Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-05-20

vISIVATION.
An Enjoyable Evening at Federal City Lodge
Presentation to the Grand Master.
The Grand Lodge officers, accompanied by
seventy-six members Of Union Lodge mo. IL,
and escorted by Canton Potomac, under the
command Of Capt. Shackelford and headed
by martial music, visited Federal City
Lodge, No. 20, I. o. o. F., last
evening at their hall, Sth and streets
northeast, it being the tenth Of the present
series Of grand visitations. The visitors were
admitted in a body and were introduced by
Grand Master Henry C. Hazard in few felicit-
GUS remarks, which were appropriately re-
sponded to by Robert S. Wood, the noble grand
of Federal City Lodge. The lodge room was
crowded and the occasion was one Of unusual
interest throughout.
The degree team of Federal CITY Lodge ex-
emphfed the degree Of truth upon six candi-
dates in very impressive manner, which
elected the highest encomiums from all present.
At the conclusion Of the degree ceremony
Grand Master Hazard was presented with u
beautiful gold-headed cane by the men,
beers Of Federal City Lodge in con-
sideration of the faithful services he has
rendered. 1t contains q neat inscription
supplemented by the word merit" Past
Grand George H. Baxter Of Federal City
Lodge in well-chosen words made the presenta-
ton address, to which the grand master, al
though entirely surprised, responded in an
appropriate manner. Remarks were also made
by Past Grand Richard Emmons Of Union
Lodge, No. II; Past Grand VIM. ]. Palmer of
Union Lodge, Noble Grand Robert L.
MGSs q Mood sd Ct uo c Fs ss Grand Grand
J: j; Story Of Federal City, Past Grand Geo.
H. Baxter of Federal City, Chester r. Faulkner
of Indiana, Ensign Jas. Hughes of Canton Po-
tomac, Grand Secretary VIM. p. Allan and
others. Past Grand Clark of No. II sang pop
consisted of Grand Master Henry C.
Hazard, Deputy Grand Master B. T.
Crawshaw, Grand Warden John H. Wood,
Grand Secretary VIM. P. Allan, Grand Treas
urer J. A. B. Espey, Representative to the Sow
ereign Lodge Frederick A. Stier, Grand Mar
ehal A. G. Thomas and Grand Herald, George
Bennett. The exercises of the evening con-
cluded with refreshments, of which there was
bountiful supply.
, Federal City Lodge has made remarkable
gain in membership since locating in the north
east section of the city and is composed of
earnest. active members.
The compliment to Grand Master Hazard is
well deserved in recognition of the earnest and
faithful manner in which he has discharged the
important duties of his office.
This evening Central Lodge, No. /, will be
visited by the Grand Lodge officers and the oc-
casion promises to be one OF much interest to
the fraternity.
Eight Hours Day for Department Clerks.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:
That our masters, our real employers-Con-
gress-should desire to get eight hours work
each day from us clerks is not to be wondered
at. and if the change would result in facilitating
the public business we might not like it, but
could not reasonably complain of it.
But am satisfied that less work would be
done under an eight-hour rule than under the
present system. 1t is really saddening to note
how many young men and women in the differ
ent departments under forty years of age, and
also many under thirty, are compelled to use
spectacles. Office work is very trying
ON the eyes. Fully one-half Of THE
clerks are located from twenty to forty feet
away from windows. In many rooms, to ac-
commodate the remoter clerks, gas is contin-
ually burning, and that combination of gas
light and daylight is more trying to the eyes
than anything else. In most Of the rooms dur
ing the shorter days gas has to be used. OF
course the frightening of the working day
third clerk will be found using some arrange
ment to shield his eyes from gas, or the glare
from the streets or court walls, while many re-
sort to blinkers to lessen the trying effects Of
cross lights. At home or in private Offices per-
sons can locate their desks and curtains to ac-
not possible in the rooms Of the different de-
partments.
Many Congressman are lawyers, who will say
they often work six and half hours per day.
And yet, ii they will pause to consider, they
will recall that very seldom do they work that
long without any change of position: very
seldom do they use their eyes that long without
any rest. They well know that their pen labOrs
under the inspiration Of competition, which is
not nearly so hard strain upon their eyes as
when compelled to copy, which necessarily
forms large portion of clerks writ
ing. l have no doubt that an increase Of our
working hours would 80 add to the strain upon
our eyes that eight hours would result in less
and in poorer work than under the present
system. 1t should be borne in mind that many
Of the rooms in the department buildings are
poorly lighted; emphatically is this true of
those in the upper stories Of the Treasury and
Post Office buildings.
One would think that the health of depart
ment clerks would be better in the cold than
the hot seasons, but the reverse is true. In the
latter the heat:compels the opening Of windows,
and so, nolens volens, We secure ventilation.
The opposite is true in cold seasons,
and 80 we find in nearly every
public building much sickness results from
the vitiated atmosphere We are compelled
to breathe. Every Representative understands
how six hours spent in the House enervates his
whole system And yet clerks cannot run
around as members do. If it were possible for
them to mingle their work with something of
physical activity more Of would be strangers
to that dull pain in the side' 30 well known
to all who are tied to their desks.
am satisfied that no Congressman convers-
SAINT with these facts will ever vote to lengthen
the hours Of our working days. Clerks should
see to it that they are made conversant with
these facts. H. T. j.
Summer Attire in Office.
To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
Artists may rave as they will about the "hu-
man form divine" but the fact is, as to the ma
jority Of both sexes, beauty can only be secured
by liberal cOncealment and Disgusting Of that
form A man weighing say 24O nounds no