Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-14

is considering the ad-
visibility of bringing
this work up to date.
The Poore catalogue makes a most formld-
able volume-1,3 92 pages. of which nearly
100 pages are devoted TO the index. AS a
book of reference il has an evident value,
but one would not turn to 1t naturally for
interesting reading to while away an hour.
1t contains, however. much that is anus
ing and interesting for any one who wishes
to hunt through its pages. A great many
men find entertainment in the seemingly
monotonous occupation of reading the die
tionary.. There is entertainment to be
found-entertainment of almost as varied a
characterize Mr.. Poore's catalogue. This
entertainment is in the contrast between
the customs and ideas of the colonial period
and those of today. For example, accord
ing to one of the documents described in
the catalogue. the colonial Congress pro-
vided that courterfeiters of continental or
state bills of credit should have their ears
cut off, and should be whipped and fined
A dollar would go farther in those days"
as Senator E!varts said, and it was worth
great deal more than it is today.
Among the early documents printed by
order of Congress was a history of the
American Indians. with Their Customs
Descent from the Jews. ETC., compiled from
official sources by D. Adair So began
the study OF ethnology under the auspices
OF the government, which is carried on
with SUCH success at the present time by
Major Powells bureau. In the early days
Congress had more direct dealings with
the Indians than 1t has now. 1t even ad-
dressed itself to them direct. There is a
record OF an address dated December 16
liza In which Capt. White-Eyes, a Della
ware chief, Is welcomed to the council fire
hn tNl
April, ll16. instructions " ere issued to 90
Morgan by the committee on Indian af-
Iairs. IN which he was told that 1.-THE In
dians were to be treated kindly and hos
pltabiy' inspired with sentiments of JUS
tice and humanity and supposed to miro
duce the arts Of civil and social life.''
A Clothing Department..
Inc men who fought the establishment of
the Department of Agriculture a few years
ago en- the ground that it was unnecessary
VIII perhaps be surprised to learn that one
hundred years ago there was Clothing
Department" and that Congress issued
regulations for a clothier general, a state
clothier, regimental clothier, and so on.
department of clothing" would excite
derisive Laughter now There was a good
zeal OF inquiry and report on the subject of
clothing for the continental army and ar
one time Gen. Horatio Gates reported that
the cost of clothing each man was s23.
congress today would be rather surprised
at a proposition that 1t should print an ell
ton OF the Bible. Yet such a proposition
was made In memorial Of Dr. Allison on
wnlcn special committee made a report
In september, 1777. The report Of the com
mittee was adverse. chiefly, 1t would an
pear on the ground of expense. The de-
cision was reached, ''after conference with
the printers" and the recommendation was
made that. instead of advancing money for
importing type and printing this Bible. the
committee on commerce should order 20 600
Bibles from Holland. Scotland or elsewhere
Thus death-blow was given In committee
to the first infant industry Of America. in
lIS2 Congress was asked to approve an
American edition Of the Bible and William
White and George Duffield, the chaplains
or Congress. made report recommending
the work.
Bibles and Lotteries.
At this time. when Congress was taking
so deep an interest in the Bible, 1t was
practicing what Mr.. Wanamaker succeeded
some years ago in convincing Congress was
very immoral thing-promoting a lottery.
The committee on war lottery reported in
favor Of the issue of 100000 tickets, at $40
each; the prizes to he 100000 in treasury
notes. payable in five years, with per cent
interest. In August, 17T, the committee
on treasury reported Recommendation
that the drawing be postponed, because the
sales had not been large enough and sug-
gested that more tickets be sent to the
states. with the request that the governors
expedite their sale. The scheme Of this
government lottery was very like that of
the Louisiana lottery of a recent day-only
one-half of the money repaid in prizes, and
the chances. therefore, two to one against
the buyer of the ticket. Congress once
authorized the District of Columbia to
establish lottery for building purposes
The prohibitionists of today would have
been Mortified at resolution passed by
Congress in September. 1717, directing the
commissary general ITO purchase thirty
hogsheads of rum, to be distributed among
liant behavior in the late battle of Brandy
wire" 1t was not an inappropriate re-
ward, though-for Brandywine.
The question of clothing the army seemed
to give the Continental Congress more
trouble than anything else. for in Deem
ber Ill., we find an appeal to the states
to furnish clothing to soldiers. and in the
same month the committee on the treasury
made report strongly condemning certain
persons in Massachusetts, Bay. "who con-
tracted for clothing at an enormous price,
and refused to deliver the same until they
could receive the cash." So the army con-
tractor was not product solely of the late
civil war.
There is nothing more amusing in this
collection Of old documents than the form
Of an address reported by Congressman
Osgood in 1874 for adoption by Congress as
a general sea letter. to be issued to cap
tans of vessels. 1t was addressed to Most
Scicic StIeHe pulSSdlt pulSSdnt, nlSn,
illustrious, noble honorable. venerable, wise
and prudent lords, emperors kings, repub-
lies, princes, dukes, earls, barons lords,
burgomasters, schepens, counsellors, as
also judges. officers justicaries and re-
gents Of all the good cities and places
whether ecclesiastical! or secular, who shall
see these patents or hear them read" 1t
would be interesting IL one could have had
Mr.. Osgoods views on the reception of an
infanta year ago.
Receiving Foreign Ministers.
As there was no President to receive for
elgn ministers or to give Instructions to
the ministers of the United Colonies, this
duty devolved on Congress, and there is
among other things an account of the re-
cept,on of the Dutch minister in 1888, with
his remarks, and the reply of the President
of Congress. In the same year Congress
adopted list of "coremonies' to be OBJ
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