Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-12
THINGS HEARD AND SEEN

Among the visitors to the patent office
yesterday was an old man with hair as
white as snow, falling over his shoulders
His hands trembled as he searched the
reports to see whether or not his idea had
ever been patented. It is not his first visit
to Washington, but it will probably be the
last, for the days of life are few for him.
1 knew him years ago, when as a prac-
ticing physician in Iowa, he had accu-
mulated a comfortable fortune. 1t was
noticed even then that through the back
windows of his house came CLEANS of
light when he should have slept. Then
his practice was neglected and the doctor
seldom left his room. Little by little his
property went. one by one his children
died, until he was penniless and alone. Then
for the first time his friends discovered
that he was an inventor. Thousands of
dollars had been invested in wheels and
pulleys, and the great machine which was
to revolutionize the motive power of the
world by running forever without other
force than that contained within itself, al
ways lacked but one thing more, a wheel
here cog there, and even his books
wers sold that his dream might be fulfilled.
He would have starved had it not been for
friends of his happier days. and when he
told me yesterday that he had borrowed
enough money to come to Washington and
complete his patents there was light in
his eyes that was pitiful although of glad
ness, for he can stand no more disappoint-
ments, and when his last improvement
fails, he will be found beside his model, his
tired spirit at rest.
Nestled among the mountains in New
Hampshire is village, and at the end of
the long street with it's even rows of white
houses is a cottage where sray-haired
father and mother read the Bible every
niU, md o1ar In, hair yer a
blue-eyed boy who died in Washington,
where he had secured a government posi-
ton through Congressman influence.
How proud they were of him, and the IA
Their told the neighbors about knowing
Daniel Webster when he was not as old or
as smart as his Willie, who had gone to
Washington. Then news reached the VI
lage that Willie was dead, and the grief OF
the parents was pitiful-he was their all.
Upon the records of the department oppo-
site the boys name is the word dis
missed" and there are stories among those
who knew him that ne tried to live as those
did who received three times his pay. And
there came a day when blue-eyed boy
stood in the prisoners dock. when twelve
men brought in verdict OF guilty. In
certain pen;tentiary convict wears the
number "12137." He has no name; there Is
name on the warden'S book, but 1t is not
his Willie is dead, and the old people in
the mountain village will be happier II they
never know that number '12l91 ever ex-
listed.
saw a young married couple in the Ma
tional Museum yesterday. and my heart
ached for the bride. They had been mar
ried in a country church in Maryland and
had come to Washington on their bridal
tour. The girl had never been away from
home before and perhaps she could afford
but one DRESS and that her wedding one,
as a trousseau. The groom was evidently
Woodworking farmer, and his hands felt
very uncomfortable in white gloves, but he
felt in duty bound to wear them. When
they left the train the bride was delighted
with everything she saw and especially the
people, for they were all SO friendly ana
looked as though they wanted to know and
welcome the young couple. And she felt
proud of her big, strong husband, there
were none of the men who looked so strong
as he. Then they went to hotel ana the
groom left to find where they should go
during the day. He was so full of joy that
he could not help taking some of the men
into his confidence, and they thought 1t
would be fun to get him drunk so they told
him that ii was his duty to pledge his
bride with every one he met Used to moth
ing stronger than cider, he drank too much
He did not feel 1t when he first Joined his
bride, but after they had started through
the museum his head began to swim and
his feet to stagger until she almost had to
carry him, her face presenting the most
pathetic picture of woe and desolation 1
have ever seen.
There is a mean man in one Of the de-
partments. He came a year ago from a
western state and has not a friend In
Washington. He has no vices, his fellow
clerks say that he is too mean. During the
year since he came the man has never
been known to spend cent beyond what
was absolutely necessary, and the same
clothes have been worn during the entire
time. Declining all invitations and giving
nol e. contributing as little as possible when
all have Joined in raising a fund. living no
one knows where or how. it is a standing
joke that he saves 81, 100 out of his Sl,20O
salary. I heard some of the clerks telling
stories of how he boarded his money and
/ looked him up through curiosity. found
that l knew him and II ever there was a
martyr he is one. In a western town, there
is a family of four afflicted people a ia
Their and mother. who have been invalids
for years; a sister. who by reason of an
accident, is a cripple: brother, ne'er-do-
we'll Upon the homestead Is mortgage
and no one to share the burden with the
young department clerk. As he goes to
his cherries room at night and eats his
scanty supper his heart is back in that
western town with his loved ones, while
his mind dwells upon the future when the
be plenty to rent little house in the SUBJ
urbs of Washington and the family be re-
united here, where perhaps skillful ply
sicians may relieve the suffering ones. So
he is content to be friendless, for friend
ship brings obligations that he cannot at
ford.
There Is bright little fellow in the
fourth grade in one of the schools out
northeast, who hasn't neglected his educa-
ton during the summer months just gone
by. The teacher had been reading an in
teresting story of the Chinese empire to her
scholars one afternoon, and closing her
book said to the little ones:
Foreign countries are nearly all govern
ed by emperors. kings and queens. Now,
kingdom is a country governed by what?'
and her questioning eyes wandered from
one to another of the rows of bright little
upturned faces before her.
by king" squeaked little boys voice
on the back row of seats.
proving SMILE Now what is an empire?"
Here's where the bright, little, freckled
faced summer urchin could display his
knowledge. so his hand shot up in the air
at once.
well, Rollie, what is an empireg' Ques-
toned the smiling teacher.
Hes the Teller that stands behind the
catcher and gets punched when the MIA yers