New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-14
II Is needless to add, my informant says, that the
bill passed by a unanimous vote.

bill passed by unanimous vote
Secretary Endicott In the guIse Of Civil Service
keformer countenancDg the issuance OF circulars by
his Chief OF Ordnance To discharge helpless women
and children Of Republican proclivtcs. who earn
prccarlous subsistence In the United States armores,
! and the same William Crowningshcld EniIcot. as
manager of his military stan, present two wholly
different entities. His management Of the latter sp-
pears to be singularly genial and pstemal govern
nent, mild Saturnian reign In fact 1t seems
that there IS In this city Military Life Insurance
society, TO which but officers of the United
states Army may belong and that certain artillery
officer who is detailed for staff duty In the War De-
partmcnt Is actually employed dsbursng agent or
actuary OF this company, while clerk who belongs
In the Paymaster-Generars onic- is also detailed
presumably under Civil Service rulesrto assist the
lieutenant In his arduous military duties. Consd-
cred purely a stroke Of economic financial policy
this is not only brilliant but unique; nor can the
average taxpayer fail to do ample justice TO tho
thoughtful kndilness of Secretary OF War who, rep
resenting Reform Administration, generously foots
the bills of this insurance company for salaries Of
onicers, clerk hire Office rent ard stationery, the
Of $1,000 or GO 900 year from the much abused Treas
ury OF Uncle Sam. But after ALL reduction OF that ter
ribie surplus is now the absorbing subject OF President
Cieveand's intellectual processes and II should not
ne forgotten, either that Just public Office IS
private snap II is only fair to the lieutenant how
ever TO say that he has other arduous duties to per-
form He also acts, am told, q species OF Grand
Equery in Waiting at Republican Court, and
assists IN making ntroduotons to the President at
public receptions.
Uncle George Pennifeld, the keeper OF the canal
lock the place where the President and Internal
Revenue Commissioner Miller went fishing the other
day. IS stll living upon the recocctions Of the visit
of the two distinguished men and the good things
thcy left behind Especially does he dwell in con-
versatlon with his friends upon strange sort OF bait
kept In black bottle, which he declares. Just made
your hair curl and TO which the great mon fire.
quently rcsortcd in order presumably. TO make the
fish bite more readily. Before the President left,'
the old man says, she CIV me the incest pipe you
ever saw, but Mol got hold OF II, and she has
II locked up and won't let me nor ANYBODY else see
H. It's daisy. tell you The old lady was az
much pleased with her distinguished visitors as her
better half, and she has been all fustered7
since they went away. And Just 10 Think she
says, the President praised my way Of fryln'
chicken. and said made the best bread he ever eato
Colonel Dick" wintersmIth. Of Kentucky. is prob
ably the best story teller In Washington to-day II
he doesn't always confne himself strictly to the truth
nobody Will find fault with him. for he tells his little
anecdotes with such serious mien as 70 carry con-
victon to the minds of those OF his lis Hners do
not know him so well as some Of his friends do. He
was speaking the other day at Chanberlins OF tho
way In which adverse luck will sometimes pursue
man. and remarked that he played at the White
sulphur Springs and never held trump. Some one
in the company suggested that that was impossible
because he must have held at least trump every
time he dealt the cards
But" replied the Colonel, bringing HIS fist down
on the table in front of him. every time dealt It
a misdeal.
After that bold explanation the indscroet doubter
ordered the drinks without further questioning.
The Washington negro must belong to a secret So |
ciety. II would be hard TO find one in the District
who IS not a member OF some LODGE and the more |
prosperous belong 10 half dozen Every day or so
three or four colorcd march up TO the Clerks
office in the City Hall and file certificate OF Tho
Order Of the Golden star Of the Free and Adopted |
Sons and Daughters OF the Ark or some other |
equally long and euphonious Title the object of the
association being for mutual benefit and improve |
ment' asked very intelligent colored messen ger |
in one Of the departments, the other day, what
charm these societies had for tho people OF his |
race He is Supreme Exalted Ruler in something |
an Outer Guard Of another society," the Keeper Of
Seal OF third order and boasts half dozen other titles
besides He told me that several of the soc etes |
provide for small amount of insurance or relief In
of sickness, but their chief attraction is the social
sde the festibes' and oyster suppers and parsdes
especially the latter, when the Supreme Exalted /
Rulers, the Outer Guards the Keepers of tho Sancu-
ary, and all the other officers appear mounted and
dccked ont in gorgeous regaliA Every now AID then |
there Is dissatisfaction with the mana cement, which
leads to split and the formation OF society.
Whenever colored man woman dies in the Dis |
rct tho remains II possible, held until the fol-
LOVING Sunday, and then all the societies to which he
or she belonged for the women consi ute fully enc
half Of their membership, turn out and help to swell |
the cortege.
A traveller recently returned from Rome describes
the way In which Minister stallo lives, as follows
He occupies fourth-story fiat. After one has |
pulled the bell sufficient number of times. the minis
sticks his head the banlser and calls out
"Who's there ?"
Whom invited to come up, ascends through the |
able bodied odors OF four distinct and separate din
ners, where The representative of six million frccmen
stands in his dressing gown smoking his huge meer-
schsum pipe
When Official visits made they must be returned
by leaving caris according to diplomatic usage. |
When dlgnitary has compile ed his call Minister
stauo the latter pulls out a card. he shows his |
visitor TO the door, and says:
Here, take this, f. Is way have invented OF |
returning calls. It saves trouble and fills the
bill. doesn't IT.
stalo's appointment is among those over which |
Secretary Baysrd feels Justly proud.