The Washington critic., 1889-03-22
THE TOWNS PHOTOGRAPH.

1t was too disagrceable the other after
noon for the President TO take his Gus
tomary outing, and with Secretary IIalford
he proceeded TO explore the subtcrranean
apartments Of the White House. In the
course OF their romblc the two gentlemen
came to room In the southeast coracr OF
the building which was fitted up as o bill
Hard room for the use of President Gar
field. This apartment was subsequently
used 10y Alan Arthur and his young friends,
ard upon one Of the cues the initials &c.
A. A., jr.,' evidently cut with pcn-knife,
are discernible. During the Cleveland
Administration the billard-room was never
occupied, but different condition Of af-
fairs is likely to be inaugurated under the
present regime. After inspecting the table
carefully and picking out u cue the Prcsl
dent and his private secretary began
knocking the balls about, and the result
was challenge to series Of games. Al
though neither of the contestants would be
formidable rivals for Schaefer or Slosson
they played pretty even game, but the
President reached the end of his string
first and has one game to his credit. The
balls are In good condition and the cue
tips have been looked after by an expert,
so that the loser of the series cannot blame
his cue, but the man at the other end
of it.
Commissioner Of Patents Mitchell had
two trials at his position before lie was
finally installed, and enjoys the distinction
Of having been nominated by two Presi-
dents, as the successor of Republican aud
a Democrat. Several years ago, when Hon.
L. NJ. Marble was Commissioner OF Patents,
he made up his mind one day TO tender his
resignation. While the document was In
President Arthur's hands he cast about for
q successor to Mr.. Marble, and patent at
torneys and others were unanimously In
favor OF Mr. Mitchell of Connecticut as
Commissioner of Patents. Acting In ac-
cordance with their wishes, the name of
Mr.. Mitchell was sent TO the Senate for the
position, when suddenly matters became
complicated Repenting his tender of res
ignation, Commissioner Marble asked the
President to consider 1t void, and this re-
quest was complied with. In consequence
of this action, the name of Mr.. Mitchell was
WhhWaWh ifph tht mus VI tuC otuutt,
and he continued the practice Of his pro-
fession before the Patent Office. This cpl
sode was brought to the attention of Presi-
dent Harrison, and he made up his mind to
renew the offer to Mr.. Mitchell, and urge
its acceptance. This time II was case of
force, so far as the incumbent was con
concerned, and there was no latitude given
him. The Senate promptly confirmed Mr..
Mitchell, and the delight of his friends and
well-wishers is correspondingly great.
Considerable surprise is expressed in
official circles that the President, although
generally supposed to be delicately con-
sttuted, should have escaped any evil
effects from his exposure on the east front
of the Capitol Inauguration Day. Sergeant
at-Arms Canaday of the Senate, who held
the umbrella over the President while the
oath Of Office was being administered by
Chief Justice Fuller, and subsequently
during the delivery Of the Inaugural ad-
dress, is confined to his room with an at
tack of pneumonia, which his physicians
say was due to his exposure to the rain,
but the President is apparently enjoying
excellent health. The explanation is given
by member of the Presidents household
that the morning Of Inauguration, when
Mrs. Harrison saw what disagreeable day
was prospective, she insisted upon her hus-
band encasing himself in suit of buck
skin underwear. Like good husband he
acknowledged the forethought of his pru-
dent wife, and was as comfortable us possi-
mud ha ni 81
likely to catch cold as others who did not
realize the dangers of the vaciliating eli
mate Of the Capital.
s%@
Novel effects are sought after in the
orchestra as upon the stage Of the modern
theatre. At. Kernan's this week they have
managed to get In an effect which is purely
original and very amusing. On the right
hand end Of the orchestra is stationed
good-looking young man who has to attend
to the drums, the symbals, the pop-gun and
fifteen or twenty other more or less musical
instruments. The steam-heater Just behind
him is recent addition to his repertoire.
A little soubrette, with a musical voice and
agile heels, sings a song In which q little
story is told Of q Irritation between an ele-
vated railroad engineer and girl In
window. At certain stage IN the song an
imitation Of the kissing Of a locomotive is
wanted, and that is where the steam heater
comes in. A boy is stationed at the heater
with HIS hand on the valve, and, at cue
from the versatile drum artist, he turns on
an escape Of steam which makes the theatre
sound like runaway locomotive on the
Pennsylvania Railroad. It catches on in
great style.
ass
DR.. John s. Burton, who has been APP
pointed U. g.. Marshal for the Northern
District Of Mississippi, was standing in the
Harris House lobby when a CBITIc scribe
asked him for q talk on the race problem In
the South "I'd rather not discuss that
question:" said the Doctor, "because be-
lieve the least said about 1t the better. It's
only during elections that your hear much
about the negro question, aud in the South
the Democrats start II by saying unless the
whites stand and vote together the negro
element will run the Government; and the
weak -kneed fellows who would vote the
Republican ticket become frightened
and vote with the Democrats. or
course there are some who will not
be deferred by such fiimsy argument. The
elections in the South are always hotly
contested, and the most bitter feeling pre-
walls. But afterit's all over things assume
their normal condition and matters run on
as before. The Democrats say; We'll, the
negro can vote as he damn pleases, and
we'll count the ballots as we damn please
and they do. The talk of social equality is
all nonsense. No one is compelled TO
invite the negro to his dinner-table nor to