The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-06-11
MRS. TANNERS RHYMES.
THE POET LAUREATE OF THE AD-
MINISTRATION.

ington-
(Copyrighfed.l
WASHINGTON, June s.-The administra-
ton is to have poet laureate-Mrs. Cor
poral Tanner" tie wife of the sturdy and
widely-known commissioner of pensions.
Ever since she graduatei at Caariottsville,
n. Y, she has written verse, but during
the last year this has bourgeoned
into a stately and ambitious form
that may be said to be
unique. She has now three finished
lectures written in verse, which she
has delivered since Inauguration day-one as
her husbands sub 'itute in Connecticut,
when in the middle of his campaign in
Washington, she telegraphed him:
James Tanner: Do not come. will
take your place"
And she did, reading new lecture in verse
on soldiers, and especially the duty of the
government toward them Mrs Tanner
has four children, rangiog from 10 years
old TO twice 10, but she fiads some time to
give to the u. A. r., and to her other
friends, the Wowan Suffragists.
| heard her lecture this week on this
latter question: was a rhythmical and
rhymed argument, in the dialect Of an old
fashioned New England farmer, a contro-
versy between John and Betsy, after the
fashion Of Lowell and Carlton. Betsy's
grammar wa sometimes out of joint, but
she had lots of facts and a shrewd wit and
sarcasm that turned to derision Johns
ridiculous claims to superiority.
/ have heard her lecture to the G. A.
R., too. 1t is heroic didactic
verse, and the memories of war time are
emphasized by the scream of the old eagle.
Corporal and Mrs. Tanner seem exact
counterDart5 like their predecessors, Gen.
and Mrs. BLACK Gen. Black Is one of the
most eloquent of orators, and his wife an
accomplished recite-, and each is proud of
the attainments and ability of the other.
Corpl Tanner is an eloquent man facile and
vigorous of speech. Careful and precise of
articulation, and with rich ana ringing
voice capable of pathetic mOduations; aud
Mrs. Tanner seems likely to win distinction
in current polemics and diaIectics Mrs.
Tanner mas a comelv AID attractive person.
atty, large head firmly poised upon am
pie shoulders, and squa face in which
strength of purpose and decision Of character
are conspicuously marked. She wears her
iron-gray hair brushed back from a high
forehead in style OF which Madame Pom
padoreS couture was an illusJrious ex-
ample.
Commissioner and Mrs. Tanner are going
next week to Georgetown to live, and there
they will take the boys and girls aad house
hold pets and penates-to a great, stately
old mansion in the middle of two acres of
lawn.
One of the prominent figures in the
vernal hegira was that of Senator Ingalls,,
who has at last pulled up his lares, ETC., and
gone to Kansas with his wife and seven
children.
l made a neighbours call and spent a
pleasant hour tne other evening at their
castelated homo opposite the capitol The
senator was away making the last arrange
ments. and the pretty little girls swarmed
over the house, exhilerated over the home
ward jourdey next day.
"Now, Mrs. Ingalls," said lady of the
party, 1--WE must not stay minute, but say
a hasty good-by, for you are doing your
last packing"
"No. am not hurried" she said, ''and
have next to nothing to pack. Everything
is packed. Mr.. ingalls, did it. | tell you it
is great thing to have husband who is
so helpful and effective as mine isl
How does he get time for everything"
asked.
at puzzles me-" said Mrs. Ingalls,, "but
he does. L am glad, every day of my life.
that married good packer and coed
buyer" and she laughed with us at this
characterization of the leaders of American
legislation.
She went on: "Mr. Ingalls, has fairly
spoilt me by his universal usefulness. He
can do just anything. He caa buy horse
shrewdly. and he can build a house as it
should be built, and he superintends the
cutting and sale of our wood at home and
the running of q farm. To be an editor
and a lawyer IS commonplace but James
cnn be trusted to select buttons and match
ribbon! What do you think Of that? lie
buys our carpets and curtains and por-
there's, and they harmonic He caa do the
marketing. Now and then he picks out a
bonnet down town and fetchas it home to
me. He can select the girls clothes as well
as | can.
"One day when was at home at Atchi-
son, big box came to me by express from
Washington. | opened 1t and found two
dresses-handsome dresses, brand new. |
saw at once that a mistake had been made,
for had not ordered any costumes, and /
began to pack them away again and wait
till the address was corrected. Wnel Mr..
ingalls, came up from town | told him about
il and wondered whose they were | got
! them and exhibited them to him-oue a
ri b gray silk and tho other O lovely lace
robe. He acted puzzled about it, bat SAID
| had better try them on, ana if they fitted
me, keep them till called for. did. They
! fitted like 9 glove. The outcome of the IN
| quiry was chat he had voluntarily got
them for me when he was in Washington a
month before. He selected the silk and the
lace and al the materials, and carried them
70 the modiste VINO had my meas ire and
there they were! This lace dress l have on
this minute is one of the trophies OF that
occasion. / tell you a mau who can do such
thing is a poeg. / have arrived at that
pitch that | wouldn't give cent for mere
statesman"
Few cities in the world can boast a
larger number of public parks than Wash
ington; in fact, it is said to lead them ALL
But many of these pa KS are mere small
triangles OF green at the junction Of streets
and avenues These, of course, all belong
to the United States, aud are cared for at
government expense, and the expense is not
expensive.
Passing one of these dimilutive parks the
other day, where eight men were ostensibly
moving, | halted aad SPOKE to one of them
who was leaning On his swath and looking
at the sparrows in the trees.
81 shouldn't think 1t would need so many
of you to NOW one little spot of ground that
| scarcely needs moving anyhow" l ven-
tured.
Deed, it do, sorc" he said. "what else
| wud we be doin'F'
About twice as many unSkilled people are
| hired by the government as the work re-
! Quires. | have often seen one man pushing
| a little lawn mower on a public PARK, and
another drawing i5 with a string; ami do
not doubt that two supernumerarieS may be
! found sweeping with one broom.
| Now RENE nber that there are thousands
| of these uISkillel clerks, messengers a i'd