The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-02-19
CHAT OF THE CORRIDORS.


about providing themselves with clerks. All
of them want clerks, and all should have them,
Int they are 50 desperately afraid of their con-
stituents that they dare not vote themselves the
assistance they should have. ] think this
cowardicc unreasonable. The people send their
Representatives here 10 make laws and manage
The public business, not 20 spend their time in
peddling garden seeds and looking up pension
claims. This could be done Just as well by a
clerk at 81 900 or 81 200 a year. The people
would be better served in every way If their
Representative would give themselves clerks,
and they understand this. j am sure there
would be no opposition worth mentioning to
such q measure. None Of the members know
any too much about the public business, and
they have little opportunity TO inform them
selves whom so much Of their time is taken mp
attending TO purely clerical duties. If they
lad more leisure they would have more chance
90 learn their legitimate duties. Whether they
would do so or not Is another question.
s@a
see that Capt. M. Il. Dunlap has purchased
for a company formed at Niagara Falls N. y
the old Mclean mansion at Appomattox
known MS the Surrender House." the one in
which Lees surrender 90 Gen. Grant was con-
cluded. II is proposed TO make it a museum
for war relies. The price is not mentioned, and
] am curious 20 know the figure at which it
went. When visited AppOmattox Courthouse
q year or so ago the people there told me that
fhe owner Of the house sold ID some years after
surrender for 81 500. The purchaser repaired
Al and put a tin roof on ii, and afterwards sold
it for about g., 0O0 These prices represented its
value rs q dwelling In the sleepy old village,
whore a dollar looks as big as a grindstone.
The historical value Of the house had not de-
velopt AT the time Of my visit this had come
out in full bloom, and the owner was then ask
sing $4,000 Cor it,
80
One OF the best soldiers that followed the flag
from Illinois during the vicissitudes Of the war
was in the city recently, accompanied by his
charming daughter. They were the guests Of
Mrs John A. Logan. The veteran was Col
Robert n. Pearson, who went out on the first
call for troops as private in the 10th III. After
fhe expiration Of his term Of service he decided
90 enter the regiment with " Black Jack !" LO-
pan, who was then raising the 5lst Ill., which
he did as private soldier. As a soldier he was
60 good that promotion came TO him speedily
aud the middle Of 1863 saw him Lieutenant
Colonel in command Of the regiment, which
position he held until the close Of the war. He
g. now AN appraiser Of merchandise in the
custom house in Chicago.
"Who viii be Speaker ?" asked man who
s. generally well posted on political tendencies
81 am sure don't know" he answered can
6idiy. There are seven candidates in the
field who are definitely after that position,
besides several who are merely working the
candidacy 60 help themselves TO good chair
mauships II the place 10 10 the South, 1t
ought 10 be Crisp or Breckenridge. Crisp
would make the better Speaker Of the two be-
cause be has Reeds ability TO keep perfectly
cool under the most provoking circumstances.
bills would never do at all BE is too excita-
bic. ii the place go 10 the North, Springer
would be the best man, though he has a ten
oeucy 10 fy OF the handle when the proyoca-
sion gets too great. The Democratic party
might do worse than take Bynum, and then,
again, il might do better"
Sharpley-I tel you, this cable-road's no end
OF fun. Nearly every day ] see some fellow
driving some plug nearly get the end Of his rig
cut OF by the earn.
Yarnell-Yes; people never seem 10 get an
idea Of the speed that the cara run. Only yes
terdsy ] saw some smart Aleok out riding with
his girl. lie WIS trying 10 show of before her,
and cut across the track on q street Just in
time 10 almost have his hind wheels caught,
Hnd himself and girl dropped into the mud.
don't know when laughed 80 much.
Sharpley-You did, You saw that? That
was me. ] want you for witness. I'm going
10 sue the company. They had a stupid con-
duct0F who couldn't see barn across the street,
and he came mighty near killing me and my
lady. I'll make 'em sweat for it,
30
The Patent Office wants moro room, and Il
should have IT, Its business d daily increasing
IN volume and still more rapidly in imuor
tance and IL should have adequate accOmmoda-
tionz. il would not be too much 10 give il the
whole Of the Interior Department building,
which IL now occupies in conjunction with the
Indian Bureaus and the Land Office which
sideralon in favor o. the Patent Office is that
it is one Of the few selfsupporting institutions
Of the Goycrnmeut--its income giving hand.
some annual surplus over itE expenditures
This should influence Congress 10 deal literally
with it,
The Secretary Of War says that education ia
the Army is compulsory; the men must 20 10
school rs they DO any other military duty.
This cannot help doing great deal OF good.
aud IL may result in bringing into the army
good many bright young fellows who will take
that means Of getting good education.
-
The experience Of Sir Julian PauHccfote
seems 70 indicate that though a man may have
wits sharp enough for q successful encounter
with tbe worlds shrewdest diplomats. be il
still not smart enough 10 manage an American
newspaper man.
80
The latest thing IN Washington slang is the
express approval Of man by saying that /" he
b. wide" One Of the ole chappics brought il
over from dear ole Lunnon, ye know"
80
First Literary J0umoyman-I understand
you arc getting out Dudes Lexicon2
Second Do am getting out Handbook
Uf Drawing room Conversation at the National
Capital" il that's what you mean.
First J.. J.-Wil il be very bulky volume ,
Second J.. Nav; you can get all the words
D Washington dude knows into the giza ~ nm