Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-12-15

heavily built man, Win tHin gray haH,
light side whiskers, and bro,d, good
humored face and gray eyes.
His room is somewhat smaller than
some OF the other Cabinet officers, but
it lacks none OF the fine furnishings and
comforts which are characteristic
OF ali the rooms in the new building
occupied by the State, War and Navy
Departments.
Ii is entered from the main corridor,
on the sscoEd floor, and the first object
which the visitor sees is the large desk
of the Secretary, which stands in the
centre OF the room, covered with papers
and work baskets, which are marked;
"papers from bureaus awaiting acton.
papers irom the General OF the Army,
Correspondence, &c. The room is
yery pleasant and cheerful one, the
three large windows taking in iuil
view OF the grounds surrounding the
Executive Mansion.
AHard Wood Fire
burns brightly back oi the Secretary
desk IN a fire place bordered by mantel
OF variegated marbel, on which stands
very handsome clock OF the same ma
terial. The mirror at the right ot the
entrance OF the room, encased in frame
OF polished mahogany, reaches TO the
ceiling. The furniture lie similar to that
found in most public Offices, and con
tains the usual complement OF sofas,
chairs, book cases, wardrobe ice pitcher,
writing desks. &c., which are carefully
arranged at different points in the room.
The high arched ceilings, frescoed walls,
easy chairs and the pleasant view make
the room very inviting one to pass
away the time, but the Secretary IL gen.
orally too busy TO give much attention
TO these things. The war Office Is
Picture Gallery
in itself. The collection OF por-
traits OF the men who formally
hell the office of Secretary oi
OF War. is almost complete. The paint
ings are for the most part hung in the
office of Mr.. Eimsey's private secretary,
and in the consultation room which
opens Off ri the main office.
Tie
Collection of Paintings Embrace
those OF nearly all OF the ex.secretares
OF war since the administration o!
Washington the first being Gen. Hen
~ Knox, who held the office from 1885
to 1894, James MclIenry from 1906 To
1900, Samuel Dexter, who was secretary
under John Adams, in 1900 to 1901,
Gen. Henry Dearborn, who served from
1901 ID 1909. under President Jefferson.
James Madisons first secretary was
William Eustis, from 1909 10 1872, and
was followed by James Monroe. who
filled the position in 1914 to lSi5. John
T.. Calhoun was in power, under Pfesl.
dent Monroe. eight years, serving from
1917 to 1925; James Barbour, 1925 to
1929; John y. Eaton, who was under
Andrew Jackson from lS2? to 1881 Gen
Lewis Cass, 1881 to 1886; Benz. i. Bat
Ter, who was Van Buren's secretary al
Intern, 1926 to 1887. and Joel K. Poin-
sett FROM 1887 10 lS4l. William wilkins
and James W. Porter held the office in
1874 and lSi5, under President Tyler;
William l.. Marcy, with Mr.. Polk, 1913
to 1919: George ". Crawford was then
under Zachary Taylor in 1910 and 1850;
John b. Floyd and Gen. Joseph Holt
with James Buchanan from 1857 to 1861.
The next portrait in order is one
easily recognized as the man who was
Secretary under Mr.. Lincoln during the
beginning Of the War in lS6l-2, Simon
Cameron. Next is seen the
"Great War Secretary"
who served daring the trying years from
1862 until 1868, Edwin NJ. Stanton.
Gen. John ". Schoii.ld served under
johnson in 1868 and 1863, and Gen.
John A. Rawlings was Grants Score.
tary from March to September, 1859,
The next portrait it that OF VIM. w.
Belknap, who held the office from 1869
to 1876. The picture of Judge Taft, oi
Ohio, who was Secretary for a short time
in 1871, is also here, and also that ol the
present Senator from Pennsylvanla-J.
Donald Cameron. The portraits OF
Gems. Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan,
which were on exhibition III the art gal
iery at the Paris Exposition, also.
hang in the War Office.
Mai Gen. lIcratio Gates, President
and Col. Tom Pickering, member OF the
"board of wsr" in 1877; Henry Wilson,
chairman OF the Senate Military Com
mittee and Vice President OF the United
States; and
jefferson Davis,
once Secretary of War, ai;erward Press
dent of the Southern Conicieracy, smile
at each other IRON opposite sides OF the
room.
This group OF paintings lacks but one
or two oi being a complete list o! the
ex-SeCretaries of War from l,S5 down
to the present time, and presents a fine
collection oigreat historical interest,
J. I. II.