Weston weekly leader. [volume] (Weston, Umatilla County, Or.) 1878-189?, 1880-09-18
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

w AsHISGTON, u. y. aug. TO- AooV
The formal retirement of Judge Key
from the Postmaster -Generalship was
consumated Oh Wednesday last by the
presentation to Mr.. Maynard, BY the
President, of his commission as Post
master General, and also to Judge Key
his commission as District Judge Tor
the Eastern District Of Tennessee. This
pleasing ceremony having been conelud-
ed at the White House, both gentiemsn
proceeded to the Post office Department,
where Mr.. Maynard was sworn into o.
fee. A large gathering of the clerks Of
the department took place, when hearty
welcome was given to the incoming chief
and pleasant words of parting were said
to Judge Key, who spoke in the highest
terms of commendation Of all who had
so ably seconded his efforts to pyODese-
the usefulness of the mail servise-
The death Of General Myers, better
known as "Old Probabilities" has ore
ated much sympathy for the family of
the deceased officer. A more interesting
family circle could not have been found
in the country, and the death of its head
has caused great loss, both of kind
and a!fectionate father, and valued
friend. 1t is probably not generally
known that "Old Probabilities" was.
originally = surgeon i'll the army. He
invented code of signals, the idea Of
which he derived from the Indians while
he was stationed on the plains. This
signal code WAS adopted by the Qoxsrns
ment, and proved q valuable aid. f6s
communication during tie waG,. 0he
of General Myerx' feats hasI bsan,
immortalized 10y Mr. ESiss ina armiasieAl
production entitled, 1eHOA. shs+ Kort,"
which is sung by SaSAsa4h, Schools
throughout the country Ilss. idea was
suggested to the author by thh fight be-
tween the Northern and SektliasE forces
in Georgia in October 1854. waAs. the
federal forces, under seznmaaGsa or Gen
eral John +. Corse, were Yesrfo4ueAi by,
General Sherman at Kenesaw asoauatAahsk
eighteen miles distant by nsaasr of in..
formation conveyed to him tkspagh tiss
signal flags of General Myers who hap,
pened to be stationed with Gsne4all
Cerse's forces at the time Of the Engage
naent. From this signal service e4peTi-
ence, General Myers conceived the idea.
of publishing daily map of the saadi
tion of the weather throughoot the,
country by means of the experience tins.
obtained he was enabled to predict the
state of the weather in certain localities,
whence he derived the soubriquet Of
"Old Probabilities"
There was quite large Democratic
ratification meeting OH Thursday even
ing and the vicinity of the City Hall
was very handsomely illuminated. Quite
number of speeches dilsted in tile usu-
al manner Of such gatherings upon the
excellence OF their candidate ard the
prospects of his election.
President Hayes and his family left
last evening for Ohio, en- route for the
Pacific Coast. The Secretary of War.
General Sherman and daughter, and
some few others viii make up the party,
which will meet in Chicago about the
end day OF September.
l an informed that number Of i'm
| portant changes are sooH to take place
within the Patent Office, and that the
new Commissioner, Mr.. Marble, will
leave no stone unturned to straighten
out the much-complicated mess left be-
hind by his predecessor, Mr.. Paine. The
rumored removal of Mr.. Chapman, one
of the principal examiners, is causing
considerable comment among the en-
ployees of the Bureau, az it is not gem
orally known that this man, by his pus-
! illanimus conduct, has 1aade himself OBJ
noxious not only to the powers that be,
but with large number of attorneys,
who, from necessity, are compelled to
come in direct contact with him.
! II. G..