The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-11-13

of yirtuous woman. Last week, through her
counsel, Gen. B. F. Butler, Mrs Cooper fled a
| petition in the Court of Claims averring that
for the past ii years she had led virtuous life.
| The papers in the Pension Office show that in
| 1857 she was divorced from her husband, such
| divorce allowing neither party to marry, and
| that soon after she commenced living with one
! Thos. DAWN in Boston. and continued to cohabit
| with him until 1872 or 1873 when he married
| another woman. The Pension Bureau held
that the cohabitation of the parties constituted
| q marriage by the laws of Massachusetts, and
| that on the date of Col. COopers death IN
| 1855 she had become q married woman, and
never being his widow was not entitled to PEN
sion. She, however, in her efforts to obtain
pension denied the marriage with DAWN, and
alleged that she had never considered herself
| or been recognized as his wife, merely accept
ing his protection hence the charge of immo-
rality. Secretary Teller last August made a
ruling which win probably help Mrs. Cooper's
case, that if female applicant shall prove that
she has led moral life since Aug. z, 1882. she
is entitled to all the rights of any pensioner
under the law. She will accordingly withdraw
her case before the Court of Claims, not having
been aware of Secretary Tellers ruling at the
time she commenced the suit.
THANKSGIVING.
On Friday the President issued the following
| proclamation:
The season is nigh when II Is the wont of
the people to observe day appointed Tor that
purpose by the President an especial occasion
for thanksgiving unto God. Now, therefore. in
recognition of this hallowed custom, l. Chester A.
Arthur, President of the United States, do hereby
designate such day of general thanksgiving
Thursday, the 27th day of this present November
And do recommend that throughout the land
the people, ceasing from their accustomed occupa-
tons, do then keep holiday at their several homes
and their several places of worship and with heart
and voice pay reverent acknowledgment to the
fall f,r4
with He hath visited this Nation.
In witness whereof have hereunto set my hand
and caused the seal of the United States to be
affixed.
Done at the city Of Washington this seventh day
of November, in the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty -four, and of the indie
pendenee of the United States the one hundred
and ninth. CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
BY the President
FREDK T. FRELINGHUYsEN,
Secretary of State.
NEW OFFICERS FOE THE ARMY.
During the next Presidential term there will
be several important appointments to be made
in the higher grades of Army officers. The
next President will have the appointment of
two MajOr-Generalsa and six acknowledgements.
Maj Gen. Pope will retire in July, 1886. and
Maj Gen. Hancock in February, 1888. Brig
Gen. Augur retires next July, and it depends
on the personal wishes of the President, after
being advised by the Secretary of War and the
Internationally what Colonel shall sue
coed him. Either Gen. Terry or Gen. Howard
will succeed Maj Gen. Pope. Whoever is pro-
NOTED, there will be q vacant Brigadier-Gen-
eralcy. The retirement of Gen. Hancock will
open the way to the promotion of still another
Brigadier- General. In April, 1885, Inspector
General Ssckett goes on tie retired list to be
followed in July of that year by Gen. Newton,
Chief of Corps of Engineers, and in August by
Surg. Gen. Murray.
OPENING OF THE ACTIVE SEASON.
According to private calendar which belongs
to this city alone the dull season is now def
nitely ended, the active one beginning last
Monday when the first Congressman began ar
irving in the city and securing homes or board
ing places for the session. Boarding house
keepers and others are marking up their prices
accordingly, as they expect the city will be
quite full from now until sometime after
Inauguration. As this lisa short session the peo-
pie keeping boarding houses, hotels and saloons
will have to make their profits during the
three months in which Congress will be as
sembled, bearing in mind that it will be long,
barren stretch between the adjournment of the
4Sth Congress and the assembling of the 49th
on the first Monday in December, 1885.
TARDY CONSCIENCE.
It takes some people long time to make up
their minds that they have committed wrong
and ought to make reparation, ss is evinced
by q letter received ON the 9Th inst by Jay
Stone. Chief of the Correspondence Division of
the War Department, inclosing 81, which the
writer said he obtained unlawfully while q
member of the army during the war.