Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-03-27
WASHINGTON LETTER
SPECIAL ooRREsPoNDRNCB.

half so pressing a question as what to
do with the sons OF rx.presidents and
other great men. Col. Fred Grant
demands first -class foreign mission,
and his wife has even begged Senator
Cullom to accredit her husbands
name to the state of Illinois in order
to promote his chances Cnllom has
refused. There are too many
actual residents OF Illinois who
want tirst-clsss missions. One of
the Hayes boys is also up
for foreign mission, and 80 Is one OF
the Garfield boys. A son of Chester
A. Arthur wants to be secretary OF
one of the European embassies. Mrs.
John A. Logan is working every avail
able influence to secure the appoint
ment of John A. Logan, Jr., to the
Austrian mission. His chief qualifica-
tions for the post are said to be the
possession of wealthy wife and
life of comparative leisure in recent
years. Russell Harrison will be con-
tent with federal Office in Indiana.
NEEDS QUALlFICATIoN-T The order
of the war department that the lanl
Notifications of the United States
shall hereafter be closed to the pub
lie has some justification az applied to
the new works being constructed, al.
though there is no reason for follow
ing the extreme secrecy in and exclu-
siveness of European governments in
this matter. 1t is not apparent, however,
why this order shouldapply to obsolete
forts that now serve only as pleasure
grounds, relics and landscape orna-
ments. Old Fort McHenry Mt Balti-
more is utterly useless for war anL
Fort Monroe is far from modern, yet
the order applies to them as we'll as
the newest emplacements at Sandy
Hook. Ii Fort Monroe is thus Sc
cluded it will be q severe blow to the
hotels in that vicinity. Some modi-
tication Of the war departments order,
exempting obsolete works, may be
issued by Secretary Alger, who has
promised to consult General Miles in
the matter.
A FRIaHTFUL ExpERIENcE-The cx-
perience of the monitor Puritan in II
storm off Hatteras recently recalls
wildly that of the first Ericsson mon
itor that went to sea. For comfort on
board there hns been little improve
ment during the 35 years that have
passed since Commodore Worden
steamed from New York to Fort Mon.
roe in 1862, but now rs then tho monitor
type is proved to b. seaworthy, however
much Of an inferno it is for the crew.
During the storm. says one account,
fresh air iu the Puritan was luxury
(Which could b. had only with the
danger OF food Of salt water coming
in through tho ventilation "perturcs :"
while the grinding of machinery and
the groaning Of the ship. together
with the heat and smell Of machinery
oil, made a combination of horrors
which must have rivaled what Jonah
experienced in the "belly of hell, us
he described the stomach of the great
fish that had swallowed him.
The SAME BLOCK ONLY-The Wash.
ington scribes are mistaken in their
assertion that Secretary Long now
wears the same tile that used to adorn
his head in Congress. They make the
same mistake which ignorant COM
meuters in Boston are guilty of when
they speak of Judge Charles Levi
Woodbury's "old hat" As matter
OF fact Judge Woodbury. has II
new hat every Easter. 1t is
always made on the same block,
and its rim is always made wide
and fiat, but it is new hat just the
same as if the block hadu't done SER
vice for fifty years. The Long dicer
is new every year at least. In stick
ing to the same old block the secre-
tary follows the example of great
many eminent citizens, and empha-
sizes his fine individuality.
THREE Coop NoM1NAr1oNs-In N abil.
ity, diplomatic experience, tact, fam.
iliarity with social ussgcs and foreign
courts. Colonel John Hay promises to
make SUCCESS of it as ambassador Of
the United States at the court Of ST.
James. The appointment has long
been discounted, and it is one tit to be
made. So, too, of General Horace
Porter as ambassador TO France.
Everybody will be glad to see 30
popular citizen and 80 experienced
master of ceremonies sent to Puris.
The return of Henry White to London
as secretary of embassy there will
place fish out of water back in his
native element, as it were.
A DUAL DISTINCTION The biogra-
phies of the members of Congress-, as
written by themselves for the Con-
gressional Directory, generally recite
the incidents in their careers of which
the statesmen are most proud. Prob
ably this accounts for the emphasis
which Congressman Littauer of the
22d New York district lays on the fact
that he was educated ut Harvard aud
was member OF both the university
crew aud tho university football team.
This is double distinction that isn't
often achieved by one man.
New BUT Nor TRUE-That is an
interesting statement Of General Os-
borne that William Mckinley is the
only man who has ever become presi-
dent OF the United States who car
ried gun as II private soldier in
defence of the flag. The only thing
the matter is, that it isn't true.
TRIED AS BY YFIRE-Gsnernl Harrison
is said to have refused to iudorse his
own sons application for an Office, not
because he and Russell were ''out. but
because he did not care to embarass
Mckinley. This is thoughtfulness
that can only come from one who has
been through the fire himself.
BIG RETJRNs-Will Dingley get as
much out OF his little bill as McKin-
ley has.
| W. l.. Howard. postmaster In Fair Haven,
has been arraigned in Rutland before the
United States commissioner, on the charge
| -lz-u - r.. l.. Ii