The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-06-25

-erary OF the treasury ana other cepines
officials and some even from the president
himself In bursts ef'confdence the young
guest read aloud parts of some OF these let
ters, such as requests frosn the private
secretary of the president that the guest
quickly return to Washington, as the chief
magistrate desired TO consult him on i'm
pertaat matters, and word from members
OF the cabinet that SO and so had been ap-
pointed to such and sech offices at his re-
quest. Some of these letters and kilograms
were permitted to lie about in the young
mans room, where servants could paw
them over TO their hearts content. One
can easily imagine that the young gentle
man was made much of by the family.
They took him to their hearts and gave
him their fairest daughter in marriage,
and this daughter is now one of the bellies
of Washington OF course her husband
has long since confessed TO her his decep-
ton and been forgiven with the remark
that she did not marry him for the letters
he received.
Speaking of the indiscriminate use of
official stationery by Tom Dick and Harry
recalls to mind the career of A. E. Bate
man, now one of the opulent and power
full magnates of Wall street. He was
clerk in the navy department some years
ago and had some trouble with his supe-
riors which resulted in his discharge, de-
spite the influence of his relative and pa
iron, Senator Sherman. Thus thrown upon
his own resources Bate1nan looked about
for something to do. He had made two
or three small but successful investments
in stocks and he now began studying the
l. e., - Il fraa H.
to go in with him in specuIations. He and
Rogers, private secretary to President
Hayes, were great friends, and Bateman
had habit of going over to the White
House and using the official stationery in
sending out his business letters.
There must have been some charm in the
neatly embossed noteheads and envelopes,
for Bateman's trade as a broker rapidly
increased, and ere long he was able to open
handsome offices Of his own and to provide
himself with his own stationery. Having
made a little money in Washington he
went uD to New York, where he managed
to attract the attention of Phil Armour,
the packer, who occasionally goes into
Wall street for a splurge. Armour gave
him big orders, and these brought him
fame and fortune 1t is said Bateman
matte method Of talking, but the tradition
of Washington is that Batenan made him
self millionaire by the use Of executive
mansion stationery.
Senator Sherman, by the way, is himself
one of the money makers of congress. Out
in the northern and northwestern parts of
the city one maysee whole blocks Of small
houses that were built by the senator for
T. I fol ho
makes his capital earn about II per cent.
annually, as small houses rent to much
better advantage than large ones. The in
vestment is pretty sure to be good one in
the end for the value of real estate is
steadily advancing Senator Sherman was
one of the leaders in that real estate move
ment which drew the seat of population
and of fashion in this capital TO the north
western part Of the town. Hundreds Of
fortunes have been made out-of the rise of
values in the wake of that movement.
Just now Senator Sherman is taking the
lead in another direction. Nearly every
day at o'clock he leaves the senate and
drives about Capitol Hill, looking over
property that is for sale, comforting with
his agents and making purchases.
Capitol Hill is really the most.desirable
region which Washington and the founders
of the city designed for the center of
fashion The Capitol was built at one side
Of the hill, with its main front facing the
favored section. But perverse posterity
concluded to build a modern city in the
other direction, in the rear of the Capitol,
and the government has just expended
more than million dollars trying to give
the great Capitol new front. OF course
Capitol Hill property has been neglected
and has fallen in value ill lots almost
under the shadow of the dome are now
worth an average of but St.50 a square
foot, while land two or three miles away
to the northwest sells at IS or SO a foot.
Senator Sherman evidently believes that
the pendulum will swing back toward the
plans OF the fathers and cause enormous
advances in values on the slightly, breezy
hill, for he is investing heavily in lands and
houses.
Visitors to the city, particularly foreign
ers, cannot understand why the Capitol of
the United States is SO meanly surrounded
One of the most beautiful of sites for a large
structure is occupied by the grandest build
ing in the world. Only two modern and
respectable buildings are anyv here near,
these being the Ben Bn&Ier mansion and
new7apartment house now vacant All the
other houses are old or squalid. A street
car barn occupies a conspicuous corner op-
posibe the Capitol grounds. On another
corner are a number of low drinking
places. AstoHeyard adloins the car sta
bles All about are vacant lots, refuse
heaps and grazing grounds for goats. In
any other-country great capitol like this
would be surrounded with magnificent
buildings. The'car stables, tbs stOneyard
the low dives, the goats and refuse heaps
would be sweptaa4vay. L miss my guess if
that very thing does not occur in short
time, and in my. opinion the man who buys
ground near the Capitol and holds to 1t ten
or fifteen years viii gratefully remember
me in his will. ROBERT GRAVES.
He Kissed the Negro Cook.
1t is hardly safe to kiss a woman in the