The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-09-02
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.

AsnI"G1"N, ID. e., August %, 1896
DEAR WHIG:-" There is a divinity that
shapes our ends, rough hew them as We
may says Shakespeare; and some of our
Democratic employees of the various de-
partmentS, who were quite active in fur
niShing items for political capital to Sam
Randall and others of our late inveStigat
ing mud singers are developing into Strik
ing proofs that the immortal William knew
what he was doing when he coined the
quotation in his brain. The aforesaid Dem
ocratic employees, under the promise of
Randall & Co., had whitfield their immedi-
ate future down to very satisfactory
point indeed, and were revelng in the
happy prospect of another four years lease
of Office, should Tilden be elected, while
their better halves were reveling in gaudy
prospects of silk Naples brown, and a
quiet visit to the Centennial, when their
other doubtful halves came home with their
faces wrinkled like a toy balloon, and with
the stoicism of Sioux Indian, informed
them that they had suddenly lost their
" places" Immediate preparations are
made for visit by the wife to some con-
venient "Aunt Ann" while the deluded,
employee makes a hurried pre-
paration for raid on Randall Il Co., and
with solemn promise to pay the three
weeks arrears, they fold their clothes like
the Arabs, and steal quietly away, to be
held in fond remembrance by grocers and
landlords.
THE EN-. CONFEDERATE HOUSE
has said that there are seven hundred
more clerks in the Government employ
than are needed. The Republican heads
of departments say that the present force
is barely sufficient for the work. Never
theless in compliance with the dictates of
the House, they are proceeding to the dis
missal of the supernumeraries. Now, far
be it from me to wish to see any one de-
prived of a means of making an honest
living; but, i'll common justice, as some
must go, | would much rather the choice
be among those whose friends have insisted
upon the reduction, and not among those,
who, by their votes, support the party now
in power; or, when they have no vote, still
are loyal i'll heart and word, and have, per-
haps, given father, son, brother, or hus-
band to their country's cause.
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The District Commissioners have in
formed the School Trustees that only
1890, 900 is available for the public schools
this fiscal year, and have suggested re-
duction of two months in the scholastic
year. The President of the School Board
has informed the Commissioners that esti
mates for school year of eight months
have been made and the cost will be 1894,
900, and this estimate has been approved
by the Commissioners. This is more of the
effect of Democratic economy, or what
might be more properly styled Sam Ran
dalrs
ENCOURAGEMENT OF IGNORANCE,
thrown the school children of the District
into the streets for two months of the
school year. A few months will reveal
similar disastrous results from the with
holding of legitimate appropriations in
order to furnish the Democracy with clap
trap for the Presidential campaign.
OUR NATIONAL MONUMENT.
A special meeting of the Washington
Monument Society was held yesterday noon
at the City Hall, for the purpose of consd-
ering the communication of the Attorney
General on the act making an appropria.
ton to complete the monument. After
the paper had been fully discussed, draft
of deed was ordered to be transmitted to
the State Department, with an inquiry as
to whether the Government will accept it,
and the Secretary was empowered to exc
cute proper deed when such is prepared.
THE CORNER STONE.
The prospect of completion of the Wash
ington Monument, the corner stone OF
which was laid July 4th, 1S4S is attracting
attention to the unfinished shaft, and it
may be of interest to your readers, espe-
cially to those who are Masons, to know
the contents of the corner stone. The fol-
lowing is Il copy of the record made at the
time, which | have obtained from the
Grand Secretary of the District of Colum-
bia
List of articles deposited in the corner
stone of the National Monument on the
4th of July, 1913, by the r. w. Grand
Lodge of the District of Columbia:
A silver plate, containing on one side
names of the grand officers of the II. w.
Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia,
and on the other the names of the com
mittee Of arrangements of said Grand
Lodge, consisting of the w. VI. of each
subordinate lodge under its jurisdiction;
a roll Of copper coin of the United States,
obtained from the mint at Philadelphia,
comprising all the early eXtant specimens
of that coin also cent of the coinage of
1898, presented by Brother Hurst, of the
Grand Lodge; metallic impress of the
seal of the Grand Lodge, copy of it's con-
stitution, and copy of its last published
proceedings; a parchment scroll, contain
ing extracts from the ancient records of
Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4, of Virginia,
showing the initiation, passing and rails
ing of Brother George Washington by that
lodge; invitation of the 4th of November,
1853, passing on the Bird of March, 1913,
and raising on the 4th of August, 1853;
also list of the present officers and mem
bers of said lodge; copy of the constitu
ton and bylaws of Washington Lodge
No. 3D. of Alexander, Va, of which Bro
Washington was the Worthy Master; a
copy of Bro. Morris's Freemason'S Maga-
zine, published at Boston No 5, of Vol. H.
containing the Masonic character and cor
of Bro. George Washington;
a copy of the constitution of the X. W..
Grand Lodge of Texas; paper contain
ing list Of the officers and members of
Mount Vernon Lodge No %, Georgia;
another containing those of Washington
Lodge No. l: another containing those of
Lafayette Lodge No. IA. Another contain
ing those of Lafayette r. A. Chapter, all
of Wilmington, Del; another containing
a list Of the Grand r. A. Chapter of the
State of Delaware; printed copy of the
Masonic Register of the State of Pennsyl
vania for the year 1913; a copy of the Dry
Goods Reporter, of the date Of July l, 1913,
published in New York, Boston and Phila-
delphia; silver plate containing the names
of the officers of Washington Encampment
No. 1, of the District of Columbia; paper
containing the bylaws and list of officers
of Wheeling Encampment No. i, Virginia,
together with resolutions and proceedings
of said Encampment of 10Th Of June,
1913.
The foregoing articles were severally pre-
sented by the R. w. Grand Master, who,
after announcing the same, handed them to
the r. w. Grand Treasurer, Robert Clark,
by whom they were placed in leaden box
prepared therefor, and said box and con-
tents then deposited within the cavity Of
the corner stone.
Attest: CHARLES F. FRAILEY,
Grand Secretary.
Hoping the above description may prove
to some of your readers,
| am yours, j. ii. p.