The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-10-31


needed more room, and the niggardly conduct
of Congress in failing TO bulda new Executive
residence has so crowded them that they have
taken possession Of the comfortable spaces be-
tween the ceiling and floors of the upper-stores
and have been using the attic for Il gymnasium
and 100 yard race track. They have lots of
fun promenadiug around the corridors and
rooms upstairs, aud make things pretty lively
at times for the inmates. It's mighty good
thing for a Private Secretary to be Sunday
school man If he intends to stay at the White
House to recover from n severe surgical opera
ton. / know lots and lots of people that would
never recover in the world if they had TO under
go such an experience as Private Secretary
HalfOrd did recently. Several times of recent
years the Superintendent of Public Buildings
and Grounds has torn up the floors and rebuilt
pavements and sewers, but all to no effect. The
rats iniest the pantries the store-roOms, and
even the dining aud slcepng-rooms.
Several years ago a funny story was told of
a belle that was one of the guests at a dinner
party given by that prince of hosts. President
Arthur. The dinner was progressing joyously.
when suddenly, this beautiful girl leaped to
her feet thence 10 her chair-seat aud, grasp
ing her dainty skirts about her dainty ankles,
yelled bloody murder, fire aud rats, while at
the same time veteran rodent that had
been picking mp a slight lunch under the
table, where the guests bad dropped the
blNitu OUT OF EuElE lUlHIu napkins, STU EHpi1-
~, though gracefully over under the side
board. aud thence out Of the banquet hall before
he could be headed off The rat was half
scared TO death. and told one of his sisters-in-
law that that was just like blamed woman,
10 yell as if the top of her head was coming of"
An elderly Senator held the young woman so
tight that she could neither faint nor get down
off the chair, and she told him he was nh old
rat himself, after the excitement was all over.
After that Col. Rockwell, then Superintend-
ent OF Public Buildings and Grounds. put
about half a ton Of warranted snre-kill rat
poison all over the house, but the only effect
was to kin a pet poodle that belonged to the
boss laundress. And 1t was noticed that the rats
were growing iatter.
Col. Oswald II. Ernst, the new Superintend-
ent, has been reading a lot of fairy stories Of
how professional rat catcllers clear out the Of
| fepsive rodents. and has made contract with
a New York man in that business 10 clear the
White House. The professional has started in
on contract of $40 day. to continue until
the rats all gone and Is using ferrets terrier
dogs rat-t0ngs. gloved hands nerve aud pa
thence. Last week he slipped ferret into a
hole that promised good results. and sat down
10 wait; that is where his patience comes in,
for the ferret has not yet put in "A return. and
there are those who believe that the rats got
acquainted with him. gave him grand lunch
and induced him TO marry and settle down
with them. They are cousins, yon see, both
animals belonging 10 the Nus family, aud the
inference has a shadow OF possibility. Still.
the rat-catcher has good job, aud the rats are
still having good time.
r. S.-Dinsmore says Ii was the rats instead
OF the Nugwumps, that used 10 make Mr..
Cleveland 30 away often on fishing trips;
but then / fear Dinsmore may be prejudieed,
because Grover put New York man in his
/ place four years ago.
Who said rats?
CAPT. GRIFFIss RESIGNATION.
Capt Eugene Griffin. who resigned from the
[ Army Oct. Is as Captain Of EugiBeersaawss not
( a veteran Of the late war, but is so intimately
Il related TO prominent ones that were, that a
/ brief sketch will interest the reader.
Capt Griffin IS a younger brother OF that
brilliant soldier Gen. Griffin, Of the Fifth Corps
( Of the Army Of the Potomac, who was reward.
/ ed after the war for his services with the Colo
/ Helcy Of the new Goth u. s. Inf. and died dur
/ ing the yellow fever epidemic Of 1867 while
! commanding military district at Galveston,
! Tex.
The Captain, who is a native Of Maine, en-.
tered at West Point IN 1871, and graduated in
| 1875 at the head Of his class, thus securing
commission in the Corps OF Engineers The
next ranking graduate was Capt. Willard
/ Young. Of Utah. son Of Brigham Young, aud
now in the EnRneers.) In 1879, when he gain
4 ed his promotion 10 First Lieutenant young
! Griffin was ordered 10 Governors Island, New
| York Harbor, in charge Of the responsible work
Of building seawall around the island.
About that time the Headquarters Of the
| Military Division Of the Atlantic, commanded
| by Maj. Gen. w. s. Hancock, was removed from
New York City to Governors Island, and the
| young Engineer attracting tho attention of
| that distinguished commander, he was made a
member OF Gen. HancOcks military family.
Gen. Hancock and Mrs. Hancock having before
| that lost their only daughter. they had adopted
4 the eldest one Of the daughters Of Col. John
! Hancock, OF this city. who Is a brother of the
late General, aud was "a member of his staff
during the war.
Capt. Griffin aud Miss Hancock became at
/ tached 10 each other. and their affection meet
ing the approval OF her own and adopted par
| ents, Miss Hancock was married in the Fall oil
1882 10 Capt. Griffin, and they now reside per-
manentiy in this city.
During President Arthurs Administration,
and some time before Gen. HancOck's death,
| Capt. Griffin (then Lieutenant yeti was or
dered 10 Washington for duty as one Of the
Assistants 10 the Engineer Commissioner Of the
District Of Columbia, aud had immediate
charge Of the streets and pavements.
While Oh that duty be made special study
Of modern systems Of payements, and made AN
extended Official trip 10 Europe and 70 the
principal cities ia this country 10 study the
subject, and bis report Of his observations Ii
to-day the accepted authority in such matters
ia 1855, having been promoted in 1886 q
Captain. he obtained leave Of absence for q
year to accept the offer Of an asphalt paving
company 10 become its General superintendent
Of all it's work ia this country and Europe, and
after the expiration Of this leave rendered hi,
resignation 10 enable him 10 continue in thai
employment
ARMY AND NAVY ORDERS.
The record Of the Retiring Board in the cas-,
Of Commander George +. Davis, recommended
for retirement for incapacity, the result Of an
incident Of the service, has been submitted q
the President for his action; also the record in
the case Of LieUt-C0l. George w. Collier Ma
rine Corps, 10 be retired under similar circum
stances.
The Navy Department Library aud Office o
| Naval War Records, heretofore attached To thu
Bureau Of Navigation have been transferred Il
the Office of the Secretary.
Commander i. NJ. Green has been ordered Il
the command Of the Nautical Schoolship Sara
toga.
! Lieut.. Commander William H. BrOwnson Il
10 take command of the Petrol.
Lieut.. Thomas ID. Griffin has been ordered Il
duty in the Bureau of Navigation.
Commander Henry Glass has been detached
as a member Of the Board Of Organization.
Commander X. p Leary, Lieut. Commander
X. \. Berry and john C. Rich, and Ensign X
j.. Schwerin have been detached from the hava
War College and placed on waiting orders.
Lieut.. W. l.. Field has been transferred from
: Pitchers CastoFIa.