The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-07-27

holds a position which pays 81, 900 per
annum. The secretary OF the interior
has not yet given the congressman any
encouragement The Democrat in office
has many friends among the Republic
an leaders.
Travestles Upon Art.
Some Of the paintings publicly ex-
hibted in Washington are travesties
upon art The paintings in the rotunda
OF the Cap .ol building are large: IN
fact. Immense. but they lack artistic
touch and the power Of true genius.
Many OF the statues in the public
squares are worthy of destructive critl-
cism rather than praise. The bad out
numbers the good in all things artistic
here, and yet there is much that is
commendable The public buildings are
without rivalry in the whole world in
many respects.
In the executive departments some OF
the really commendable works of art
are buried from sight, and few of our
citizens or visitors to the national capt.
tai ever see the portraits of Daniel
Webster and Lord Ashburton, which
hang in the diplomatic reception room
of the state department. They were
painted at the time of the Ashburton
treaty, away back in the '40s. The
artist gave one pair to Webster and the
other to the English minister, Lord
Ashburton, who helped make the treaty.
Lord Ashburton took his pictures to
England. The others remained in the
Webster family, and were the only
things saved by the heirs from the fire
at Mansfield some years ago. Congress
bought them of Daniel Webster's Wild
ow and jewed her down to $4,000 apiece
in paying for them.
The Bey of Tunis.
In an ante-room, also devoted to the
diplomats, there are portraits of Will
lam Fl. Seward and Daniel Webster and
a life-size picture of the Bey of Tunis,
which was presented in 1865 by the hey
himself to the United States govern
ment. In an ante-room at the opposite
end of the corridor there is a fine col
lection of photographs and crayons rep
resenting the different secretaries Of
state. In the navy department and the
war department you viii find pictures
of the men who have been at the head
OF them from the beginning. The pub
lie buildings are, in fact, portrait gal
leries made up Of fine paintings of the
prominent men of the nation since the
days of Hamilton and Burr.
The collection of portraits of the Sec
retaries OF the treasury Is very fine.
Here you may see Alexander Hamilton,
Albert Gallatin, William II. Crawford,
Judge fancy Thomas Ewing. Salmon
p. Chase, and in fact, almost every
secretary from 1889 to 1885. 1t is the
same in the attorney generals office, a
| place which few men visit, and strang-
ers never. STILL here is an old family
| portrait of Edmund Randolph. the first
| attorney general of the United States,
| and the man who had a fuss with
| Washington a fine portrait of Levi
| Lincoln, painted by no one knows who:
| the others of Evarts, Stanton, Alphonso
| Taft, John j. Crittenden, and in fact of
every leading lawyer who has ever been
presidents constitutional adviser.
story by Senator Proctor.
Senator Proctor of Vermont, who
! used to be secretary of war, and who
was at one time governor of Vermont,
| is dignified statesman, but given to
much popularity in private conversation.
! In a little senatorial group he recently
| told a story to illustrate the economical
| habits of the original inhabitants of
| the New England states. He said that
Aunt Betsy Hicks, widow, carried on
| her late husbands farm with ability,
| but with such close economy that her
! saving devices became famous among
the neighbors for many miles around.
| Next to her economy Of provisions her
| economy Of frewood was perhaps her
| chief concern. At one time a sister of
| her late husband from down the coun-
try" came TO make her a visit and soon
| became convinced that Betsey was try
| ing to freeze her out. But perhaps this
| was not so, as the temperate re was as
as Mrs. Hicks usually kept it.
| II declare" the visitor ventured TO ex-
claim, II would think you kept 1t pref
| ty cold here. Betsey"
| THAT ERE pesky thermometers to
blame Susan" said Betsey. II guess
| it's choked up. can't get il above so
to save my lfe!"
| Then she turned over the stick Of
| wood in the sheet-iron stove, while her
| guest walked up and down the room
| with her hands thrust up the sleeves
of her dress.
| The visitor remained at Aunt Betsey's
| for several days, however, in spite of
| the choked thermometer. spending much
| of her time in bed, or watching a chance
| 10 Smuggle SUCK INTO the stove Wnen
! her hostess was out of the room.
| Late one afternoon she happened to
| go out into the woodshed and found
| Aunt Betsey there with an old shawl
| wrapped around her shoulders and a
stick in her hand, engaged in violently
| stirring something in a large tin can
| A strong smell Of petroleum filled the
| air.
| "Betsey Hicks" said the visitor, what
| be you a-doin'?"
| wal, II you want to know" said Aunt
Betsey, IT thought I'd see if l couldn't
| stir a leetle mite of water int the kar-
osene. / reckoned it'd go a leetle fur
| Their tn so much comp'ny in the house
| as / seem to have!"
| Her guest went away early the next
| morning on the stage coach.
| Anecdote of Lincoln.
| When the congress convenes, as II does
| on the first Monday Of December every
year, a joint committee of the senate
and house Of representatives calls upon
| the president. Harry Bryan, who was
at one time a private secretary to Sec
| retary Blaine saws that he often heard