which has given shelter at the Capitol and
paws the librarian, aud he has also donated
the chronological specimens TO the depart
ment of agriculture, where the bugs are
cared for without cost to him. The collections
of the exploring expeditions of the govern
meut are retained, as Congress approprlates
$4,000 per annum for their care, and has
been asked this year to donate 5000 more
to fit up new museum hall. with $4,000 to
of the Smithsonian, Professor Baird, receives
some $20,C COO for prosecuting his Inquiries Into
the decrease OF food-hshes, and for the intro
duc,ion Of shad Into the western waters, and
the government printing Office publishes the
annual report free, 30 Professor Henry has at
his disposal the 1000 per annum which
Uncle Sam has to pay, because OF The Invest
ment In worthless bonds of old Smithson's
bpqnest. But the amount of knowledge
"difused among men" In return for these
large appropriations from the public treasury
Ia 80 great that the profane only dare allnde
to 1t In whispers, especially those admitted to
the charming hospltalitles of the institution.
TIE COAST SURVEY
is another delightful nucleus around which
may be found some oil the most charming
people In Washington, although the superin-
tendent, Professor Pierce, is domiclliated at
Harvard College. His assistant, Professor
Hllyard, who runs the machine, has an attrac-
tive house on N street; and of all the pleasant
resorts In the suburbs none Ia more delightful
than " "BrentW ood," whe.e the photographic
man of the concern, Captain Patterson, dis
penses rural hospitallliee. But the great
social charm of The Coast Survey Ia its ''par-
ties" who go north In the summer and south
In the winter, and on which young men out
OF health or business CO. receiving the "com-
pensaton TO Civilians" which forms pleasant
item In the sum of $732. 900, which Professor
Pierce estimates his expenses at. In ante
oellun1 days some Ignorant barbarian would
occasionally rise In Congress to Intimate that
this survey of the coast had cost too much
money, and that 1t could have been done for
half OF the millions then spent on II. But OF
late II ie such convenient haven Of refuge
for mpecunlous members OF the families OF
those 10 power that no member of Congress
has the audaclty to question the value of its
geodetic connections, It's photographic recon.
nossances, its magnetic observations, or the
social pre-emlnence OF Its officers. True, the
engineer corps is doing the same work on the
great lakes and across the continent better
and for less money, but the social position oil
the coast survey people, you know, keeps 1t
unchalleDged.
A LIGHTHOUSE IN THE SKIES
was the derlslye terms applied by the Demo.
Gratis to President John Quincy Adams's pro-
ject for national observatory, and 1t was de-
bounced as an unconstitutional expenditure.
But hually ''bureau of navigation" was es-
tabished In the navy department for the reg
ulation of chronometers, and this has grown
Into full-fedged observatory. There is a
full naval staff, with an admiral OF its head,
and dozen or more subordinate officials, be-
sides civilians to do the work, the annual cost
being about $25, 900 In addition to the pay and
allowances of the naval men. It is charm
Ing spot, though, when the malaria is not
floating on the adjacent lowlands, and NJ. F..
Msury, who got II up as llfe-home, but went
Into Secessia, must often wish himself back
again. What can be more agreeable tor gal
liant young representative than to take hack
(paid for out of the contingent expense fund)
and escort couple of fair friends to the OBJ.
servatory, where they eau Chamber up Into the
revolving dome and take peeps at the planets
There is 8 huge book of cabalistic signs and
figures prepared here also, called 1.-THE Amer
lean Ephemerlst." Just think Of that Who
envles the officers or the civilians at the OBJ
servatory their places 90 long as the establish
ment has 10 stagger under The responsibility
of such work, which would have made
Dominic Samson calculate, "Prodglous |"
ANOTHER EUROPEAN NOTION
which has recently cropped out ln this same
Bureau OF Navigation OF the Navy, is "Hy-
geographic Office" for supplying charts to
men-ot-war and merchantmen. The hydro
grapher Ia Commodore WymaD; the assistant
photographer is Commander Shlrk, and there
are dozen subordinate officers. Last year,
which was the commencement OF the esta0-
lishment, the bills, other than pay and allow.
auces, were $97,500. but this year the Jovial
Robson asks for $2l8, 800.
OTHER SCIENTIFIC MEN
are uuartered In the ordnance corps OF the
army and OF the navy. at the arsenal on Green.
leafs Point, at the marine hospital. and III the
recesses OF the General Land Office, and oil
the Patent Office. Then we have the govern.
ment explorers, who go forth each spring
with their appropriations, and who return In
December with accounts OF wonderful sights
and of their disbursements. Even the old
travellers, who saw the phoenix expire IN her
odoriferous nest, whence the regenerated
chick soon flew forth, or who had found dead
lions slain by the quills shot from its own
body by some ''Iretlul porcupne," or who
knew that the STARE of the basiisk was death
even these, who saw unicorns Craze and
heard mermalds sng-were oracles OF truth
compared with our explorers. But our Marco
Polos and Mendez Plntos are valuable In our
'sclentiHc society,"" Us their romances fascl-
nate congressman and aid In making the most
sllngv western members vote loudly AYE {"
on the Items of scientific expenditure.
THE ELEEHOsYNARY INSTITUTIONS
which have established themselves here With
In the past fve-and-twenty years are part OF
The ''sclentiic society ring" and strengthen 1t
much. There ia no more delightful drive In
pleasant weather than to The "GoVernment
Hospital for The Insane" where the courteous
Superintendent, Dr.. Nichols, exercises liberal
hospitality, and yet he has only asked Congress
to appropriate sl30,0O0 for his disbursement
during the next fiscal year. The Columbia H.
stitullnn for the Deaf aud DUMB, located on
Amos Kendal's old estate, which 1s another
pleasant place to visit ln the summer, only re-
quIres $48, 900 o year to run It, anu tne Colum-
bia HOSPITAL for Women and Lying-ln Asylum
In, AamQnI1 "A.