The National tribune., 1889-11-28
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOiRgs at The Ma
tiOnal Capital
DOM PEDRO AND KELLY.

edlr from monarchical to a republican form
of government. recalls the visit of the good and
learned ex- Emperor Dom Pedro to Washington
ia 1876.
In our Centennial wear he arrived in this city
with the Empress and n very modest stall OF
attendants and registered himself in person at
the hotel where he took quarters as " Dom
Pedro de Alcantara and wife, just as COM
nonsense American would have registered his
less historic name
The Emperor is a man of almost gigantic
stature, and the Empress is well mated FOR hlm
IN comparative size, for she is far above the
average hight Of her sex in all the world.
The Emperor is a man Of very modest man
ners and Is more fond OF books and science
than the pomp aud cares of State. Al least
that is the idea formed in meeting him sew
ersl times in my professional capacity during
his visit here.
He was an early riser and each day Of his
first visit Of n week in Washington in that year
of IS76 he was up and abroad by the time the
sun had kissed the goddess that surmounts the
Capitol. He would never allow an Aid de-
Camp to 20 with him, and as his knowledge OF
the English language was perfect he had no
trOGble in finding his way 10 the points ne
wished 10 visit, and besides he carried at all
times pocket map Of the city.
One morning about o'clock, he appeared at
the grounds Of the Washington Monument
wholly unattended.
At that time no work had been done on the
now completed monOlith for many years, and
the monumentand property pertaining thereto
had Tor a long time been in the sole custody OF
a native of the Emerald Isle whose name is
Kelly. Kelly was the watchman, and as his
duties were nominal. he pre-empted goOdly
patch of the reservation near the cottage pro-
vided Cor himself aud family, and raised vege-
tables aud chickens for market.
Kelly also acted as guide and instructor for
II chr ArutC
(thRt is Arabic for quarter-dollars and
dimesD thereby. 1t was case where he held
a fush-ace high. The single door TO the
interior of the marble chimney that COM
memorates George 10y overlooking all other
permanent structures was locked, and Kelly
had the key. A long, low building covered the
aggregation Of monstrosities in metal and mar
bic that had been donated 90 decorate the in
terror Of the monumental shaft when il should
he completed, and the doors of that also were
fast locked. and Kelly had those keys too.
When visitors went there Kelly would hem
and haw when requests 60 see the interior OF
the shaft were made, and then. intimating that
he had no right TO do so, would pretend TO
tramp away TO his cottage for the key he had
all the time burning IN his pocket. Ii WAS the
same way with the key 10 the lapidarlum as
the hall OF memorial stones WAS called, but
that way OF his made visitors think that he
was doing a special favor to them instead of
merely what ne was PAID lof DOING.
When Dom Pedro appeared, Kelly was out IN
the grounds near the +" house Of stones" and
duly Lei his Majesty into the monument grOwl-
ing out that /" lac wasn't usually allowed 10 open
the doors 10 anybody before o'clock"
From the marble shaft Kelly steered his
distinguished visitor-Wbo was utterly un-
known To hm-to the lapidarium, and there
began his parrot-like routine description and
history Of the various blocks there; how this
one was brought from the ruins of ancient
Carthage By longtime dead Captain ia the
Navy; DOW this block bearing the engraved
cOst-Of-arms Of the State Of Michigan was
native copper from Lake Superior mine. aud
so On, through the lists Of temperance soeie-
ties Ere companies etc.
Finally. the two came to the block OF mOttled
marble sent from Persia over 81 years ago by
the then reigniRg Shah, and Kelly glibly ex-
planned 10 lis unknown visitor that the block
came from Chinese temple that was built
long before Jesus Christ was bora" and pro-
eeeded 70 ieii what the scalptured inscription
meant.
When be had finished Dom Pedro was smil-
ing. and asked Kelly II he could read the in
scripti0H. Kelly admitted that he could not
bur that Misther Pate Parker, ar is a mimber
az the Monnmint Commission. aud was long
time far away IN chiny, told him what the
qu2Te reading WAS"
The Emperor laughed and patting poor
Kelly on the shoulder kindly. explained that
the inscription was Arabic and that he had
been The victim Of joke. Then he read of.
and gave Kelly a written translation Of the
inscription. and dropped a gold coin ia his
hand and babe him goOd-by.
As tie genial Monarch was leaving the
grounds be met and passed few words with a
wandering newspaper man. aud when he went
away. Kelly Jumped az The scribe
DO &c know that big mani"
"Nes: that is The Emperor Dom Pedro. o.
Brazil
We don't name this Dam Pedro that thu
papers is ali talking 50 much aboutl Well
by CORY, - II j didn't think be wa
some college mar. because he read of thai
Chinese stone like il was writing. and told mG
u came from Persia. Say, what is this ht
gives ne, showing the coin. What's ii media
of"
The scribe looked al it and laughed, as h,
showed old Kelly the medallion of the EmperO
on the diverse. and told him that the media
Was the equivalent Of about s. in American
gold.
Kelly got the Emperor's translation from thi
Shzii's stone verbatim. and after that neve
sAis q word about the Chinese dynAsties.
THE PREsIDEET's MESSAGE
i Is understood that the usual course which
has been pursued by the Executive for Tie pas
= years vii not be followed by Gen. Harrison
regarding bis Message. IL has been the custom
20 fErnish the copy 70 the Government Printer
WHO E0nld have the manuscript put into typ
and printed, copies being mailed 10 variou
newspapers throughout the country, s.
thai they could have it about the tim
the Message was being read 20 both House
Of Congress. Gen. Harrison mistrnsts tina
has 1rst Message might be premztBrely pub
lished. and will take no chances. There
fore, extra typewriter copies are being ore
pared BY the White House clerks and the Pres
Association wall be furnished with these cOpie
81 tlLse iOT transmission by telegraph befor
the afternoon papers 20 10 press. The only in
convenience which is likely 10 arise will be tls
the press wires viii be blocked by the Messag
% the exclusion Of all other newE
sEc0SD kUDiT0R's REPORT.
TIE aBnual report OF the Second Audito
- Gen. J. y. Patterson just issued. shoA
that during the year ended June 20. ISs.
100 WAS expended on account of ami
ances for disabled soldiers $Ig5, Cos OF "a
artificial limbs, S55I $3.50 for bounty 10 yo
uBfeers and their widows and legal heir
sl85.357.6g under bounty act of July 2s, 1866
So s#g.58 fOF the publication Of Official RECORD
81 thS War u the Rebellion, 81, 3s5. 94462 fc
support 81 National Home for disabled yoIut
teeT soldiers, aud 50 0J0 for trusses for disable
volunteer soldiers.
The total drafts and payments on nccOur
81 haE Department appropriations was $40
D63s5ib.19; the total drafts aud payments O
account - tue Indian service was 81 10. gss 2
Gen. Patterson has held his most importat
AHdStOFs Office but few month"; but the r,
port evidences a clever mind ia control an
ffre8 gs4t A. l.1ss.