Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-10
DISTRUST IN WASHINGTON.
An Amusing Account Of How Prof.
Henry Fell Under Suspicion.

An Amusing Account of How Prof.
Henry Fell Under Suspicion.
Noah Brooks in the Century.
1t is impossible in these days, so remote
from the excitements of the civil war, to
give readers OF the later generation any
adequate idea of the uneasiness that per-
vaded Washington, or of the morbid SEN
sationalism which characterized the CONVEX
sation and conduct of the loyalists who
were constantly haunted by suspicious of
secret plotting all about them. one even
ing while l was sitting with the President
in his cabinet, Prof. Henry, then in charge
of the Smithsonian Institution, came IN
for a social chat with the President. The
conversation ran upon various unimportaut
themes, and preseL tly card was brought
in by the dOorkeeper, who said that the
man in waiting was extremely urgent to
see the President, as he had matters of
pressing Importance to communicate. He
was brought into the room and proved TO
be a modest shopkeeper, whose home was
not far from the Smithsonian Institution.
CHANGING. uneasily at the Preside ats two
visitors, whom he evidently did not know,
he said his business was very important
and should be kept secret The PreSid IN (
assured him that Prof. Henry and myself
were to be trusted with any business Cf
state, however secret 1t might be, and gen.
tally encouraged his visitor to speak cut
without fear of being betrayed in case the
weighty matter which he carried in his
mind was of an explosive character The
man then went on to say that he had fire.
quently observed lights shown from one of
the towers of the Smithsonian In jtitItlon
late at night. He had noticed that these
lights invariably made their appearance
about the same time lat midnighD and he
was confident that the person displaying
them was carrying on cOntraband CORE
spondence with the rebels by means OF sig
nails. The President, with great gravity.
closely examined the witness, but elected
nothing more from him than the fact that
the lights were actually shown.
The President said, do you suspect any
body in the Smithsonian Institution"
NO" replied the Witness 81 do not know
anybody inside of that institution. But /
have heard that Prof. Henry is a southern
nan and a rebel sympathizer."
With that the President turned to Prof.
Henry, and, with admirable command Of
countenance, said: This Is Prof Henry
perhaps he viii be able to answer for him
self" The look of dsmay on the coun-
tenance of the visiting witness was so
grotesque that the President could not re-
strain his laughter. Prof Henry, who was
somewhat disturbed by this expression Of
suspicion on the part OF the well-meaning
but mistaken Unionist, very briey disposed
of his tale. He explained that the scientific
instruments used to ascertain the direction
and force of the wind. temperature etc.,
were examined at certain hours of the day
and night for the purpose of taking their
record, and that the supposed signal light in
the Smithsonian tower was the lantern car
ried to the observatory at midnight by the
attendant who made those observations.
Somewhat crestfallen, the visitor withdrew,
the President thanking him for his vigil
ance and werl meant promptness in report
ing this incident, and adding, as the man
departed, If you should see any Indications
of a rebel conspiracy in Washington, you
will do the country real service by report
ing at once to headquarters"