Evening journal., 1889-04-01
GOSSIP OF THE CAPITAL.
Secretary Blaine and His GYM
nastic Exercises.
SECRETARY PROcToRs STAND.

the Franklin for the Centennial.
WASHINGTON, April 1.-The Post says: A
coupe drawn 10y a cou le Of bay horses drove
up to the Vernon Row building on PennsyI-
vania avenue at 5 o'clock one afternoon last
week and a wen built man with gray hair
and beard and a marble pallor Of face opened
the door and alighted. The in ividual was
none other than the secretary Of state. Ha
entered the building and touching an electric
bell, ascended 70 the third floor In the ele
vator On this floor a gymnasium, Of which
sfr. Blaine is an attendant is situated, and
he had come to take his customary afternoon
exercise Mr.. Blaine's exercise usually lasts
for an hour. He takes the same course az
the other patrons Of the place and the pro
fessor IN charge puts him through the differ
ent exercises He first told him Saturday
afternoon to stand with head erect and feet
together. The professor then rubbed his
hands over Mr.. BIaine's stomach,
kneading the muscles and nerves "a
that portion OF the body thoroughly SO as ms
TO increase the circulation Of the blood.
Walking dozen sters Mr. Blaine assumed q
semi.recumbent position ON q settee With
firm grasp Of Mr. Baines right leg, the pro
fessor worked it slowly In a circle for a few
minutes and also towards the secretary oi
states body. This gives an exercise somo
thing like walking, only It brings more mus
cles into activity The motion was repeated
with left leg, then both legs and both arms
were also kneaded After this Mr. Blaine
was asked 10 get astr'ide kind of stationary
hobby horse and put his feet In the two
leather straps His body, entirely passive,
was then worked around in a circle first one
way and then another, to exercise the mus
cles Of the waist A few feet distant Is an
upright post with little strips Of wood cross
ing il at right angles. Grasping one Of these,
and reclining has body forward at an anglia
Of about forty-dve degrees, the secretary Of
state allowed himself to be beaten all owes
the back This strengthened his neryout
system and promoted his digestion. One "a
the most peculiar machines In the room Ia
that known as the vibrator This was used
In giving Mr.. Blaine his last exercise OF the
day. He then put on his coat and vest, and
taking his overcoat and beaver from the
rack. again descended the elevator, feeling "a
much improved that he ioyed with the eleva-
tor boy
SECRETARY PROCTOR AND GEN. scHoFELD.
The first rupture between Maj Gen Scho-
field, commanding the army, and Secretary
| Proctor took place last week, and the de-
cision Of the secretary In the case clearly
proved that he intended 70 run the war de-
partment after his own ideas and unham.
pered by any influence Of the army or anv
one else. Unfortunately for the best interests
OF the army there exists mistaken impress.
sion that tho general commanding Is infinitely
of more concern than the secretary of war;
that his word Is law so far as pertains Ia
army matters, and that all consignments Of
officers or anything affecting the personnel Of
tho army must come from him number
Of officers who had this idea last week are
not, however, Of that opinion at present
The whole matter grew out Of the dispose
ton Of the board on the revision Of army
tactics. The board has been in session for
the past eighteen months at the war depart
ment, and it was thought about time that
they be sent 20 some large post where prae-
teal experiments could be conducted with
available troops. The board wanted 60 20 10
Fort Wadsworth, New York harbor, or TO
David's Island, In the same harbor. Cen
Schoheld was In favor OF West Point-a
lovely place 70 spend the summer IL is re-
ported that the general recommended this
place as tho best possible field for the new
tactics to be thoroughly tested. Adjt Gen.
Drum Is practical soldier, and in virtue Of
his position as adjutant general Of the army
he recommended that the board go to Fort
Leavenworth. Secretary Proctor decided
in favor Of Gen. Drum and the board goes 10
Fort Leavenworth. Although the matter in
itself is Of trivial nature it has caused con
siderable gossip in army circles, and indicates
that the secretary Of war proposes to exer-
else his full right in all matters affecting the
army and that the line Of authority between
-. 80. A. n a
drawn now as it was under previous secre-
taries.
THE CRUISER CHICAGO
Capt Fl. b. Robson Of the navy, COM
manding the new cruiser Chicago, is Ia the
city for the purpose Of c1nferring with the
navy department officials in regard TO put
ting the ship in commission for sea service.
| She has been at the navy yard, New York.
| for a long time with a number Of officials
attached, but has never regularly been put in
Il commiss on. The Chicago will take part ia
/ the centennial celebration at New York on
| April 80, after which she viii sail for the
Mediterranean squadron 60 become the flag
ship Of Admiral Greer in placs OF the Lam
caster.
AT HOME WITHOUT LEAVE
The case Of Lieutenant Commander George
NJ Book Of the navy is exciting considera-
bic talk in naval circles. A few months ago
he was ordered 70 the command Of the Pinfa.
then at Sitlka, Alaska, where he duly arrived
and relieved Lieutenant Commander John S.
Newell. Nothing more was heard from him
until his sudden appearance at the navy de-
partment last week He was not ordered 90
report here and his sudden appearance was,
therefore, somewhat surprising to the navy
department officials 1t is stated that ha
gives no explanation Of his presence here at
this time, save that he thought he would run
over and see how things We're getting along
at the navy department
NOTES
Capt A p Cooke, Of the navy, command
ing the receiving ship Franklin at The navy
yard, Norfolk. Va, is registered at the navy
department He is here for the purpose Of
receiving instructions from the navy depart
ment in regard 10 fitting out the Franklin
so as to take part ia the centennial oeiebra-
tion at New York ON April 30 The Franklin
Is full rigged ship and in her time was con-
sidered one of the finest models. She was
Farragut's flag ship when he went to Europe
after the war
The friends Of Gen. Whipple, of the army,
at present on duty at Governors Island. New
York, as assistant general Of the division OF
the Atlantic, viii shortly present his name "a
President Harrison for the position of adju-
tant general Of the army, TO be vacated by
the retirement Of Gen. Drum, next month.
snow In niagara County.
LocKPoRr, n Y, April There is foos
Of snow on the ground, the result OF an all
ao.-tn .&,~.,, IL Ia hoovx a,8 anr.r. a.4 H..