The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-10-02
FUN WITH THE G.. A. r.
Stories and Jokes of Encamp-
ment Week in Washington.
Queer Visitors at the smithsonian-Lookins
for Leg-Forty Dollars in an
Inside Pocket.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2S-lSpecial CORE
spondence Of THE SALT LAKE HERALD. i
The veterans of the G. a. r. found Wash
\ ington puzzle. They had great trouble il
finding their way about the city, which has
changed so much in the thirty years thai
have passed since most of them saw it last.
During the week of the encampmeni
twenty-seven Of them were reported miss
ing st police headquarters, and in each case
general alarm was sent out TO all the pre-
cincts, with descriptions, etc. 1t has been
no small relief to the authorities to get al
the old soldiers safely gathered together
and shipped away to their homes.
The question most often asked by the
veterans on their walks abroad was where
the Smithsonian Institute was to be found.
They remembered it as the place OF most
particular interest during war times, when
Washington had not so many attractions
as now. AS to the character and purpose
of the National museum, they seemed to
entertain a rather indefinite notion. One
of them inquired of the door keeper where
the living skeleton and other freaks were
TO be found. Another wanted to know if
the theatre box in which Lincoln was shot
was on exhibition in the building. Still.
= another expressed desire to inspect the
stuffed corpse of the cat which jumped
from the top of the Washington monument
while ago, though no such curiosity is
known to exist.
''Can you tell me where my leg is!n was
the question asked by one-legged soldier
d LODI III for -
dow ia the National museum. The miss
ing limb, taken OFF by surgical operation
after Gettysburg, lad been preserved tc
illustrate gun shot effects. Its former
owner was directed to the Army Medical
museum. Another MANNED hero, on bis
way TO the same institution. declared that
he was going thither TO shake hands with
an arm that had once belonged TO him.
Such objects as these, illustrative of the
1nischances of war, are kept in alcohol, and
Ii was probably misunderstanding of this
circumstance that led an old fellow in q
blue uniform to ask mysteriously at the
door of the Army Medical museum if he
could see some of the Spirits" Re sup
posed that the government had lot of
spooks in jars on exhibition.
The veterans got about towD by asking
questions. Every body who did not wear 8
badge was presumed by them TO be citi-
zen Of Washington, and was buttonholed
at every turn for directions what is the
way TO Pennsylvania avenue!" asked an
angular @. A K. woman OF policeman in
the Smithsonian grounds. Pointing to a
serpentine road that led northwsrd, he re-
piled: Just follow your nose along that
PATH"
"But my nose is very crooked" she re-
piled.
utmost gravity.
Another female rushed up to one of the
Information booths" and exclaimed:
"Where is my husband, Jscobi''
Don't know him, ma'am,n was the re-
''Why, you must know Jacobs" she in
sisted. ~ lost him on street car half an
hour ago. Oh, my What shall I dos''
Then she hurried away.
Some of the questions asked at the infor-
nation booths were very funny. These
were few of them:
''Does President Hayes still live at the
White House!"
do you sell suspenders"
ssHow many cars are there on the B. & o.
railroadg"
.'Where can get the biggest stove pipe
Of beern'
For reasons which need no explanation
TO be appreciated. nearly all Of the saloons
glasses for their regular measure during
encampmeut week, SO that it was costly
and tedious process for thirsty veteran
to attain reasonable and comfortable
fullness.
At the junction of Pennsylvania avenue
and Fifteenth street was an ornamental
structure about twenty feet high, in the
shape of monument, built OF boards and
whitewashed. AN old soldier stopped ut
the information booth close by and asked
about it. He said:
$50 that's the Washington monument 1
have heard tell so much about Why it
amt so awful big, come TO look at 1t. We
have tombstones in our cemetery at home
that are pretty nigh as tsll.''
Quite number of veterans, seeking the
greet obelisk erected in honor of the Father
Of his Country, spoke of it as the Grand
Towern There was an information Office
al the foot Of it, only a
few steps away, at which many
of the sightseeing visitors asked
where the Washington monument was,
while il lowered before them in full view
to its majestic height of $50 feet "Gimme
q plate of raw oysters and half pie,' saio
one gallant survivor of the war to the at
tendant in charge OF this Notwithstanding
booth Another wanted to buy socks. At
the Army Medical museum several people
who registered their names in the visitors
book thought that they were signing for
meal and came back afterwards TO get their
supper.
A touching and pathetic spectacle was
thst OF blind old soldier, led around by
little girl, who told him all about what she
saw. AS che mentioned this and that old
landmark his face would light up with
pleasurable recognition. Yes, yes l re-
member he would say, seeing with her
eyes the scenes and objects long ago famil-
lar.
Just within the main entrance OF the de-
partment of agricultures building was ex-
hibited model of an ocean steamship built
for carrying American cattle to Europe
Most Of the 9. A. r. visitors though