The Washington critic., 1886-01-14
TOPICS OF THE DAY.
An Official Who Signs His Name a
Thousand Times a Day.
THE NATIONAL LIBRARY.
Senator Brown Of Georgia Meets an Old
Political Friend.
THE LATEST IN SOCIETY.
A Garter Worn for Year Above the
Left Knee.
THE LATEST IN SOCIETY.
Garter worn for II Year Above the
Left Knee.

Mr.. jefferson Davis was in New Or
leans last week and was called upon by
n representative of the States who
hoped to obtain an expression Of his
views upon various important public
questions. Mr.. Davis, however, says
the States, "adheres to the rule that he
has adopted, to withdraw entirely from
prominence in public matters, which
eXempts him from veXation, and which
is u course he thinks becoming the pc
culiar position which he occupies as
the single disfranchizcd citizen of the
Union. His private affairs and do.
mcstic and social situation possess
an interest sufficient to entertain his
tranquil life, and the rcpose exhibits in
an elastic frame, and an eye that flashes
still with its pristine fires, the happy
effects of vigorous old age and flow
of spirit almost as buoyant as when il
animated his troops in Mexico, or di.
rected the fortunes of the Confedcracy.
His retirement, however, does not cut
him off from full sympathy with his
section in every aspiration that points
to her honor and greatness. The pub
lie questions, which are before the
country, are profoundly interesting TO
him, but he desires to avoid an express
sion which may draw upon him in the
quiet of his retreat the inquisitivc pur.
suit of journalistic intcrviewers from
the press of the country or the shafts
of its comment and criticism. lie would
express himself, however, in general
terms as favoring strongly the principle
of tariff for revenue only, and on the
silver question he thought the interests
OF our section were opposed to its
suspension. These views were dc.
vcloped at some length, but the conclu-
sion alone is stated Mr.. Davis cx-
pressed himself as greatly pleased with
the evidences that the President is Civ
ing of craftsmanship and fidelity to the
Constitution.
aF@
Says New York correspondent of
the Philadelphia Press: There has
been SO much talk about the exacting
duties of the assistant treasurer of the
United States, who has charge of the
Subtreasury here, that curiosity to
learn what they were led me into the
big marble building on Wall Street to-
day. Both Mr.. Bigclow and Mr..
Roosevelt declined because they did
not want to undertake its confning la.
bors. / found Treasurer Jordan at a
big desk signing his name, in large
flowing hand, to pile of checks half
a foot high, which he never looked at,
except to guide his pen. A deputy
stood by to blot them and take them
away as Mr.. Jordan finished each. He
went right on talking and directing his
assistants while he was writing his sig
nature. 81 must admit that / am get
ting tired of seeing my own name so
Often" he said, "but otherwise the
duties here are not hard at ALL The
idea of being in charge Of so many
millions as are stored here, and the
bond of $SO0,0O0 you have to give, is
what appalls the people, but almost
every duty except signing your name
can be given to your assistants to per-
form" Mr. Jordan told me that an
assistant treasurer here signs his name
on an average 1000 times day. On
Mondays and Saturdays, which are
clearing house days, the number runs
above this, while at the beginning of
each quarter of the year it takes a
whole week to get rid of the interest
checks that have to be paid out to the
millionaire bondholdcrs living in this
city. Ey-Treasurer Acton had some
rather long sieges during his occupancy
of the office. In 1882, when the 5-2O
loan was refunded into per cents, he
had to spend three weeks signing his
name to receipts for the old bonds and
TO the regular daily business of the
office. The siege was renewed shortly
aftcrward, when the issue of gold Ger
titicatcs was begun, and he had to sigr
for very large proportion of 5000,
600, ,OOO-some of the certificates for a'
small an amount as $50 This brought
him Il fortnight's work.
W.
A rather amusing incident occurred
at the Office of the Public Printer tn,
other day. Mr.. Rounds, the father o
the Public Printer, who is here visiting
his son, was sitting in the Office whei
Senator Brown of Georgia came in ans
was introduced to him. "Ah, yes" h,
said, as he shook the Senator's hant
warmly, 81 remember meeting you n
the Republican National Convention il
1868, when we nominated Genera
Grant for President. remember tha
you made very good speech at tn
convention, telling them why yol
thought Grant ought to be nominated
1t was good speech, sir, good Re
publican speech. hope you are still
as ardent Republican, Senator, as yol
were then" The Senator was some
what taken aback by Mr.. Rounds
sally, and after spending an hour try
ing to explain to Mr.. Rounds why h
was not Republican yet left witt
some apparent doubt as to whether h
had succeeded in making his explana
tion quite satisfactory to the Illinoi
gentleman
Nv
"Do you know the very latest thin!
in our society ?" inquired married lad
of Murray" of the indianapolis Ner
the other day, as she sighted two o
three young ladies seated in the CALLER
set apart for the families Of the Men,
bers. No" said /, "if there are neN
crimps ] should like to know what the
are" "Well, | don't know whether
ought TO tell you or not. You men al
so cynical about these things. 1t
English you know, and is certainly neN
to me. Do you see that pretty blond
over there in the Members gallery ?"
looked across in the direction she ind
Gated, and saw several pretty blondes
and said so, but she finally designate
the particular one meant. "Wcll,
said |, "what is the new racket ?" 81
is garters,' said she. 1T is quite
new thing in gartcrs and when | say