The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-07-23

The posts now have their libraries; there is
gymnasium at every station, where, also, there
is q recrosiion-room and exchange. For the
soldier who remains in the Army there is in
creasing pay with length of service, aud alter
30 years retirement on three-fourths pay and
allowances of clothing and food. The Army is
by no means the disrepuabe organization il
was once charged with being. 1t is really
agreeable, and should say preferable, in every
way, for a man who is doomed to manual labor
ali his life. with nothing TO show for it at the
end and very little relaxation as he goes along
4
The button craze has struck Washington with
a thump. Everywhere you see the button OF
some order the lapes OF the coats oil men,
aud women are frequently adorned. There WAS
a girl at the last Marine Band concert who for
uBiqueness OF decoration and impartiaity OF
sentiment gate ouidid anything else in town.
She wore a linen sAirl-waist, fastened with six
buttons The top button was Mckinley but
ton. Reeds chrrubic face was displayed on the
second. The Tennessee centennial button.
one Of the pretiitst of the year. came next.
Then there was a bicycle button, n Free Cuba
tuition and Yale blue button at the bottom.
Every body stared. of course, but where will
you find the Summer girl who minds being
stared at?
Visitors TO Washington do not consider that
they have " done the town." if il is their first
visit, until they have climbed TO thc dome of
the Capitol. But il is seldom that any one takes
the trouble TO write of the magnificent view.
Rev. Horace Porter the assistant OF Lyman
Abbott in Brooklyn. wrote home during
r,rent visit, describing the scene. Very pic
turesonely be wroic, 100, but the best part OF 1t
was where he described the Storm that came
up. lie says: "a slight cloud was observable
in the Southwestern horizon. Lingering a
little time to drink ia the fascinating scene, it
was soon evident that il was questionable
whether one could reach Kendall Green, nay
destination, without encouuiering something
OF storm.
IN a moment more a wonderful scene burst
upon the view, far over Arlington. beyond the
wood lands, ia Virginia. 1t scempd as if a
gigantic hattie ~eTe aging just beyond the Viz
rinia shores. Clouds OF rising dust seemed like
the smoke of The baiile fields, the lightninrs in
the depths Of the storm were like the fash OF a
hundred cannon, the distant iuDders like tho
battle roar. The scene was fascinating.
Suddenly Arlington and all beyond were
totally hidden FROM view ia he cload OF dust,
flying leaves and small branches torn from the
trees. The storm seemed fairly TO plunge down
the placid Potomac. la The pathway Of the
siuTm the river seemed TO tnrIr lasck vii b rage,
then was lost Ia The confus, mass o. storm,
wbile on either side the storms paih the river
was still calm, rejecting its silvery light. in
another inslant the whole wafer front Of the
city was the scene Of some awful attack. On
the right. as the rye followed down in the gen
cral direction over Pennsylvania avenue, the
dust shot forth from the west ia norlherly
direction, while on the other side the storm
path another enormous iusk of dust shot forth
in a sourtheriy direction.
THE old dome keeper and tuo or three of US
faced the awful sight long As we possibly
could, then feireaied before the binding dust
to the doorway Of the dome. There VIC held
our ground ihroug hout the whole OF the terrible
sceEe. The uoIEe seemed transformed into q
great boiler room, the wind Eas az escaping
steam wbisiiing ab0nt our ears The streets
lciow were the scene OF the widest confusion.
We could hear the crash Of breaking trees and
Bear the shouts o! hossemen; then the drench-
ing rainfall drove us within the dome. When
we descended We discovered how soiled were
our clothes how thick-rnatted our hair and
l..t. ri 4ia s.inn1 NJ luCs
which had been raised TO The lofty dome-aud
probably far higher"
Washington was treated 10 an odd sight the
other day. The Chinrse here are quick to take
up new things especially those in the big en-
bassy buildings on Columbia Nights. Whirling
down 14ih street a bicycle last week might
nave been seen Que Of them. in flosing robe
Of exquisite bIocade aud a pair of the kind of
boomers that Chi..-se have worn from time
iminemorial. Down has aristocrRtic back
irailed his arisioerAtic queue. and pulled down
firmly over his eyes was-guess what--a
lleDeian white canvas American yachting cap.
II
Speaking OF the bicycle craze. it has been
matter of frequent comment how many pub
/ JIG men ride in this city. ia has been rnuch.
moot.i question among some of the colleagues
! uf Senator Hin in The Senate how he keeps his
/ nesh down. He is man who is inclined to
! take on flesh and he takes scarcely any cxer-
/ else. Senator White, of California, said 10 him
not long ago:
Senator Hill, how do yon keep your fesh
/ down; riding a bicycle, hey?"
.No," answered the Senator gravcly; "dodg-
iug EN-"
Washington veteran, who has boon down
IA Dixie" lately look ing over the old battle
fields, tod the Gossip the other day that the
Georgia Cracker sIiil exists 10 the wild
state. lie raB Ycros. ono who guided him aud
has party on little fishing trip. They found
one Of the preiticst creeks in Gcorg ia-there
are few there. They iished a bii. aud ,Sen
they went Ia swimu.ing;" As they came out
one Of them said 10 the Cracker y: . dare sa '
you 20 swimming in this lovely creek quite
uflen." Tue native looked vaguely q distressed
lie shook has head slowly. They is spots on